Decisions, Declarations, and Damages in Rat Queens #20
Rat Queens #19 was an issue that took our breath away and left fans concerned for the series’ fate. And then Rat Queens #20 came along, and it simultaneously soothed our wounds and inflamed them all over again.
The last issue put fans through a lot of heartache and stress. And we knew that it wasn’t all over – after all, there was one major concern still lingering in the air. This issue is that direct follow-up in every way that matters.
Who would have ever dreamed on the day that everything would fall to the Rat Queens’ newest recruit? What she’s had to face is comparable to everything the rest of her sisters have gone up against. And it earned her a place on the team.
Writing
Rat Queens #20 was a dynamic and fast-paced issue. And really, it had to be given the circumstances. There was a lot of ground to cover, courtesy of the previous issue. And that meant they very quickly had to give fans some answers. And some resolutions.
It’s been fascinating to see what Ryan Ferrier has been doing with the Rat Queens. Their journey has been full of changes as of late, which comes with a lot of risk. It’s been really enjoyable getting to read a series that wasn’t afraid to take a risk here and there.
What happened in Rat Queens #20 was expected in some ways and completely unpredictable in others. The logic flowing from these pages made sense while still weaving a surprising path for the readers.
It’s hard to express how much happened in this issue without risking spoilers. Let’s just say that several things moved forward at once. The result was a resolved plot, while something much larger was revealed.
Art
Rat Queens #20 was full of intense scenes, brilliant artwork, and intricate scenarios. In short, it made for a visually stunning piece. And the artwork was the ideal support structure for this heavy and evolving plot.
Priscilla Petriates has been the lead artist for a while now. And you can see her influence taking over. The way she draws the Rat Queens has helped bring about several changes. And now she’s gotten her hands on a returning character. And I’ve got to say: I love the redesign.
Meanwhile, Marco Lesko’s colors were divine. They were bright and vibrant, which was perfect given how much magic was being flung around. I’ve always loved the portrayal of bright magic, even when the type of magic used is quite dark. And finally, Ferrier was also in charge of the lettering, which worked out quite well in this case. The lettering is bold and yet unobtrusive.
Conclusion
Rat Queens #19 made several promises to the readers, even if we didn’t realize it. Among those promises was a resolution to everything we just saw happen. Rat Queens #20 stepped up and delivered upon all of those promises – and then some. And it looks like our team is in for a whole new series of adventures in the very near future.
This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.
Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat’s Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
Quirky Cats Comics 
Leave a comment