Adi

What can I say about this brilliant graphic novel? I finished it in one sitting, in less than an hour (all graphic novels/comics are quick to read, usually).

Betty is a cute goblin, who mixes and cooks the most potent booze and food you can imagine. She specialises in thievery.
Dee is a sultry black acolyte and, ironically, an atheist. She specialises in healing.
Hannah is an elven, a sex fiend, and a trash talker. She specialises in offensive magic.
Violet is a blood thirsty dwarf powerful enough to slice the strongest diamond into shreds with her sword. She specialises in killing. 

Meet the Rat Queens!

And I'm totally in love with Betty! Actually, no, I want to sleep with the entire Rat Queens gang: Betty, Dee, Hannah and Violet. Damn it! They're all hot, witty and, above all, kick serious arse that would make [INSERT YOUR FAVOURITE SUPER HERO] shit their pants. No, I'm serious! The Rat Queens are my favourite super heroes.

I love their brand of humour – very colourfully profane, sarcastic and raunchy. There's even a subtle dig at Harry Potter (sort of), where the Rat Queens sing a song while they're drunk, that had me laughing out loud. This graphic novel has all the elements of great fantasy: violence, blood & gore, booze, profanity, humour, friendship, rollicking adventures and monster slaying. And sex. 

The characters are fully fleshed out, each of whom has a back story. This makes you care for them and want to know them more. They even openly talk about drugs, sex, men (and women), and bitch & celebrate in equal measure. They have needs, just like us human beings, and therefore people you could hang out and make out with. In other words, they are relatable characters. 

And oh, did I mention that the violence is intense, excessive, over-the-top which makes the gore in other graphic novels tame by comparison? You may want to read this book before a meal. There, I've warned you. But it's totally worth it.

If you liked Game of Thrones, you will love this even better. Go and buy one right now! 
If you're fond of Dungeons & Dragons, role-playing games (RPGs) and Lord of the Rings, then you need pick this one up. 
If you're a woman, then picking this up will make you wet with glee. 
If you're a man, then put aside your male ego and pride and pick this up to enjoy kickass women slay monsters that will make you rock hard.

I can't wait for the next installment! Go Rat Queens!

This book is simply a reminder that the internet is a dark, creepy, and scary place. And a place to steer away from. Jon Ronson has done a fantastic job of detailing the finer aspects of a topic that few talk about – public shaming. And how to recover, if you're a victim of shaming.

What have I learnt from reading this book?

1) Don't do anything stupid on the internet. Duh. The fewer footprints you leave online, the better.
2) Don't even try hurting someone on the internet. It's very easy to do this though because of inherent bias of crowd behaviour. This is far worse than doing something stupid.
3) Unfortunately, empathy is a difficult trait to acquire; either you have it, or you don't. Most don't. Even the good guys don't have it.

This book also sheds insights on deshaming and how powerful kindness can be to those affected by public shaming. The world (and the internet) will be a better place if we all read this book.

This book is about sex. Well, sort of.

There isn't much difference between the old & young when it comes thinking about sex. But this book is a lot more than just putrid fantasies & boning - it's about relationships, broken relationships, past lovers, present lovers, spouses, families, children, faded memories, death, orgasms, and clutching to bits & pieces of yourself at the twilight of your life. The sex is quite graphic and erotic, but it takes a backseat, giving way to fully fleshed out characters.

It's a well written book, and it does give perspective on aging, relationships and, to some extent, sex.

The title of the book is just a clever ploy to dangle a carrot (so to speak) to shoppers. It's a clickbait of sorts. And I'm glad I bought it.

The master of storytelling - Neil Gaiman, who along with two fabulous twins illustrators - Fabio Moon & Gabriel Ba, - have created a fascinating story unlike any other. The book measures a mere 61 pages, but Gaiman and the twin brothers have squeezed the entire universe into a focal story about what it means to be human.

Most people are familiar with Gaiman's storytelling and his affiliation to the science fiction genre. Gaiman is also a master in fusing two different universes into one. If you read his short story - A Study in Emerald, in which he meshed Cthulhu and Sherlock Holmes into a ‘whodunit' - you will love this one. By infusing science fiction elements to a plot where two guys are simply looking to get laid, Gaiman has notched up his storytelling to another level. The story is about two friends – a thin doofus (who can't bring himself to talk to girls) and a muscular alpha-male (whose track record with women is like no other) – attending a party where things begin to get interesting (and very very weird!). I won't say anything more because you must read this!

Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba (of the ‘Daytripper' fame; if you haven't read this I highly recommend it) have outdone themselves, with each panel in the book a joy to behold. Superb watercolour strokes and innovative use of orange & red palettes to convey the essence of Gaiman's story, characters and its world merits close attention and appreciation. On the outset, their style may look simplistic but it is very hard to pull it off. Kudos!

This book is unlike any other. It comes at a rather steep price for just 64 pages, but it is worth it. I'm glad I bought and it is another worthy addition to my graphic novel collection.