Rat God #5
Written and Illustrated by Richard Corben
Colored by Richard Corben and Beth Corben Reed
Lettered by Nate Piekos of Blambot
Cover by Richard Corben
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: June 3, 2015
Cover Price: $3.99

What a weird and wild ride Rat God has been! In the fifth and final issue of Richard Corben‘s horror mini-series, Clark Elwood risks all to save the woman he loves, in what is surely the strangest installement yet.

Narrated once again by Mag the Hag — a bizarre, omniscient wanderer found in many of Corben’s stories — Clark Elwood finally comes face to face with the Rat God and its worshippers. In a last ditch attempt to save Kito, Clark must fight the crazed religious fanatics and monstrous beasts. And in the end, he’ll uncover an ancient truth that will change his world forever.

This has not been an easy series to read. Corben has layered Rat God with such depth and peculiarity that even as a lifelong comic reader, it has been a struggle to truly understand both the magnitude and subtle nuances of the story; however, in a tale that blends together Native American culture and traditions so interestingly with Lovecraftian horror, it was still an enjoyable and satisfying read. The final pages of Rat God #5 provide excellent payoff.

Corben’s illustrations are equally as unusual as the story itself. The grotesque depictions of the people inhabiting the rundown town of Lame Dog, as well as the vicious beasts that lurk in the dark corners of the town, create a beautiful amalgamation of a strange, visual, and well-written horror.

While I can’t recommend Rat God #5 to the average comic book reader — or to children for that matter — I would certainly say that if you don’t mind investing some time into a fascinatingly eerie tale, then pick up the series soon.