Graphic Novel Review – Rat Queens Volume 1: Sass & Sorcery TP Paperback by Roc Upchurch and Kurtis J. Wiebe (5/5 stars)
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Graphic Novel/Fantasy
Length: 128 pages
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: April 8, 2014
ISBN-13: 978-1607069454
Stand Alone or Series: 1st TP in the Rat Queens series
Source: eGalley from Netgalley.com
Rating: 5/5 stars
I saw this on NetGalley for review and it looked like something I would really love. It’s a graphic novel that is a blend of Dungeons and Dragons type of adventure with some really hilarious and quirky characters. The description of Lord of the Rings meets Tank Girl is very apt. I had a great time reading this graphic novel. In fact I am having trouble writing a review that will do this book justice…it just was an absolutely butt-kick graphic novel.
The Rat Queens are a merc group who are routinely hired by the city to protect it from monsters. They are one of four adventuring parties in the city and the problem is that now that the monsters have been taken care of the adventuring parties are kind of tearing up the town with their brawls and parties. The Rat Queens consist of Betty (the halfing flower child who loves booze and drugs), Dee (a priestess of sorts whose parents worship a strange squid god), Hannah (the rockabilly sorceress who parents are seriously scary necromancers), and Violet (dwarven fighter who has turned her back on dwarves and started shaving her beard off).
The Rat Queens along with the other adventuring parties are finally sent out on new jobs after brutally destroying a tavern during a particularly wild brawl. The other adventuring parties are The Peaches, The Four Daves, The Brother Ponies, and Obsidian Darkness. Yep, this is that kind of book. Just the names of the other adventuring parties had me laughing my butt off.
This book is hilarious, raunchy, violent, and just so hilarious (it is seriously so funny you have to call it hilarious more than once). I seriously was laughing until I was in tears a number of times. That being said this is also a very adult graphic novel . There is loads of swearing, oodles of dirty jokes, and tons of talk about sex (although really no nudity).
Hannah was my favorite character, she can seriously kick some butt, she has a lot of style, and she’s not afraid to say exactly what she’s thinking (which usually isn’t something that can be repeated in polite company). But all of the characters are absolutely wonderful. They are quirky, creative, and you never know what is going to come out of their mouths next. Not to mention they are loyal, vindictive as hell, and just awesome to watch in action.
Even the side characters are excellent. I love how the adventuring bands compete against each other, but when the town is seriously in danger they band together to help do what needs to be done to save the town from rampaging trolls.
The action scenes are gory and bloody and exceedingly well done. The Rat Queens are not afraid to get dirty (in more than one way) they get the crap beat out of themselves a number of times, but they get the job done. The illustration is full color and incredibly well done. The characters are captured well as are their emotions, the action scenes are easy to follow. The illustration added a ton to the story and I never had trouble following the frames or seeing what was going on.
Overall I really really loved this graphic novel, it is my absolute favorite of the year so far. I highly recommend to all of the fantasy graphic novel fans out there, especially to those who enjoy a little grittiness and some twisted humor. If you are easily offended this is not the graphic novel for you. However if you like reading about kick-butt adventurers, who are quirky, hilarious, and don’t mind getting a bit gorey definitely pick this up! It was so much fun to read.
This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– Ebook Reading Challenge
– Graphic Novel Reading Challenge
– You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge
– 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge
