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Monstress
Monstress, Vol. 3: Haven
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Graphic Novels & Comics (2018)Maika Halfwolf has begun to unlock the mysteries of her past - but the challenges of the present are only growing. In this third volume of MONSTRESS, collecting issues 13-18, Maika's journey takes her to the neutral city of Pontus, where she hopes to find temporary refuge from her pursuers. Unfortunately, Pontus may not be as safe as Maika and her allies had hoped.
As the impending war between humans and Arcanics creeps ever closer, and powerful players fight for the chance to control her future, Maika finds she must work with Zinn, the Monstrum that lives inside her, in order to ensure their mutual survival. But even that alliance might not be enough to prepare Maika for the horrors to come.
As the impending war between humans and Arcanics creeps ever closer, and powerful players fight for the chance to control her future, Maika finds she must work with Zinn, the Monstrum that lives inside her, in order to ensure their mutual survival. But even that alliance might not be enough to prepare Maika for the horrors to come.
168 pages, Paperback
First published September 11, 2018
About the author
Marjorie M. Liu
254 books4,136 followersNew York Times bestselling and award-winning writer Marjorie Liu is best known for her fiction and comic books. She teaches comic book writing at MIT, and she leads a class on Popular Fiction at the Voices of Our Nation (VONA) workshop.
Ms. Liu is a highly celebrated comic book writer. Her extensive work with Marvel includes the bestselling Dark Wolverine series, NYX: No Way Home, X-23, and Black Widow: The Name of the Rose. She received national media attention for Astonishing X-Men, which featured the gay wedding of X-Man Northstar and was subsequently nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for outstanding media images of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Ms. Liu also wrote the story for the animated film, Avengers Confidential: Black Widow and Punisher, which was produced by Marvel, Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Madhouse Inc.
Her newest work is MONSTRESS, an original, creator-owned comic book series with Japanese artist (and X-23 collaborator) Sana Takeda. Published by Image in Fall 2015, MONSTRESS is set in an alternate, matriarchal 1920’s Asia and follows a girl’s struggle to survive the trauma of war. With a cast of girls and monsters and set against a richly imagined aesthetic of art deco-inflected steam punk, MONSTRESS #1 debuted to critical praise. The Hollywood Reporter remarked that the longer than typical first issue was “world-building on a scale rare in mainstream comics.”
Ms. Liu is also the author of more than 19 novels, most notably the urban fantasy series, Hunter Kiss, and the paranormal romance series, Dirk & Steele. Her novels have also been bestsellers on USA Today, which described Liu “as imaginative as she is prolific.” Her critically praised fiction has twice received the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, for THE MORTAL BONE (Hunter Kiss #6), and TIGER EYE (Dirk & Steele #1). TIGER EYE was the basis for a bestselling paranormal romance video game called Tiger Eye: Curse of the Riddle Box.
Liu has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, MTV, and been profiled in the Wall Street Journal.com, Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. She is a frequent lecturer and guest speaker, appearing on panels at San Diego Comic Con, the Tokyo Literary Festival, the New York Times Public Lecture series, Geeks Out; and the Asian American Writers Workshop. Her work has been published internationally, including Germany, France, Japan, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
Ms. Liu was born in Philadelphia, and has lived in numerous cities in the Midwest and Beijing. Prior to writing full-time, she was a lawyer. She currently resides in Boston.
Ms. Liu is a highly celebrated comic book writer. Her extensive work with Marvel includes the bestselling Dark Wolverine series, NYX: No Way Home, X-23, and Black Widow: The Name of the Rose. She received national media attention for Astonishing X-Men, which featured the gay wedding of X-Man Northstar and was subsequently nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for outstanding media images of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Ms. Liu also wrote the story for the animated film, Avengers Confidential: Black Widow and Punisher, which was produced by Marvel, Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Madhouse Inc.
Her newest work is MONSTRESS, an original, creator-owned comic book series with Japanese artist (and X-23 collaborator) Sana Takeda. Published by Image in Fall 2015, MONSTRESS is set in an alternate, matriarchal 1920’s Asia and follows a girl’s struggle to survive the trauma of war. With a cast of girls and monsters and set against a richly imagined aesthetic of art deco-inflected steam punk, MONSTRESS #1 debuted to critical praise. The Hollywood Reporter remarked that the longer than typical first issue was “world-building on a scale rare in mainstream comics.”
Ms. Liu is also the author of more than 19 novels, most notably the urban fantasy series, Hunter Kiss, and the paranormal romance series, Dirk & Steele. Her novels have also been bestsellers on USA Today, which described Liu “as imaginative as she is prolific.” Her critically praised fiction has twice received the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, for THE MORTAL BONE (Hunter Kiss #6), and TIGER EYE (Dirk & Steele #1). TIGER EYE was the basis for a bestselling paranormal romance video game called Tiger Eye: Curse of the Riddle Box.
