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walkerct 's review for:
Rat Queens, Vol. 4: High Fantasies
by Kurtis J. Wiebe
I had no idea that Wiebe had decided to do a soft reboot of this series before I started reading this volume. I'm not necessarily opposed to this approach. Powers did it successfully a number of times, for instance. However, I do feel letdown that he failed to resolve most if not all of the plot threads he had going. Volume 3 ended on a pretty dark note, and to have this one start back at square one feels like dropping the ball pretty hardcore. Wiebe claims that he'll reveal how the two volumes connect as the story moves forward, so I'll reserve judgment for now. Honestly though, it kind of feels like he wrote himself into a tight spot and is now trying to buy some time until he gets everything worked out.
Reboot aside, the book offers up the same thing as far as story and tone go. The irreverent and oftentimes crude humor is still front and center, and it delivers consistent laughs throughout. The more dramatic moments were, as in past books, a mixed bag. Sometimes they manage touching moments of character growth and bonding, while at other times they feel clunky and soap opera-y. They can also be rushed, having to compete with the zanier action-oriented aspects of the comic. This tonal shift is occasionally used well for comedic effect, but it can also be awkward.
Rat Queens have obviously gone through a lot of artists in its short run, and Owen Gieni is the latest to take up those duties. His work is good, for the most part. I prefer it to Roc Upchurch's art, but I would place it below both Tess Fowler and Stjepan Šejić (who is my personal favorite RQ artist.) His character work is good, and it's fun to see his take on what are by now familiar characters. I find his colors to be the book's weak point, though. They are often muted and bland, and the art lacks the vibrancy and sharpness of previous volumes. Aside from some nice reds, the color palette of these issues is a very dull brown and grey with occasional (equally drab) greens and blues. Hopefully that's just due to the story being set largely in an underground ruin.
I will still probably read the next volumes of RQ, but my enthusiasm for the title is not what it once was.
Reboot aside, the book offers up the same thing as far as story and tone go. The irreverent and oftentimes crude humor is still front and center, and it delivers consistent laughs throughout. The more dramatic moments were, as in past books, a mixed bag. Sometimes they manage touching moments of character growth and bonding, while at other times they feel clunky and soap opera-y. They can also be rushed, having to compete with the zanier action-oriented aspects of the comic. This tonal shift is occasionally used well for comedic effect, but it can also be awkward.
Rat Queens have obviously gone through a lot of artists in its short run, and Owen Gieni is the latest to take up those duties. His work is good, for the most part. I prefer it to Roc Upchurch's art, but I would place it below both Tess Fowler and Stjepan Šejić (who is my personal favorite RQ artist.) His character work is good, and it's fun to see his take on what are by now familiar characters. I find his colors to be the book's weak point, though. They are often muted and bland, and the art lacks the vibrancy and sharpness of previous volumes. Aside from some nice reds, the color palette of these issues is a very dull brown and grey with occasional (equally drab) greens and blues. Hopefully that's just due to the story being set largely in an underground ruin.
I will still probably read the next volumes of RQ, but my enthusiasm for the title is not what it once was.