[Book Review] Rat Queens Volume 3: Demons

Rat Queens Volume 3: Demons / Kurtis J. Wiebe, Roc Upchrurch (ill), and Stjepan Sejic (ill) (Powell's Books)

On to continuing adventures of the Rat Queens!  If you want my review of Volumes 1 & 2 (or specifically, the Deluxe Hardcover edition that contained both Volumes 1 & 2) it's here.

Well, the good news is the Rat Queens have saved the world from ending, with some general leveling up in knowledge and power along the way.  The bad news is those gains have a cost, and life keeps throwing complications their way.

Rat Queens: Demons is by and large Hannah's story.  The story still has humor, warmth, and sass, but this volume is not a happy one.  There are moments of delight, like finding that Violet has some beardbirds of her own from Orc Dave (honestly, everything involving their relationship just is awesome to me), or what I will refer to as "the Candy Dragon Encounter."  But Hannah has her literal and figurative demons, and this journey home takes her to a dark and desperate place.  She projects her self-loathing on to others and makes bad choices, not realizing that she's being played and her friends love her dearly.

Excellently written, beautifully illustrated.  I'm left eagerly awaiting Volume 4.

Advance Reader Copy courtesy of Image Comics in exchange for an honest review; changes may exist between galley and the final edition.

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