Rat Queens
Cover ofRat Queens #1, featuring, clockwise from the top: Dee, Betty, Hannah, and Violet.
Publication information
Publisher	Image Comics
Schedule	Monthly, with breaks
Genre	Comic fantasy
Publication date	September 2013
Creative team
Created by	Kurtis J. Wiebe Roc Upchurch
Written by	Kurtis J. Wiebe (#1–16, Vo. 2 #1–15) Ryan Ferrier (Vol. 2 #16–present)
Artist(s)	Roc Upchurch (#1–8) Stjepan Šejić (#9–10) Tess Fowler (#11–16) Owen Gieni (Vol. 2 #1–15) Priscilla Petraites (Vol. 2 #16–present)
Letterer	Ryan Ferrier
Colorist(s)	Tamra Bonvillain (#11–16) Marco Lesko (Vol. 2 #16–present)
Collected editions
1. Sass and Sorcery	ISBN 9781607069454
2. The Far Reaching Tentacles of N’Rygoth	ISBN 9781632150400
3. Demons	ISBN 9781632157355
4. High Fantasies	ISBN 9781632158994
5. The Colossal Magic Nothing	ISBN 9781534306776
6. The Infernal Path	ISBN 9781534310698
7. The Once and Future King	ISBN 9781534314665
8. The God Dilemma	ISBN 9781534316720

Rat Queens is an Americanfantasycomic book series created by Kurtis J. Wiebe and Roc Upchurch, published byImage Comics. The series was written by Wiebe until Ryan Ferrier took over in mid 2019. The original 2013–2016 run was drawn by Roc Upchurch,Stjepan Šejić, and Tess Fowler. The series was put on hiatus in April 2016 and returned in March 2017 with the new artist Owen Gieni.^[1] Currently, Moritat & Casey Silver are the ongoing artists.^{[needs update]}

Recounting the exploits of a party of four rowdy, foul-mouthed adventurers, the series has received critical praise, was nominated for the 2014Eisner Award for Best New Series^[2] and won the 2015GLAAD Media Award.^[3]

Writer Kurtis Wiebe described the series as a "love letter to my years ofD&D (...) and fantasy" with a modern twist, and the concept as "Lord of the Rings meetsBridesmaids". Originally intended to be funded throughKickstarter, it was picked up byJim Valentino at Image Comics a week before the funding campaign was to start.Rat Queens was intended to be published at a pace of ten issues per year, with two-month breaks between collections.^[4]

Artist Roc Upchurch left the book after issue #8 and Image Comics announced thatStjepan Šejić would continue the series as artist beginning with issue #9 in February 2015, preceded by a special issue about the orc warrior Braga by guest artistTess Fowler in January 2015.^[5] After Šejić left the series in July 2015 for health reasons, Fowler continued the series as main artist, joined by colorist Tamra Bonvillain.^[6]

In April 2016, Fowler left the title, and Wiebe paused work on it. In May 2016, Fowler wrote that Wiebe pushed her out to make room for Upchurch's return after the fourth arc. Wiebe denied this and said that the collaboration not working out creatively was the reason for Fowler's departure and the comic's hiatus.^[7]

In July 2016, Wiebe announced thatRat Queens would continue as awebcomic. Early strips in this format would be drawn byBattlepug creatorsMike Norton andCecilia Dupuy.^[8]

In November 2016, Wiebe announced thatRat Queens would return to print with a new series artist, Owen Gieni.^[9]

OnReddit, Wiebe clarified that issue #16 (When Beards Collide, Part 1) would not be considered canon following the reboot. Apparently he found it too difficult to wrap that arc up and put the series back on track.^[10] He later found a way to reference #16 while writing #9 of the reboot series, but reiterated that #16 will not be collected. The reference is anEaster egg for those that read #16.^[11]

Wiebe and Gieni ended their work as the series' writer and artist in March 2019, with issue #15.^[12] A new creative team of Ryan Ferrier (writer), Priscilla Petraites (artist), and Marco Lesko (colorist) resumed work on the series in June 2019.^[13]

The storylineThe God Dilemma ended the regular serialization of the series, but original creators Wiebe and Upchurch have announced they will be producing a graphic novel finale for the series tying up all remaining loose ends, giving the characters a true final send-off. This finale, titled RatQueens: Sisters, Warriors, Queens was published in late September 2023, with Upchurch returning as its artist.^[14]

The eponymous "Rat Queens" are a rambunctious party of adventurers in amedieval fantasy setting. They comprise therockabillyelvenmage Hannah, thehipsterdwarvenwarrior Violet who shaved her beard before it became cool, theatheist humancleric Dee, who hails from a family ofLovecraftian monster cultists, and thehippiehalfling (here called "smidgen")thief Betty, whose idea of a hearty meal is a bag of drugs and candy.^[4] They were later joined by Braga, atransgender Orc warrior.

The first five issues follow the group's exploits as they try to defend themselves against assassins intent on killing them and other adventuring groups that have been roughing up their home town of Palisade. The second story arc sees the Rat Queens trying to prevent a vengeful businessman from summoning Dee's people'smany-tentacled gods to lay waste to Palisade. The third arc has Hannah return to her sinisteralma mater after her father is arrested for attempting a coup.

