Kara Szamborski recommends Rat Queens #6 by kurtiswiebe & johnnyrocwell
In just six issues, Rat Queens has become everything I never knew I needed from a story. With the first story arc wrapped, it’s time to assess the damage—their world is wider than we thought, and Dee is actually [spoiler removed so you’re not spoiled, duh]. But there’s no time for the Queens to indulge in their morning after hangover; there are mushroom people to defeat!
If there is a group of characters who embody the hashtag mantra “sorry not sorry,” it’s the Queens. They fight, they party, and they curse a mean streak, but they love each other and their friendship feels real and interesting. Often compared to Skullkickers for its RPG roots, I’ve found the Rat Queens to be more reminiscent of gailsimone’s current run on Red Sonja for their unapologetic, barbarian behavior, and of Lumberjanes for the engaging action and snappy dialogue.
The Rat Queens are that one night stand you still think about, that bar crawl you’ll never forget (or remember), that punch you wish you’d thrown, that time you threw up in your purse after running from the cops. You know these girls; they’re like your friends after someone’s given them swords and a free rein. Betty just wants to see you smile, you wish Dee would enjoy the dang party already, we’re all running from something like Violet, we’re all angry at something like Hannah. You’d hate them if they ran your town, but you’d never, ever be bored. What are you waiting for? Step up and join the Queens.
For fans of: comedy, team books, female leads, diverse characters
Kara Szamborski supervises the International Production team at comiXology. She unironically loves the song “Sugar, Sugar” by The Archies.