Kurtis J. Wiebe

"Originally published in single magazine form as RAT QUEENS #1-10 and RAT QUEENS SPECIAL: BRAGA #1."

Rat Queens Deluxe Edition Volume 1

Celeste Richardson

Full review now posted!

Look what I found! My favorite graphic novel I’ve ever read. Ever. Man, this just made me so darn happy. While the art was not as beautiful or the plot line not as deep as some other graphic novels I’ve read, this is by far the most entertaining one I’ve ever experienced. 

I’ve read a lot of science fiction graphic novels, but very few that were just straight fantasy. This one right here? It was fantasy out the wazoo. I don’t even know what a wazoo is, but Rat Queens packed it full to bursting with fantastical awesomeness. There are elves and dwarves and orcs and all manner of other fantasy beings, as well as magic and sword fights and drunken tavern brawls. There are well worn fantasy tropes that are used and reinterpreted and flipped completely on their heads. It has everything a fantasy comic should have and more. Want diversity in your reads? This series has diversity in spades, and it’s all handled deftly and naturally.

Did I mention the friendships? No? There are some fabulous friendships in this series, especially between the four girls who comprise the title mercenary group, the Rat Queens. Even when they’re bickering, you can tell the girls really love each other. And the characterizations!! Each of the four girls has a completely unique personality from her compatriots, and those four personalities mesh into something special. There’s also romance, but in my opinion all of the romances unequivocally play second fiddle to the friendships.

Now, this is definitely deserving of its “mature” rating. There’s nudity and gore and a whole heck of a lot of vulgarity. There’s some legitimate darkness. But even in the midst of all that I found this to be such a fun, light read compared to other graphic novels I’ve read. I really can’t wait to continue the series, and I can’t recommend it highly enough!

Rat Queens Deluxe Edition Volume 1

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