Comics
Review: ‘Rat Queens’ #2
Kurtis J. Wiebe’s “Rat Queens” is an invigorating reminder that fresh, female-driven, fantasy content is still alive and kicking ass. Expect an effortless blend of bloody violence and gratifying comedy in “Gold, Guts and Grog” Part Two.
WRITTEN BY: Kurtis J. Wiebe
ART BY: Roc Upchurch
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $3.50
RELEASE: Wednesday 23, 2013
Whether they’re defying death and severing limbs, or hurling quips and getting belligerently drunk, the Rat Queens do it with a charming intensity — and just the right amount of boorish style. The second installment follows Palisade’s boisterous battle maidens on their action-packed monster hunting quest assigned by Mayor Atticus Kane. With the realization that the ragtag adventuring party has been set up, tensions are running high and weapons are drawn; but it’s the hilariously relentless warring of minds that really forms the core of this issue.
Part Two opens with some awfully entertaining back and forth between Violet the bohemian dwarven fighter and Hannah the contentious elven mage. The dynamic between these two characters is as ridiculous as it is comical, but their fierce personalities play off each other really well. The same can be said for Hannah’s verbally — and physically — combative relationship with Tizzie, the leader of Palisade’s Peaches gang. Their fiery character interaction is an easy highlight from issue #2, but Wiebe and Upchurch’s ability to demonstrate the fragility in these strong warriors is what’s most impressive.
There will always be casualties and unavoidable injuries in battle, and Wiebe and Upchurch work seamlessly together to present these moments as effectively as they can in both script and art. This installment sees the Rat Queens fighting against a giant troll while nailing a few standard high fantasy tropes in the process. From staple asskicking poses, to calling the attacks out before launching their assaults, they’ve got it covered. With that said, anticipate the awesome “Betty Climber” because Upchurch illustrates something so viscerally badass, and mortifyingly adorable with Wiebe’s hippy smidgen. It took two issues, but she’s wormed her way onto the top of my Rat Queens list.
The artwork delivers a thrilling visual atmosphere as Upchurch brings Wiebe’s universe to life. How he manages to maintain a subtly light tone to compliment the script, while also incorporating spectacular illustrations of bloody violence, is beyond me. There’s an increase in blood splatter and injuries this time around, and he’s nailed the imagery perfectly. In this issue readers will get to see Dee’s cleric healing powers in action as she tends to one fantastically gnarly battle wound, courtesy of Upchurch’s pencils. He continues to demonstrate his knack for illustrating smooth and effortlessly fluid narrative drawings when the scenes call for wild action. Personally, besides the fantastic explosions of blood and violence, his facial expression work is exceptionally good, especially when the Rat Queens are angry, indignant, or ready to kick ass. It’s a sight to see.
“Rat Queens” #2 delivers just as hard as the series opener. Wiebe and Upchurch give readers a better sense of the character dynamics, and offer a great portrayal of the natural, unforced chemistry the battle maidens have as a unit.
Starting with “Rat Queens” #3, the creative team will be incorporating a letters column into the books, so direct your love and affection to this email address: theratqueens@gmail.com
4/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – ShadowJayd
Comics
‘You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive’ – IDW Dark’s Next Horror Comic Will Make You Question Reality
Five friends. Four houses. One perfect life. Bloody Disgusting is excited to exclusively announce You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive, a brand new horror comic from IDW Dark.
From Eisner-Nominated writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, and rising horror artist Heather Vaughan, You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive is described as a “paranoia-laced, socially-conscious, horror mystery that will leave you questioning reality, and reveal that this crafted world is more of a nightmare than the idealistic dream they were expecting.”
Phoebe Joplin has never questioned the world her parents built: a secluded community where she and her friends were raised to be smarter, stronger, and better than anyone else. No distractions. No dangers. No secrets. Until the night of their graduation.
When one of them dies under impossible circumstances, Phee starts to pull at the edges of her perfect life—and what she finds is something far more terrifying than she ever imagined.
Because this place isn’t a sanctuary. It’s a cage. And no one who discovers the truth ever leaves it alive.
Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing (Batman – One Bad Day: Clayface, Star Trek: The Last Starship) co-write the upcoming IDW Dark horror comic, featuring art by Heather Vaughan.
Jackson Lanzing said in a statement to Bloody Disgusting, “You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive is in many ways a spiritual successor to our last creator-owned horror, The Principles of Necromancy – a dive into the promise and consequence of playing god with the blood of innocents. But the Hivemind book this reminds me of most is Clayface: One Bad Day. This is a deeply human story with intensely raw emotions – five best friends and their five mysterious parents, tearing one another apart for the promise of some impossible glory that’s waiting just beyond their darkest actions. We’re thrilled to be bringing this story to life with our long-time partner in crime, editor Heather Antos, at IDW Dark – and we’re particularly excited to give our Clayface fans a new, brutal and emotional horror made just for them.”
Adds Collin Kelly, “We’re deconstructing a feeling that seems universal these days; our elders have a death grip on their power, without any intention of giving it up to the generations that come next. YNLTPA is about growing up with the limitless potential of the future… and realizing how much it’s a lie we’ve been fed to keep us under the yoke of the past. Bringing this brutal experience to life is our artist and co-creator, Heather Vaughan, who brings an incredible amount of humanity to our cast. But it’s in our youthful leads that Heather’s art really shines – you are going to fall in love with these young people, even as they go through the worst experience of their lives. What we’ve all crafted together is going to be tragic, painful, but above all else, sincere – with a future so uncertain, there’s only one thing we can trust: you’ll never leave this place alive.”
“Some horror stories are about monsters in the dark. YNLTPA is about realizing the monsters raised you,” previews Senior Group Editor Heather Antos. “Working with Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly on this series has been a dream in the darkest possible way. They’ve built a story that’s layered, brutal, and deeply emotional, and every issue gives artist Heather Vaughan opportunities to push the art into places that feel both haunting and deeply personal. Some horror comics will keep you up at night…this is one that will stick with you for years to come.”
The first issue of You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive goes on sale October 14, 2026! Make sure to pre-order at your local comic shop by September to guarantee a copy.
Exclusively check out the various covers for Issue #1 down below.
IDW Publishing’s horror imprint IDW DARK features comics like A Quiet Place: Storm Warning, Smile: For the Camera, The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees, The Twilight Zone, Event Horizon: Dark Descent & Event Horizon: Inferno, and more.
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