Liu has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, MTV, and been profiled in the Wall Street Journal.com, Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. She is a frequent lecturer and guest speaker, appearing on panels at San Diego Comic Con, the Tokyo Literary Festival, the New York Times Public Lecture series, Geeks Out; and the Asian American Writers Workshop. Her work has been published internationally, including Germany, France, Japan, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
Ms. Liu was born in Philadelphia, and has lived in numerous cities in the Midwest and Beijing. Prior to writing full-time, she was a lawyer. She currently resides in Boston.
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October 5, 2020This volume was wild and chaotic as there was SO much going on all at once. There are so many different little stories and perspectives that are running along side the main story arc and at times I feel like it's hard to catch everything happening, but I also like how much is going on all at once. I think this one had some of my favorite art in the series so far and that's saying something as the illustrations have already been amazing leading up to this volume.
We must protect pure little Kippa at all costs.
We must protect pure little Kippa at all costs.
August 15, 2019
3.5 stars
The art is gorgeous, but there just wasn't enough clarity in the plot for me to love-love this volume.
Everything that basically everyone says or thinks in Haven is annoyingly cryptic, and/or just when it seems they're about to answer a question, they stop and let their sentence trail off. It got to the point that I wanted to shake the characters and yell at them to say what they mean. Or, at the very least, finish what they were saying!
Maika was having these 'conversations' with Tuya in her head. Kind of like waking dreams? Or maybe she was actually asleep and they were real dreams - I don't remember. <--because it was somewhat confusing as to whether or not they were coming from Tuya or just Maika's subconscious.
I guess the point is that the reader can decide, but with everything else being all woo-woo-mystical, I didn't appreciate having one more thing that wasn't concrete.
And there was too much mythos for me to absorb when it came to gods vs Ancients vs Arcanics vs Cumaea vs Cats vs...whatever else lives in that universe. I'm trying to keep up, but this isn't the sort of thing that I do well unless it is fully explained. <--which is why the ambiguous storytelling bothers me so much.
However, I'm still interested in seeing how this all pans out. Plus, that art is just too lush and detailed to miss out on.
Also, Kippa. Gotta find out what happens to that kid!
The art is gorgeous, but there just wasn't enough clarity in the plot for me to love-love this volume.
Everything that basically everyone says or thinks in Haven is annoyingly cryptic, and/or just when it seems they're about to answer a question, they stop and let their sentence trail off. It got to the point that I wanted to shake the characters and yell at them to say what they mean. Or, at the very least, finish what they were saying!
Maika was having these 'conversations' with Tuya in her head. Kind of like waking dreams? Or maybe she was actually asleep and they were real dreams - I don't remember. <--because it was somewhat confusing as to whether or not they were coming from Tuya or just Maika's subconscious.
I guess the point is that the reader can decide, but with everything else being all woo-woo-mystical, I didn't appreciate having one more thing that wasn't concrete.
And there was too much mythos for me to absorb when it came to gods vs Ancients vs Arcanics vs Cumaea vs Cats vs...whatever else lives in that universe. I'm trying to keep up, but this isn't the sort of thing that I do well unless it is fully explained. <--which is why the ambiguous storytelling bothers me so much.
However, I'm still interested in seeing how this all pans out. Plus, that art is just too lush and detailed to miss out on.
Also, Kippa. Gotta find out what happens to that kid!
September 12, 2018
Love the characters in these books!
Mel 🖤🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐺🐾
September 18, 2018
In a lot of ways, this third volume of Monstress is better than all the rest. But why? Didn't I love the death of Halfwolf's mother or the island or horrors in the second?
Of course I did!
But this third volume is all kinds of great reveals and a wonderful new location that I actually love. I have an investment here. Oh, and god battles kick major butt. :)
The understory is getting SWEET, the conflicts are ramping up great, and war is here! Not just rumors of war or rememberings of past atrocities, but an all-out gala event of bloodshed under the watchful eye of an escaped tentacular god. :)
Fun! :)
Of course I did!
But this third volume is all kinds of great reveals and a wonderful new location that I actually love. I have an investment here. Oh, and god battles kick major butt. :)
The understory is getting SWEET, the conflicts are ramping up great, and war is here! Not just rumors of war or rememberings of past atrocities, but an all-out gala event of bloodshed under the watchful eye of an escaped tentacular god. :)
Fun! :)
Want to read
October 7, 2018
October 19, 2018
I still don't really follow what's going on in this story. It moves fast and doesn't really connect dots and yet it still draws me in and fascinates me. It is a violent and interesting story who horrible horrors happen and people back stab each other. It does not seem like a very nice world. It's very cut-throat.
