From Kurtis Wiebe, Stjepan Sejic, Image Comics.

I have been very late to the Rat Queens bandwagon.  When the comic book started my life was a bit chaotic with a new baby.  As Kurtis himself can relate too (beautiful kid BTW).  So how easy is it to jump in to this new acclaimed series nine issues in?

Very easy and very fun.

This comic takes you to the beach and then puts you on a 20 foot high slide that tosses you all the way out where the water is over your head and its freezing  but you’re so far out the only option is to go along for the ride and wow what a rush.

I don’t remember the names of any of the Rat Queens nor other characters in the book but you know something?  It doesn’t matter overall.  No one remembers all the characters names after the first episode of a TV show but if its a good enough show you’ll come back week after week and learn along the way.  Rat Queens gets a season pass.

In an early review someone called this book an all female Dungeons and Dragons group and after reading it I couldn’t agree more.  Every ridiculous over the top person who has been working on his/her character for years that you have encountered is here in one of these women.  But better.  Violent, loud mouthed, sexual, strong, sexy, fuck you I’m whatever I want to be.  Its all here.

While I had no clue what was going on, I was still entranced.  Damn right I’ll be picking up all previous issues.  However, this is Empire Strikes Back level in issue nine.  The bad guy has the upper hand.  The Rat Queens and crew are beat down and separated.  They all must overcome something to get back into the fight and it not only makes the book stronger but also makes every character matter.

Kurtis is writing this book like a great wrestling booker.  The hero is only as strong as the villain.  By seeing the Rat Queens beat down like this it means the villain is bigger and his eventual defeat will have that much bigger impact.  I know it seems like a no brainer for comic writing (and wrestling) but there’s a reason Stilt-Man is considered a joke and Green Goblin is a terror.  There is a reason Rat Queens is growing with every issue and titles not to be named are wallowing in quarter bins.