Rat Queens #1 is my Pick of the Week due to the connections I made with the premiere issue. One of the most important aspects of the comic which becomes my Pick of the Week is connection. Rat Queens #1 connected with me on so many levels that it was easily the best issue this week for me.
What is Rat Queens #1?
The new title by Image is written by Kurtis J. Wiebe and illustrated by Roc Upchurch. It follows a band of four females in a fantasy world of monsters and magic. All four are crass and are ready to fight at a moment’s notice. Not only is this a fantasy story, it is a female strength story, and a comedy title.
Rat Queens #1 is my Pick of the Week!
Connections
Most of the regular readers here know that I have been in the gaming community for over 25 years. I grew up gaming, and took to collecting the old gaming books about 15 years ago. When a new fantasy title comes out in comic book form, I have to pick it up just to see if it takes me back to those old gaming sessions or reminds me of reading the fantasy stories I grew up with by writers like Tolkien, Lieber, and others.
The Old Reading
All I was thinking about while reading Rat Queens #1 was that the team could be compared to Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser. The dark and often sexual humor reminded me of when I would sit on my bed and read the stories of the duo (back in my early and middle teens). This is the type of connections creator what to make. Of course, this won’t give the same results to everyone, but this is my Pick of the Week and my emotional connections.
Strong Female Characters
This site has not been shy about our support of strong female characters and strong female character teams. I am happy to see another title enter the fray. If a creator wants to get my attention, create a story with a strong female character which is not over-sexualized. Rat Queens #1 displayed four female characters who were not over-sexualized and displayed strength.
Comedy in Comics
There are few writers in comics who can make me laugh out loud anymore. Sure, I might give a smile, a short “Hmph,” but that is about it. I found myself letting go of a few audible laughs while reading Rat Queens #1. Hopefully, the sharp and witty humor continues in future issues.
The Whole Package
For me, Rat Queens #1 gave the whole package this week. Great artwork and great writing are important, but not as important as making an emotional connection with characters and/or stories. This issue gave me everything I was looking for this week and even some loud laughs.
