Rat Queens is a new book from Images Shadowline division. The comic is like reading the conversations your RPG characters might have as they slog through yet another adventure – if your characters were surly, drunken wise-asses. The writer behind the hit Peter Panzerfaust, Kurtis Weibe, and relative new comer Roc Upchurch, have created what can only truly be appreciated through experience. The book is a must read if you’re any of the following: looking for irreverent humor; a Deadpool fan; a gamer of the Dungeons and Dragons variety or even the MMORPG variety; a fan of different ideas in comics; and especially if you like having a good time. This book is so much fun!
The Rat Queens are a small group of female adventurers from various fantasy species. The team line up includes; Dee the human Cleric; Betty the Smidgen theif; Violet the red headed Dwarven fighter; and Hannah, the Elven mage. They’re very feminine but also prove to be fearsome and capable fighters. The Rat Queens can also hold their own in a profanity contest against the worst of drunken sailor. To that point, they’re also not sober for a good portion of the book. There is a great scene where they can’t remember if they were adventuring on mushrooms or if their trip turned into an adventure when the trees they stole the mushrooms from took offense and attacked them.
Without giving away too much more, their drunken escapades get them in quite a bit of trouble but it seems to be par for the course in their portion of the fantasy world. The main adventure that these characters will be questing on through the next few books is assigned to them through the local Sherriff. They, along with other adventurers, can either aide the citizenry or spend time in the dungeon.
The art is beautifully done. Pencils are tight and convey all kids of comedic character while maintaining a serious tone. The coloring makes the mood light even when there is a darker scene happening. Weibe proves that he can take an idea and spin it into a well fleshed out world. There is a depth of reality to the story that gives the characters life. If this book were a game, there would be many adventurers spending all their time in its digital world exploring and questing.
Rat Queens is $3.50 for digital or floppy. There is a special Fiona Staples variant that was available by pre-order. If you’re a fan of Staples you’re probably going to have to go out of your way to find that variant because this book is sure to be popular. It takes themes that geeks know and takes them into a fantasy world through a comic. It’s a comic geeks have been waiting for, even if they didn’t know it.
For more on Rat Queens from Weibe himself, go here.
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