Hannah Vizari

A black-haired Elven necromancer who made a pact with a demon named Hazirel^[15] and was cursed by the demonic Necrius magic^[16] he bestowed upon her, which among other things made her grow horns, which she tries to hide under her haircurls.^[17] Later, the corruption causes her to be split into a good and evil half.^[18]

Violet ("Vi") Blackforge

A redhaired Dwarven fighter of the Blackforge Clan who became tired of her father's adherence to old-fashioned traditions, which disallowed Dwarven females from becoming warriors even though Violet had the talent. After beating up a guest of her father's who made a slur at her, she banished herself from the clan, cutting off her beard as a sign of rebellion against tradition,^[19] although she would let it grow back later. She has a relationship with Dave, an Orc healer,^[20] whom she later marries.^[21] Her twin brother Barrie, her rival for her father's approval even though he dearly loves his sister, later becomes the leader of a copycat imitation of Violet's team called "Cat Kings".^[22]

Dee (Delilah)

A human ex-high priestess of a monster cult who left her faith and her family after she became disillusioned with the horrors they worshipped.^[20] She still continues to use her powers, especially for healing, despite her falling-out with her dark deity.^[16] She was once married with Mezikiah, another cult member.^[16][23] At one point she is called into the realm of the gods and granted the powers of a dwindling deity.^[24] Although shy in social situations and gloomy about her choices in life, she loves the company of her fellow Rat Queens and will do anything to keep them safe.

Betty

A fun-loving Smidgen thief whose major vices in life are candy, hallucinogens, and large servings of alcoholic drinks. She is also a lesbian, with a long-lasting relationship with a human woman named Faeyri.^[25] Formerly calledPetunia Harvestchild, she was the leader of aRobin Hood-type group called The Five Monkeys, who were framed for robbery and all - except Betty - thrown into prison; as a result, the other members of the Five Monkeys, unaware that Betty has beenscapegoated, are out for revenge on her.^[15][26] In combat she is a vicious fighter, using her small size and agility to fullest advantage.

Braga

A huge, one-eyed transgender Orc and former member of the Peaches, another adventuring team which was wiped out during the firstRat Queens story arc.^[27] Born male and originally named Broog, Braga was the oldest child and heir to of her tribe's chieftain, but she didn't believe in her people's constant warring. Her ambitious younger brother Voon attempted a coup to eliminate her and take up the chieftainship; after her best friend and lover Kiruk was slain by Voon's minions, Braga crippled Voon in revenge and left her tribe,^[28] although Voon would later return, imbued with demonic powers, to plague Braga anew.^[24] Her transition is not shown in the books but appears to have happened in between when she left her family and when she arrived in Palisades as a mercenary. Already a good friend of the Rat Queens, she later joins them full-time in their exploits.^[22]

Madeline

The teenage daughter of a retired bard who works as a barmaid in her father's tavern. She has long admired the Rat Queens and wants to be a fighter.^[29] After Violet's marriage and subsequent retirement, she takes over as the group's apprentice fighter.^[30]

Rat Queens received critical praise. It was nominated for the 2014Eisner Award for best new series,^[31] and won the 2015GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book for its portrayals ofLGBT characters.^[32] The first compiled volume,Rat Queens: Sass and Sorcery, was nominated for the 2015Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story.^[33]

InPaste, Robert Tutton noted that the "rowdy, sarcastic and intensely loyal" personalities of the main characters drive the series, and praised its seamless transitions from "gore to humor, sprawling action to small personal moments", as well as artist Roc Upchurch's skill at portraying facial expressions.^[34] Augie De Blieck fromComic Book Resources appreciated the "dark, twisted, and hilarious" series for its fast pacing, Wiebe's witty (and foul-mouthed) writing, and the humanity and personality with which Upchurch infused his drawings.^[35] Writing forIGN, Benjamin Bailey described the "mix ofD20 adventures and modernangst" as perfecting the formula of injecting humor and wit intosword and sorcery tropes,^[36] and praised Upchurch's "expressive and unique" character designs.^[37]

To promote the return ofRat Queens, Kurtis Wiebe ran a series of webcomics on his blog.^[70] The first 10 comics were later released as a digital comic issue.^[71]

The series is collected intotrade paperbacks and deluxe hardcovers. Wiebe originally stated thatRat Queens #16 would never be collected. Weibe commented onReddit: "I hated that issue. It was a reminder of how bad things had gotten creatively."^[72] However in 2023 Wiebe announced on Facebook that it would finally be collected in the Rat Queens Omnibus, to be published later in 2023.^[73]

While Wiebe considersRat Queens, Volume 3: Demonscanon, he said he would not collect the arc in the deluxe hardcovers because of his falling out with the artist, Tess Fowler.^[72] However this decision has been reversed and the arc will be included in the Rat Queens Omnibus.^[73]

In 2014,Pūkeko Pictures andHeavy Metal magazine announced their intent to adaptRat Queens as a 30-minute animated television series.^[74] There has been no news since then.

Issue #14 of the digitalDungeons & Dragons'magazineDragon+ featuresThe Hangover, a role-playing adventure written by Kurtis Wiebe.^[75]

Since 2019, theTwitch channel "Hyper Rabbit Power Go" (Hyper RPG) is streaming a tabletop RPG series based onRat Queens. Participants include Emily Jacobson as the game master, Jessica Lynn Verdi as Hannah, Laurie Jones as Violet, Aliza Pearl as Dee, Michelle Nguyen Bradley as Betty, and Riley Silverman as Braga.^[76]

• Rat Queens at Image Comics

• Image Comics limited series
• 2013 comics debuts
• Fantasy comics
• Humor comics
• GLAAD Media Awards winners
• Comics about women
• Feminist comics
• Transgender-related comics
• Orcs in popular culture

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