A Trippy Yet Balanced Adventure in Rat Queens #23
The Rat Queens have faced many strange adventures and creatures over their two series. But none like what they will face in Rat Queens #23. This is a fun side quest, so to speak, while the real danger still lurks in the background.
This issue goes hand in hand with the calamity and chaos caused by the previous adventure. Naturally, there are a few major twists – and implications – to be found within these pages. There’s no such thing as a day off for these Rat Queens.
Writing
Rat Queens #23 is a chaotic adventure, but it also feels very different from the other chaotic adventures these ladies have faced. It’s trippy and very quirky while having a whole lot of fun in the process.
Ryan Ferrier’s imagination truly ran wild here, and it shows. Everything looks like it’ll head in one direction, but it quickly takes a dive off the deep end. It’s a dive well-suited for these heroines.
This issue will make readers laugh out loud, exclaim in curiosity, and then double back, looking for details. It’s crazy and fun all rolled into one. While that description could be applied to the whole series, it is an apt description for this issue in particular.
On a small note, I’m still thrilled that Maddie plays a role in the Rat Queens while still missing the dwarf whose place she took. Likewise, the subplots surrounding Dee and Hannah have been fascinating, and I hope they will be explored in further detail soon.
The conclusion to this issue changes the entire tone, though perhaps not in the way expected. It brings everything full circle and raises many questions about what will happen next. It’s going to be a long wait for Rat Queens #24.
Art
The artwork within Rat Queens #23 is as chaotic and trippy as the writing itself. It’s bold and vibrant when needed and terrifyingly dark in other places. It’s full of humor, laughter, and action, but that’s only the beginning.
Moritat and Casey Silver were the two leading artists for this issue, as with the last one. You can tell that they had a lot of fun setting the scene for this latest plot. Little details keep popping up, like a detailed border (which hints at something specific), creeping details in the background, and over the top expressions perfect for our characters.
The colors are ever-shifting in this issue, and it’s perfect given everything that’s going on. I won’t say more than that because this is a reveal that you do not want spoiled. But it does enhance the whole story.
Finally, the lettering was done by Ryan Ferrier (also the author of this issue, as you might have noticed). There are a few moments where the lettering has a bit of fun at the expense of some background characters.
Conclusion
Rat Queens #23 is a fun and quirky adventure, one that is reminiscent of an old adventure that this crew had. However, it is also very different from that time, as our heroines have new developments to contend with at the same time. It’ll be interesting to see how they move on from here and what will happen to them next.
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.
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