Golden Rage Volume 1

Golden Rage #1-5

by Chrissy Williams, Lauren Knight (Artist), Sofie Dodgson (Artist)

Older women have been deemed useless to society and abandoned on a remote island, where they must fight to the death, whilst making friends and dessert. Welcome to GOLDEN a not-too distant dystopia where BATTLE ROYALE meets THE GOLDEN GIRLS.

COLLECTS GOLDEN RAGE #1-5

“Battle Royale meets The Golden Girls with dashes of Agatha Christie and Logan’s Run. I’m all the way in!” ― Kelly Sue DeConnick

"Golden Rage's not-so-farfetched dystopian island of castaway old ladies will question your attitude toward the aging women of this world. A very important subject of self-reflection indeed." ― Elsa Charretier

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Horror, Fiction, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Adult

160 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2023

Reviews

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 3 out of 5]

A series with an okay premise, that wastes a lot of its potential, eventhough it has five issue-length chapters to tell its story with.

On its surface it has a strong feminist message, about menopausal women basically being exiled from a misogynist ultra-patriarchal society, but surely it must have something more to say about it, and I couldn't find it. (It also must be said it is strange to have no mention of non-binary and trans people, which just seems plain weird when your main premise is all about gender and sexuality).

There's quite a lot of backmatter, including books to read, and a deranged essay about clowns.

(Read a review copy through Edelweiss)

[Willow Heath]

Anyone who reads this excellent comic book will likely be unable to resist calling it "Golden Girls meets Battle Royale" because that's exactly what it is. And it's also exactly as good as that description sounds.

Golden Rage is set on an island which has been used as a dumping ground by—what we can only assume to be—the UK government. Tragically, what's being dumped is any woman who has gone through the menopause and is therefore considered useless. It's a dark and twisted theme to explore, and one that feels frighteningly relevant in our current political climate. But the comic doesn't dwell on it, choosing instead to focus on the women themselves, the communities that have developed on the island, and the bonds they share.

It's violent in a fun way, heartwarming in a cosy way, and delivers some brilliant little twists and turns along the way.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

So...there's a lot here, and initially it felt obvious that I would love it. Patriarchal dystopia about to be served by feminist exiles deemed useless by society because they can no longer reproduce? Sign me up! But it just kind of got bogged down by other things and didn't fully deliver. Especially the girl who was kind of the main character? She wasn't fully developed. I think it probably would have been better if more were explained and the story was extended.

That being said, there were a couple things I loved:
1) Backstories narrated from the characters' perspectives but shown as they actually happened. I love that you see how the words they use for their stories don't quite match up with their lives, and that made the characters a bit more real for me.
2) The death caretakers--can't remember what they're called, but the ladies who take the dead bodies up the mountain for a grieving ceremony of sorts. Also the ceremony toward the end, acknowledging loss and life together. I love some prime grief processing!
3) The clown scene! Following a different tradition than the goofy humor we usually see in U.S. clowns. The performance art (or really, illustrations) spoke so loudly, though they said nothing, and it was profound. Whichever creator plotted that, wow.

I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 3, because the art was good, and my favorite parts (listed above) really made this an interesting read for me.

[Esme · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐

This had a really entertaining premise. I was expecting it to be a bit funnier, but it felt like a more serious book at times based on the greater message behind it. I did really like our characters, I enjoyed learning more about each one and I'm intrigued to see where else the story takes them. The art was nice, it's not my favorite but it fit the GN.

Thank you Netgalley & Image Comic for the digital copy! *all opinions are my own*

[Krystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kinda terrible, if I'm honest, and overwhelmingly disappointing.

This is supposed to be about murderous Nanas and I was expecting a lot more comedy than I got. It was honestly far too brief for what it set up and had so much potential that was completely wasted.

Maybe menopausal women will connect with this more, but as an aging woman I felt absolutely nothing other than disappointment.

Artwork wasn't anything particularly special, though at least it was clear enough to follow the action.

This should have been so much more than it was.

[Lukasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

It’s awesome!

In Golden Rage, older women have been deemed useless to society and left on an island where they must fight to the death, make friends, and tea. There are a lot of cats there. Occasional bloodshed and mayhem aside, it’s a wonderful community.

Except for one trendy sociopath in a denim jacket, maybe.

There’s a new woman on the shore, and she’ll have to learn to navigate the island fast, especially since she has secrets of her own.

I loved this story. It has machete-wielding older women and recipes to make delicious stuff with broadleaf plantain or dandelion. Above all, though, it tells an excellent (if not fully resolved) story.

Golden Rage mixes tones, humor and horror, bloodshed and tender moments. I had a great time reading it!

