In this dual review two writers (in this case Steve and James) will take a look at the issue and give a score of: Buy, Borrow or Pass. Before we begin here’s what the issue is about from Image Comics: Well, Palisade has seen better days. It stinks like orc blood. There are bits of troll all over the place. Worst of all, the famous booze ship, Drowned Sorrows, sank to the bottom of the harbor in the attack. This era of Palisade will forever be known as THE DRY SPELL.
Neil: BUY
This issue of Rat Queens was one of the better issues on the run. It had it all: action, deaths and a big reveal were we learn who was behind the hits. The fight scenes in this issue were great and the introduction of the four Daves was awesome. Although I am noticing a trend with the Queens when it comes to their deaths. SPOILER - It shocked me initially when I saw that Violet takes an arrow through the throat, thinking that she was done. Only to be rescued by the combine healing magic of the Dee and Orc Dave. I hope that it doesn’t become a trend in the book where one of them gets brutally hurt or is mortally wounded and they will always solve it with their healing magic.
Aside from that the book does deliver with its dark humor, the girls just being girls and enjoying themselves after a huge battle. The art in this issue as in all the other issue is fantastic, the level of details on each panel is just what you would expect from this book. One of my favorite panels where you can appreciate the artwork is the one where one of the other elves are getting high with Hannah as she concocts here pure arcane energy weed, the detail in that panel is impressive. I am still all in with this series as the level of humor, story and art is still going strong in this book.
Dustin: BUY
I’m going to have to disagree with Neil about this being one of the better issues on the run. While it’s a good and solid issue, I think it wasn’t as moving or powerful as the previous issues. It was a strong ending to the first arc and sets up some great things to come for the series. In that regard I really liked it.
Personally I felt like the action was over too quickly. The last issue made it seem like a massive battle was underway; and while I wasn’t looking for it to be drawn out DBZ style, I was looking forward to most of the issue being ass-kickery.
Even still it was a fun damn issue with plenty of the humor and action I’ve come to expect. Upchurch is seriously one of my favorite artists in all of comics right now and his work on this series is fantastic. I don’t know if it’s something about working with Wiebe, but his style seems to be growing and developing with each issue and that’s awesome.
If you haven’t read the previous four issues then you should do so, but if not then you can at least jump on next issue and join the party; it’s worth it.
Score: BUY IT, if not for us then Betty.
Writer: Kurtis J. Wiebe Artist: Roc Upchurch Publisher: Image/Shadowline Comics Price: $3.50 Release Date: 2/26/14