Golden Rage Volume 2: Mother Knows Best

Golden Rage #6-10

by Chrissy Williams, Lauren Knight (illustrator)

In a world where old and infertile women are deemed useless to society and abandoned on an island, GOLDEN RAGE documents their golden years of making friends, baking dessert, and fighting to the death.

MOTHER KNOWS BEST builds on the first GOLDEN RAGE volume for a glorious new adventure.

Created by writer CHRISSY WILLIAMS (editor of DIE, THE WICKED + THE DIVINE), artist LAUREN KNIGHT (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), and colorist SOFIE DODGSON (BITTER ROOT, Tank Girl), this is the FIRST ISSUE of a brand-new five-issue miniseries where Battle Royale meets The Golden Girls.

Collects Golden Rage: Mother Knows Best #1-5.

Genres: Graphic Novels

152 pages, Paperback

Published November 18, 2025

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. I liked the ending and the themes this series explores.

[Alex Sarll]

Mother Knows Best introduces the unignorably loud and stinky Mcguffin of a baby, mysteriously abandoned on the island of old women society has decided it no longer needs. But it also follows closely from the first volume, even if that entails much of the progress made therein being undone, because as we now know, that's how the world works. This is part of why I like the series so much: it knows that how society treats its discarded is appalling, but doesn't fall into the trap of assuming that makes them all saints, or wise, or even necessarily halfway competent, because after all, they are still humans too. The interest in human frailty, and the seductive but dangerous power of stories, may go some way to explaining the bond between Williams and husband Kieron Gillen; the sense of humour on display clarifies how she puts up with him.

[A Fan of Comics · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could be bloodier.

A baby shows up on the retired women’s island. While a mother and daughter fight over their past, others are just trying to find peace in a place that it’s hard to have.
For a series that describes itself as “battle royal” it sure was sweet and understanding. Not that there isn’t any violence, things just felt a little overhyped compared to what it was actually like. I feel like this series ended too happily and very fast. Everything worked out in the end and all the threats that the ladies faced were gone… it just felt too easy. I also don’t know if I liked any of the characters enough to wonder how they are doing after this events maybe the baby but that’s about it.

[Emily Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.6 ⭐️ gripping concept and a fun read but needed a bit more exploration on central themes and plot points.

This is a really fun series but I just wanted it to go further at points. A lot of the angst and tension is rapidly resolved and the reader isn’t always given time to think about the impact of major plot points before moving onto point B.

A lot of the points do feel quite surface level, and I would have loved to dive more into the misogyny and violence of the outer world who sent them there.

Saying that, I had a great time with both volumes. I think the concept is out there, well thought out and refreshing. The art is also truly awesome- and I loved The Golden Girls nods, and helpful tips at the end.

I appreciated how they begin to tackle these glaring societal issues and pressures- I just wish the comic delved deeper. At times this story felt like it was getting lost in itself instead of focussing on something more linear, concrete and well developed.

However this is a great series and well worth a read in my opinion. If more volumes came out I would read them.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would love to know if more is planned for this series. It’s a super interesting idea but I just felt like there wasn’t enough worldbuilding and I wanted to know MORE about the world and everyone’s past.
This seemed like an ending but I would gladly read more of it if they did a prequel or something.

[Kurt]

read single issues.

nowhere near as good as the first.

[Mee Too · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought both of these were pretty good! Ive never even watched golden girls.
Im not sure how it looks going forward but I’ll definitely give it a read.

3.6🌟

[Melody Soundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another incredible edition. The second volume builds upon the concept even more.

[Tay Gibs · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

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