ARC through Edelweiss

[Alex Sarll]

"Battle Royale meets The Golden Girls" is the elevator pitch, and the comic lives up to that, a surprisingly effective hybrid of comically tinged mutual support, valuable life lessons, and people getting stabbed the fuck up. It even uses the backmatter to help round out that mood, with reviews of books by Golden Girls actresses butting up against foraging tips and a beginner's knitting project. You could object that, given the extent to which we live in a gerontocracy, the prospect of menopausal women being exiled to remote islands is, well, remote – but it's not like dystopias only function as warnings of the world around the next corner; they can equally serve to dramatise the now, and as a reification of the invisibility felt by women past a certain age, this works a treat.

(Edelweiss ARC)

[Kristin Kvilhaug · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 stars. What a great concept! The execution… not so much. Old, or rather menopausal, women are put on an island way out at sea to live out their days. Life here is all but peaceful, with violent gangs and a kill or be killed mentality. I liked the characters and found the artwork good, but the whole experience fell a bit flat seeing as there was practically no world-building (or explanation for anything).

[James DeSantis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this. The story is a great idea, full of potential for sharp commentary on aging and femininity, but the execution ultimately fell short. The core plot, following the arrival of newcomer Lottie and her integration into the various existing factions, or Houses, like the traditional Weavers and the more militant Guardians, suffered from poor flow. The pacing was really slow at points as it established the island's rules and history, but other times way too fast, glossing over crucial moments of conflict and alliance-building among the characters. The humor, when there, felt forced, often coming across as unnatural or trying too hard, which detracted from the seriousness of their situation.

The primary issue was with the characters. None of it really hit the marks I was hoping for. Lottie, our entry point into this bizarre world, lacked the spark and complexity needed to anchor the story, making it hard to invest in her journey or her choices. This affected the ensemble cast as well; despite the volume of women, the interactions and rivalries between the Houses felt underdeveloped and stiff. But it's not all bad. The book features solid art that is vibrant and distinctive, making the world visually compelling even when the script falters. Overall, it's a very cool plot idea that I simply wished was handled with more polish and focus. I wished I liked it more, and for these reasons, I give Golden Rage Volume 1 A 2.5 out of 5.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing setting and characters, but the story seemed like it ended abruptly. There's so much potential to explore this world but the overall story just scratched the surface. I would love to see this story expanded into a more elaborate saga!

[Sara the Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you ever wondered what would happen if someone threw the Golden Girls into a "Battle Royale" type scenario, handed them a bunch of AK-47's and told them to have at it boy do I have a graphic novel for you.

[Lizette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recommend-O-Meter: I’m sad that it wasn’t better

This is a story about an island filled with murderous grandmas, which is perhaps one of the coolest concepts I’ve seen in recent comics. Anyone unable to have children is considered “useless” by the society and shipped off to a remote location, left to fend for themselves. This of course leads to an elderly Battle Royale. Perfectly normal.

So yeah, the premise truly is amazing and definitely a great discussion point. But the actual book falls way flat, unfortunately. For starters, the whole dystopia is mostly just mentioned in passing. We don’t really get to hear much about what exactly made society throw out all these women aside form that they were deemed “useless.” And then there’s the plot: I expected more fighting, but it was shown very sparingly. In fact, it wasn’t even properly explained why a certain group was killing so many of the other women at the start (or if it was, then it was just a quick rundown that I was too bored to notice). The sequence of events also seemed quite clunky, and I couldn’t really get hooked on it at all.

Yeah, I don’t have much else to say about this one. It was just disappointing overall.

[I received an ARC of this book from the publisher on NetGalley. This does not in any way affect the contents of my review.]

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the concept, humor, art, and essays, but the pacing is off and slow. This seems like it's aiming for a similar sarcasm/satiric feminist vibe as Bitch Planet, Vol. 1: Extraordinary Machine or Man-Eaters, Vol. 1 but doesn't quite get there. This needs another volume to really get going, and after another volume I'd have to reassess. There were a few moments that I particularly liked, though, including the scene with the clowns (something I never thought I'd say :p ).

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Acceptable art and engaging characters don't quite make up for the distinct lack of world-building in Golden Rage. Old women are committed to an island, where they form gangs and occasionally fight to the death. It's all the fun of Lord of the Flies without any of the setup. We're dropped onto the island and expected to instantly care about these murderous grannies who have no backstory.

No one seems particularly interested in escaping until the end. There are hints that the wider world is coming for them, leading to somewhat of a cliffhanger ending - though it could also just conclude this wispy little series? The dialogue is fine and the characters are well crafted, but the general premise feels extremely "I had one idea!"

