Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Why I Stopped Loving the Rat Queens




The year is 2014. I’m still just dipping my toes into comics, still very unsure I'm just igniting my passion and love for the medium. I’m over eager to hit up my local comic shop the minute the doors open each and every Wednesday. At this point, I’m still pretty much exclusive to reading DC Comics, but there on the enticing ten-dollar introductory Image rack is the entire trade paperback of Rat Queens, first five issues and all. 

If you haven’t read Rat Queens, the fan favored Image Series heavily inspired by Dungeons and Dragons tropes and themes would tell the story of four eclectic women and both the escapades and misadventures they would have. While on the surface Rat Queens seemed simple, darker and more complex themes of identity would be explored throughout its issues. It even featured a prominent trans character (Braga I still love you). It was a story filled with heart along with moments and dialogue that would make you laugh out loud. 






One by one I fell in love with those girls, and I fell fast. Hannah, the Elven mage, fiercely devoted to her friends while simultaneously shutting herself off from everyone as she harbored a dark past. Dee, a human cleric, ironically identifying as an atheist, so unsure of her place in the world. Violet, the angry Dwarven warrior, and the one I personally related to the most as she rebelled against her family’s values and traditions to carve her own path. And of course, the Smidgen Betty because, well who can’t love a character like Betty, always so positive and full of fun. Together these girls would come together, each of them with their own flaws to form a family of their own. Through the good and the bad, they were always there for another. I had such a personal stake in this book and its characters. These girls felt like the sisters I never knew, and I loved and connected with each one.

I immediately found myself shoving this book into the hands of anyone who would read it. I found myself purchasing multiple copies, gifting it to friends and lending it to coworkers that would never return my book, and that was fine if it meant I got to buy another copy in support of my new favorite series.

Which made things so much harder when Rat Queens would eventually break my heart.

Unfortunately, there’s no lack of controversy when it comes to the series. Rat Queens' initial artist and co-creator Roc Upchurch would be rightfully removed from the book after allegations of domestic abuse would arise. Stjepan Sejic would take up the open position before ultimately leaving the series after only two issues and not being able to keep up with his hectic schedule. The role would ultimately fall to Tess Fowler and Tamara Bonvillain as part of the ongoing team, or so it was thought. Rumors went around that Roc Upchurch and co-creator and writer Kurtis J. Weibe were “conspiring” Roc’s ongoing involvement in the series and even a return at its helm.




Amidst a public and might I add quite heartbreaking falling out between Fowler and Weibe right in the middle of an arc it seemed like Rat Queens would cease to exist.

The series would eventually go on hiatus, with Fowler and Weibe moving onto other projects, Weibe would even going on to write a sci-fi series from Darkhorse Comics called Bounty (Despite its gorgeous art the series was awful by the way) that felt oddly reminiscent of Rat Queens. To add insult to injury the creator would publicly announce that he had no intention of returning to Rat Queens as his love and passion for the girls was extinguished. Now I’ll give Weibe credit here. On previous rereads of the series it's evident that as time would go by its the story and by extension it’s characters would weaken up until its abrupt end.

Which is why when Rat Queens would apparently receive a “reboot” a mere 3 months after Bounty’s finale that things just didn’t feel right. Rather than meet this new Rat Queens as a sweet reunion it honestly felt like a cash grab from its creator. After all, at it’s prime, Rat Queens could be argued as one of Image Comics' best new series if not at least one of it’s most talked about. I was hesitant about picking up the new first issue, but my love for these girls outweighed any uncertainty I might have had. I found myself stumbling and confused as to where our story fit within the universe. It didn’t help that Rat Queens was ever marketed as a reboot. and when I reached out to Kurtis J Weibe via Twitter out of love for this book, on where our Queens stood considering the previous series shocking finale, that I was met with a cold response (which Wiebe has since deleted after relaunching his Twitter). After confirmed said reboot I was then essentially told my opinion didn’t matter and if I didn’t like I could stop reading the book.



To be just a tad dramatic, that single tweet was devastating. I loved these girls. Violet, our stubborn headed dwarf, who I looked to as a hero inspired me with the strength and courage to fight even when it felt like I didn’t belong I had framed art I had bought from conventions hanging on my walls and at one point I had even considered getting a Rat Queens inspired tattoo. Guess I dodged that bullet.

While the response from Weibe surprised me at the same time it should have been a little expected. He didn’t love these girls anymore. That issue alone was proof enough when he blatantly replaced them with male doppelgangers making it feel like the Queens alone weren’t good enough.

I’ll be honest when I say I haven’t read a new issue since Issue one of the Rat Queens “reboot”, and returning to previous stories of the Queens feels tainted as if I’m able to watch the stories I loved decay into nothing. Reading reviews from those that have seen the story through have only confirmed it feels like things have only gone from bad to worse. From choppy and unfinished storylines to inconsistent and at times bad art it feels like a nightmare. But there is a silver lining. As of June 2019, Weibe has left the book (a little odd considering his role as a co-creator) and with issue #16 the series would be helmed by the series letterer as it’s new writer, with its original creator cutting ties with the Queens completely to create a publishing company of his own.

While this gives me hope that the Rat Queens can return to form, it leaves me even more hesitant as before. I may have taken this series more personal than most, but these girls meant the world to me and impacted my life in a way I didn't expect. I know I’ll never be able to love the Rat Queens the way I did before but I hope that one day, maybe one day I can love them again. Until then I only wish the best for Violet, Dee, Hannah, and Betty along with their new creative team.




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