I Read Comic Books discussion

What did you think of Rat Queens, Vol. 1: Sass & Sorcery? If this is your first time reading it, are you interested in continuing the series? If this is a reread for you, how was it to revisit vol. 1?

Tune in to the IRCB Podcast on Wednesday, March 29th to hear our discussion of this book. If it's ok to read your comments on the show, please include "OK TO AIR" in your post!

Had a self-imposed ban on buying books until I cleared my backlog...ah well...

Nice! This one has been on my list for a bit. I don't know anything about this story/series so I'm going in with "fresh eyes." Plus, it's available on Comixology Unlimited. Spiffily-doo!

Woo! :D I'm so excited to read and discuss this! I've really been wanting to read it.

DM wrote: "Had a self-imposed ban on buying books until I cleared my backlog...ah well..."

If you haven't already used your free 30 day Comixology Unlimited trial, you can read it for free on there :)

This has been on my to-read pile for years now. I can't wait to read it and *finally* understand what everyone is talking about!

Oh sweet! I was looking for a reason to reread this series (given the new #1 came out this week)!

Kate wrote: "DM wrote: "Had a self-imposed ban on buying books until I cleared my backlog...ah well..."

If you haven't already used your free 30 day Comixology Unlimited trial, you can read it for free on ther..."

Not sure that applies in the UK but am a stickler for physical reading. Got a deal on volumes 1 of RQ and Monstress so am happy.

OK TO AIR

I'm fairly newish to comic books having started in earnest reading them about 5 years ago. That being said, somehow this title had escaped my knowledge. So, I really didn't know what to expect when I started this book.

I really cannot think enough positive things about it after reading it. I loved it. I was sucked in on page one and got frustrated on the last page because it was done. It was just so much fun!!

Artwork: Really great stuff. One of the things that I need to take some time and learn how to properly assess comic book artwork. So, the best I got is that I loved the colors and the characters "fit" their words. I could imagine them saying the things they were saying.

Story: Just wonderful. It might be a bit crude for some, but for me it just worked. It had what every great comedy has, relate able characters placed in quirky but somewhat relate able situations. But above all what it had was language that was "real." This is one of the most frustrating things in reading any book is characters who say things that just don't sound...human.

Lastly....I found it impossible not to try and cast this book as a movie while reading it. So, here is my cast.

Hannah: Katie Aselton
Violet: Karen Gillan
Betty: Kristen Bell
Dee: Leslie Jones
Sawyer Silver: Kevin Hart
Lady Bernadette: Kaitlin Olsen

Alex wrote: "OK TO AIR

I'm fairly newish to comic books having started in earnest reading them about 5 years ago. That being said, somehow this title had escaped my knowledge. So, I really didn't know what to ..."

Go and pick up the next two volumes. They are fantastic.

I have a LOT of thoughts about this book (but saving for the show at the end of the month, UGH!). I read it as soon as it was announced if only because I want to read all of the previous run of Rat Queens before I read the new #1...

This will be a re-read for me too! All of the volumes are blurring together in my head now so I have to wait until this volume gets to me in the library before commenting on it. . .

Did anyone see the big controversy with this series recently-ish?
https://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/05/...

OKAY TO AIR

4.0/5.0

The shortcut would be to cut ‘n’ paste Alex’s review and just add “ditto!”

Well said, Alex. And I, too, am relatively new to the comic book scene.

This title sat on the periphery of my interest for quite some time. I heard good things but, based on my own bias against D&D/dragon-type adventures, I never took the time to check it out. That said, I definitely want to thank the I Read Comic Books community for adding this one to the monthly book club. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

STORY: The story arc was strong and incredibly entertaining. Kurtis Wiebe writes believable, natural dialogue that balances beautifully between “renaissance speak” and a contemporary voice of the 20-somethings who populate this world. The battle scenes are brutal and presented in a way that really emphasizes the fact that these battles have real stakes – folks are dying! I have one small nitpick during this first arc – revealing who was behind the murder plot felt a bit anticlimactic. Despite the 3 or 4 chapter build up it felt like “Oh, yeah… Lady Bernadette did it.” Definitely not a huge deal but it did feel a bit rushed. The volume ends with a great lead-in to the next arc (and I’m hooked).