[Katey Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know about this...

[A Fan of Comics · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mother, maiden, warrior.

Women are sent to an island when they are deemed useless to society anymore.
I feel a little deceived by this series. While it was interesting, funny, sweet and created a unique world that was reminiscent of other great comic series, it didn’t feel brutal enough for what the title and covers had showcased. Was it still good? Yes. Did I want more blood? Absolutely. The characters are still interesting and I would like to know more about them. I was really into the parts were one of the characters was narrating her past/daydreaming then it interrupted the scene. It was just a nice reminder on what comics can do differently from other mediums. I also think that this series needed just a few more pages to air our some of the time between events. I would have liked more drama with the mom and daughter. Or them even being hunted. Overall I liked the messages they had throughout the book. I just think they would be more impactful if there was just a bit more rage….

[Emily Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.6 ⭐️ Really enjoyed the premise of this but did feel as if the plot fell a tad flat against it.

However I am hoping that volume one was vague and slow paced to pave the way for more intrigue in volume two. I think there was an awful lot of alluding to plot points without giving us much concrete story, and whilst I would have liked more I still had fun reading this and will be reading volume two.

The art style is awesome and there’s a bunch of likeable characters with some sassy flare and well developed personalities.

Rep// Older MCs, Black MCs.

TWs listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.










TW// bodies, death, murder, stabbing, mentions of death by cancer, fertility struggles and hinted at miscarriages, blood, ageism, violence against women.

[Frank Chillura (OhYouRead) · Rating 3 out of 5]

What if the Golden Girls were in a dystopian death match? Your grandmothers and mothers have been deemed unfit to be in society anymore, so they’re being shipped off to an island, unbeknownst to most people. This island is a free-for-all fight for life, kill or be killed type situation. Granny’s have been around the block and know how to survive… and if they don’t, they die.

I’ll say that I really enjoyed this for the first half. It made a lot of sense to have factions and people fighting over resources, but that kind of ended too quickly. By halfway through everyone is working together. I could understand if the new younger women being sent to the island would change things over time, but it should have taken time.

That being said, I am interested to see how the story works out.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got a copy for review on NetGalley from Image Comics in anticipation of volume 2 release. The copy had to be read through online so I just borrowed it from hoopla.

As this is a comic and visual I want to first say that the art style was great and is what made me interested in this comic. The premise was also very interesting as well, the plot in this volume, however, was not great. There was an excellent climatic moment about mid way through where one of the older ladies says something about Jay, but that doesn't go anywhere interesting. At this moment I'm not sure if I want to check out volume 2. This wasn't bad, but the ending did not leave me caring what happens next.

[Loreleï Loreleï · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enormous potential... that falls flat like a souffé.

Graphically and colour-wise, it worked well.

I was sold on a story about trashy, bloodthirsty grannies, menopausal women unable to procreate, rejected by a misogynistic/patriarchal society and forced to fight for survival on a remote island. That's what I was expecting. I got that in a few panels, and then... disappointment.

First of all, there is a severe lack of context. Why are there only cis women? It's surprising/unfortunate that no thought was given to or representation of intersex or trans characters, which would be entirely consistent with this society.

The first chapters are tied to the perspectives of different characters, which is interesting, particularly with the second one.

The comic tries to develop the relationships between the characters more than the situation they are in, but everything happens too quickly. Red's reversal is too quick, leading to a loss of interest. Jay doesn't live there long enough to really soak up the mutual support/sisterhood that the place can offer. They take the boat and then poof, come back after an hour because they've thought it over? 🧍‍♀️

And that ending? Does it really end there!?

It leaves you feeling like something is missing.

I always appreciate discovering alternative covers at the end, and a good map is always a real bonus.
However, the appendices, which make up 20% of the book, are perhaps a little excessive. The recipes for ‘survival’ in the wild (nettles, dandelions, etc.), the literary reviews, the essay on clowns... it's nice, even complementary, but it seems a little too much.

In short: a strong and promising concept, but uneven execution. I would have liked the story to go further in its themes and take the time to develop its characters and universe.

PS 1: Rosie is very, very badass.

PS 2: I strongly agree with ‘It's always time to prioritise cake over weapons’.

[alexander shay · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very interesting premise executed in a less than mediocre way. The entire volume feels like it's establishing backstory, and like the true plot doesn't begin until the final panels, which are so abrupt and ambiguous it's a bit infuriating. Everything I've seen about the comic suggests it is a volume one and that there will be more, but when looking at the issues, it seems like a limited run and that this volume includes everything. Regardless of which is true, the content in the book as it stands is missing a lot and feels a bit disconnected from itself between issues. Mostly, though, how these women ended up on the island isn't really discussed, only mentioned in passing, when really the setup of a society that allows such a thing to occur is honestly more interesting than the book that actually exists.

