Rakehell
Swashbuckling Adventure Magazine Issue #1
Edited by Nathaniel Webb
Cover art by Elena Nedeleva
2022

To me, the word “Rakehell” conjures images of swashbuckling derring-do and perhaps a little illicit romance. Historically a rakehell was a man who habituated immoral conduct, particularly womanizing. Typically a man who wasted his money on games of chance, women, distilled spirits, and song. All the while incurring enormous debts. Exactly the kind of character I want to live vicariously through in print.

I am quite taken with the painting by Elena Nedeleva featured on the cover. It certainly illustrates the time period, and she is definitely a beauty that any cad would certainly fight over.

This issue includes six stories of varied interest and relevance to the title. The first, “The Mortuary Sword” by H. R. Laurence, the fourth, “The Daisy” by T. K. Howell and the last, “Temple of the Ghost Tiger” by Dariel R. A. Quiogue all strike the mark dead on. The second, “The Trans-Pacific Railway” by Mar Vincent is compelling with its imaginative setting and steampunk trappings, but doesn't quite win me over. The third, “Fool's Errand in Amberford” by Lawrence Harding and the fifth, “When Your Only Tool's a Hammer” by J. B. Toner both seemed out of place. “Fool's Errand” has a horror vibe with an unexpected ending, and Toner's “Hammer” story is a very short S&S style story about a barbarian who gets to the root of the problem. Neither really seemed to fit.

Rakehell Magazine appears to be a one off. Perhaps it was soft sales? Perhaps it was the busy schedule of Nathaniel Webb? The sister magazine, Wyngraf, seems to be chugging right along. In today's digital market I imagine that it is exceedingly difficult to stand out.