ART: Roc Upchurch’s art is fantastic. The level of detail (including a few errant pencil lines here and there) is fun to explore. Upchurch has a knack for giving each character in the panel “business” – everyone feels as though they are doing something and not just standing idly by in the background. Facial expressions are full of life and add to the overall tone of the story. I was not aware of Upchurch’s personal history prior to reading. Quite frankly, this news diminished my overall enjoyment of this project tremendously. Based on a little research, it seems Upchurch is keeping a low profile – hopefully getting the help and counseling needed to make amends for inexcusable behavior.

OK TO AIR

This book has been on my to-read pile since 2015, and I'm so glad I finally read it. It is just as good as friends said it would be, and I instantly checked out volumes 2 and 3 after reading it (will be sitting down with them tonight).

Alex and Ryan hit the nail on the head talking about the writing and art. I'd add that it's always a pleasure to see real representation in comics, which this book does beautifully.

Who is everyone's favorite character?

Mine's Dee. Her jokes about being raised religious were so spot on that I laughed out loud a few times.

Sorry Kate - I've got to go with Betty! :)

Kate wrote: "OK TO AIR

This book has been on my to-read pile since 2015, and I'm so glad I finally read it. It is just as good as friends said it would be, and I instantly checked out volumes 2 and 3 after rea..."

I'm going Violet. But, if I'm being honest it changes page to page. She was just the last one I saw.

*OK TO AIR*

Well, I just finished volume 1 and I am in loooove! I will definitely be reading volume 2. My only regret is not having it on hand to read right now.
You guys all brought up so many good points about it. I'd heard many great things about this and I was NOT disappointed.
Each of the characters brings something special to the story. I can't even pick a favorite.
It's stuffed to the brim with crass (but delightfully inappropriate) humor, fun fantasy tropes, and wonderful art. I would definitely read it again and will soon be thrusting it upon other people to read as well.

OK TO AIR

Thank you for giving me an excuse to re-read this series! I am so excited to buy the new arc when it comes out in trade. I had meant to only re-read the first volume, but here I am having read all three in one sitting.

Betty has inspired more than one D&D character for me over the last few years. After this reading though, Violet and Sawyer have been added to my list of favorite characters.

I love how full all the characters' backstories are, how they are all trying to escape their pasts, and how all their pasts keep catching up to them. I also love how they stick together no matter what or who comes out of the woodwork, since they all have their own shit that could (and does) crop up.

I also appreciate the balance of focus given to each character. While the second trade had a little more emphasis on Dee, and the third grade had more emphasis on Hannah, each character has their own story or drama that gets updated often enough that you don't forget it.

I also love how real the characters are, and how the comic doesn't shy away from swearing, sarcasm, etc. The cursed name of Bilford Boggin is also a wonderful world-building addition, especially because the backstory there gets touched on in a later arc.

OK to air

I originally read Rat Queens, Vol. 1: Sass & Sorcery 2 years ago, when I was really getting into graphic novels and comics, because of all the positive hype about it. At the time, I wasn't super impressed with it. I wrote:

"Way too gory for my taste. The artwork is excellent, and the characters are interesting, but I just can't get into a series that focuses so much on blood, gore, and violence."

Since it was the book of the month in here, I decided to give it another chance, and re-read it, followed by volumes 2 & 3. I still have much the same opinion. The artwork is excellently executed, the characters and plot are interesting, but the emphasis on blood & gore kills it for me. I plowed through all 3 volumes in one day, because the plot is intriguing, but I don't see myself eagerly going back to read future installments.

I do appreciate that the series is so female-focused, but at the same time I'm frustrated with how much the characters still seem like stereotypical female comic book characters, with lots of sexualized poses and bare breasts. I wasn't surprised when I realized the creators are men.

The news Jen mentioned up in comment #11 further discourages me from engaging with the series further. I do think Roc Upchurch's artwork is the best of the series, with the most details, but I don't like the way it sounds like Tess Fowler was treated in relation to the series, and I'd rather support a female-centric series created by women than one illustrated by someone who has committed domestic violence. (Not that it's an either/or situation, but that I'd be more likely to continue reading Rat Queens if it was spearheaded by women rather than by the likes of Upchurch.)

Anyway, I am glad that this group pushed me out of my comfort zone and got me to try the series again.

Did everyone catch our episode this week about the BotM?! Nick and Kara joined me to discuss the series and the controversy around it. Check it out:

http://ircb.us/episode-108-quiet-sexy...