[J MaK · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.0) While it is admirable that the author leans heavily into tropes associated with aging woman (including quotes from Golden Girls), there’s nothing original about the storyline — seemingly inspired by ‘Bitch Planet’, (and possibly other works). It lacks the depth required to provoke thought or inspire change. However, the action fueled panels and essays were the real star. This material elevated the story and created a duality between the true violence and fragility of ageism in society.

[Hayley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes based on the concept but the execution was severely lacking.
I assume there will be more volumes of this but I don't plan to read them.

[Lorna McBain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Realistically I would give this 3.5 stars, but that’s not really an option here. I loved the illustrations, and the characters were formed well.

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for being a friend...

After reaching menopause, women are sent away to an island where other women have created small civilizations, farms, and even their own wars. But when our main character is thrust onto this island after becoming menopausal in her thirties, she comes to know first-hand just how intense the island can be. From the violent red hats, the witch, and a group of silent women who bury the dead, it's clear that there's a place for every woman. Unfortunately, the outside world no longer thinks they deserve to exist. Will they be able to escape?

Every comic switches perspective and offers Golden Girls quotes between each issue. This makes for an interesting perspective of how each woman got to this point in her life--thankless daughters, loss of a wife, and just plain menopause. While some folks think that there isn't a lot of heft in this idea, I say, who the heck cares? It's a fun premise and an interesting plot. It's a miniseries, too. I'm of the camp that sometimes we can just be along for the ride. Not everything needs to have a high-fantasy level plot and characterization. And hell, this book is a lot of fun. This pairs well with Killers of a Certain Age.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this world, any woman who is past child-bearing years has been deemed useless to society and is banished to a remote island off the coast of any civilization. There, these women have made their own society and rules a-la Lord of the Flies. There is a group dedicated to helping with anyone deceased; there are the Red Hats who seem bent on destruction and domination; and there's Rosie and her friends, Lottie, and Caroline, who just want to raise chickens, have tea, and keep to themselves. Jay has been thrust into this world a little unexpectedly, having gone through early-onset menopause, and is now seen as a threat to the equally young leader of the Red Hats. There's also lots of backmatter that includes book reviews, recipes, and insights into the workings of the island.

This is a pretty gritty title, as you can tell from the cover image alone, but it's also really entertaining. The premise isn't too far off from something like The Handmaid's Tale where everything revolves around reproduction and a woman's ability to give birth. But instead of being timid, weak old ladies like everyone would thing, including Jay, the island has devolved into a survival-of-the-fittest. Williams takes a lot of clichés and dumps them on their heads to give us a delightful and bloody rendition of grandma battle-royale.

​The artistic team has skillfully balanced the violence and bloodshed with some great character work and soft pastels. There's nothing like seeing blood splattered all over a pastel pink nighty! The scenes are also beautifully rendered, which makes the whole lush island in contrast with its murderous inhabitants.

Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Adult

Read more graphic novel reviews at The Graphic Library.

[Theediscerning · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm… A woman fetches up on a small island to find lots of older women killing lots of older women. It seems to be some kind of tribal affair, with the gender bias of the place apparently due to the inhabitants being sent there to die off as unwanted and useless for the society in the outside world. But I have to say "apparently" because we hardly get anyone actually telling us this for sure. The background of this dystopia felt like a big lack to me. It might have been a smaller lack if the shenanigans on the island were better as well, but hey – this isn't the case. Each chapter gets a different narrator, and so a differently-coloured set of thought boxes, but none of them trouble the category marked 'interesting' much. There's some yack about mummy issues, and when an author character drops the bomb of a twist that explodes with as much oomph as a pound of sugar you see the whole thing as about as intriguing as the woman's having arrived totally dry while her craft sinks handily right out in the bay behind her. A generous two stars.

[Chris Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

A comedic dystopia, set in a Handmaid’s Tale-like world where women who can no longer bear children are exiled to an island. Problem is, nothing is really developed, from the characters to the world the women live in.

The comedic side of the story is not very funny, with the bulk of that being an old woman with a short attention span who worries about nothing except chickens and speaks out when anyone curses. The dystopian is also poorly developed and in the end the villain the women on the island face is an invisible one.

A story like this needs some heft to its ideas, but this one barely has ideas to begin with.

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no idea what I just read.

[Aaron Goodwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting premise, but not enough happened for me to fully evaluate it. I’ll need to give the next volume a try before I really determine what I think.