Rat Queens take on Empire’s Graphic Novel Reading Club

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Empire’s Graphic Novel Reading Club reads and discusses a diverse selection of collected comic books and graphic novels, from the thought-provoking to the entertaining. All are welcome. Read your own copy or pick up one at the shop. Join the next discussion on Thursday, December 11, 2014 from 6:30 – 7:30 pm at Empire’s Comics Vault.

"Who are the Rat Queens? A pack of booze-guzzling, death-dealing battle maidens-for-hire, and they're in the business of killing all god's creatures for profit. It's also a darkly comedic sass-and-sorcery series starring Hannah the Rockabilly Elven Mage, Violet the Hipster Dwarven Fighter, Dee the Atheist Human Cleric and Betty the Hippy Smidgen Thief. This modern spin on an old school genre is a violent monster-killing epic that is like Buffy meets Tank Girl in a Lord of the Rings world on crack."

Join the discussion

Date: Thursday, December 11,  2014
Time: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.


How To Participate
  1. Check out the line-up below to see which graphic novel or collected edition titles we'll be reading and discussing each month.
  2. If there's a title you're interested in, talk to Ben at the shop or message him via Facebook or Twitter, and he'll make sure there's a copy of the book for you.
  3. You may participate in one or all of the discussions or whichever ones interest you. Also, you can get the book at the shop or the library or the one that's already in your collection.
  4. Show up by 6:30 p.m. on discussion night. We'll take over Empire's Lounge and get into the book! Feel free to bring something for yourself to eat and drink or something to share. There are decent food options on Fulton Avenue and a convenience store in the shopping center.
  5. Check our events schedule regularly for new and updated entries.

Graphic Novel Reading Selection by Month
Here's what we've selected to get started. If there's something we should consider, please let us know and we'll add it to our growing list of titles.

Rolly's Summer Reading Program helps fight the summer slide

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Sacramento comic book shop
Form for Summer Reading Program
Children's reading ability has a tendency to slide during the summer months -- and not in a good way.

We want to help with that. Of course, the Sacramento Library also has a summer reading program for children. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Education has numerous tips on how to avoid the summer slide.

A New Reading Program for Sacramento Children

This summer we're introducing Rolly's Summer Reading Program for children 12 years of age and under. When your children read 8 books of their choosing and submit the form, they'll receive a free comic book.* Plus, they can earn a bonus book by drawing and writing their own comic (details below).

We're dividing the summer into two parts, so your child can participate one time in each period:

  • Part 1: June 10 - July 15, 2014
  • Part 2: July 16 - August 31, 2014
So, if your child participates in both parts of Rolly's Summer Reading Program, she or he could earn up to 4 free comic books.

How the Program Works

It's simple:

2. Let your child choose each book he or she wants to read.

It doesn't matter if the book is 32-pages with lots of pictures or 100-pages of text. Every book qualifies. It doesn't matter if the book is from your home library, the public library, or something you pick up at the shop (save with Rolly's Reading Club).
3. After reading a book, write the title on the form along with what your child liked about the book.

Use a separate sheet of paper or a reading journal, if you'd like. Also, it's better if it's in your own child's handwriting. If you help a little, please make sure it's in your child's own words. As a secondary option, we'll gladly accept art inspired by the book. 

4. Once the form is full, turn it in for a free* comic book from Empire's Comics Vault.
5. Bonus!  Have your child write and draw his or her own comic book for one more free comic book.
How? Take an 8 1/2 sheet of paper, fold it in half. Add art. Add words. 

More summer reading resources

If you're looking for more information on the subject, search the internet and you'll find plenty of great articles, research, and resources.
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*Free comics limited to select children's titles on-hand in Empire's Comics Vault's inventory.