We are on a voyage going to some island looking for a mask I think, or pieces of a mask. We learn more about the thing Inside Maika. I do love the little foxgirl. She is my favorite character. I also don't understand what is going on with the cats. There was only a little of that story thread in the story and I assume it will be explored more in the next volume.
We glimpse a little bit of the history of the Blood in Maika and the thing inside her. We still don't know much, of course, but we now know a little more. The art is fresh and amazing still and a lot keeps happening, even if I'm not sure what is really going on. I'm still interested in the story and will hang in there for more.
We are on a voyage going to some island looking for a mask I think, or pieces of a mask. We learn more about the thing Inside Maika. I do love the little foxgirl. She is my favorite character. I also don't understand what is going on with the cats. There was only a little of that story thread in the story and I assume it will be explored more in the next volume.
We glimpse a little bit of the history of the Blood in Maika and the thing inside her. We still don't know much, of course, but we now know a little more. The art is fresh and amazing still and a lot keeps happening, even if I'm not sure what is really going on. I'm still interested in the story and will hang in there for more.
June 4, 2020
In short? Another stunning, if sometimes confusing, installment. It took me a while to remember details after a two-year break from keeping up with these, and I actually spent quite a bit of time on the Wiki, but I found it easy to get reinvested in these characters.
[image error]
So, a brief reminder of the politics of the known world. On one side of the world is the human federation, oppressive to Arcanics and the cats alike. On the other side lie the Arcanics, half-human & half-animal beings persecuted for their powers. A shade of post-cataclysm adds further intrigue. The Ancients leave behind the Dawn and Dusk courts—one led by Maika’s grandmother, the Queen of Wolves, & one led by the duplicitous Corvin—and the cats, descendants of Ubasti who helped them to defeat the Old Gods in war.
Within this context, several groups fight for power, or at the very least autonomy. The Cumaea, an anti-Arcanic group led by Mother Superior Desteria and the Inquisitrix, seek humans with power. Smaller forces function as well: The Thyria-based trade empire of Kenzi is relevant to several plotlines. And then there’s the Ancients. The first Arcanic, the Shaman Empress, left behind the mask, broken into many pieces, which could offer a connection to another world. The Old Gods, meanwhile, are imprisoned in this other world, save for a few—
In this series, we follow Maika Halfwolf, arcanic child of Moriko, who holds an Old God named Zinn inside her arm. She fights first to escape the Cumaea, then to escape from the Dawn & Dusk courts, and then . She struggles to gain trust in her companions: fellow arcanic Kippa, and cat nekomancer Ren, . She struggles with memories of her old , Tuya,
OKAY, now I’ve gotten that extremely long summary out of the way.
This story focuses on dynamics of oppression via allegory, and does so in a world that is complex and rich. At times, you’ll need to turn a few pages back, but the story will still hold weight. There’s an idea here that behind all these petty conflicts are secrets of the world, a war with the gods that will eventually hit a boiling point. As the story has continued, it’s leaned into more of a post-cataclysmic vibe that has really resonated with me. I hope certain threads will begin to progress, as the story has finally reached a point where we understand the world to a certain degree.
On a firm character level, this volume is coming closer to a theme I really like. I really love seeing Maika slowly grow feelings for Kippa. I loved the complexity of the relationship between Ren & Kippa in this one—it felt like a very well set up challenge of Ren’s willingness to do what he must. He’s ready to act for his own interests with Maika—but what about with Kippa?
This is also the first volume where the complicated relationship between Maika and Tuya has been explicitly depicted as romantic, which like… we knew, but it’s nice to get confirmed. This dynamic is increasingly fascinating.
As this is the third installment, I’d ask that anyone who wants a review for the beginning of the series, which I definitely did not understand as well as I should have, to check that review out. I would also recommend reading Melanie's two fantastically detailed wrap-ups! (Or the first half of this review, which I have filled with enough spoiler tags to populate a small country.)
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[image error]
So, a brief reminder of the politics of the known world. On one side of the world is the human federation, oppressive to Arcanics and the cats alike. On the other side lie the Arcanics, half-human & half-animal beings persecuted for their powers. A shade of post-cataclysm adds further intrigue. The Ancients leave behind the Dawn and Dusk courts—one led by Maika’s grandmother, the Queen of Wolves, & one led by the duplicitous Corvin—and the cats, descendants of Ubasti who helped them to defeat the Old Gods in war.
Within this context, several groups fight for power, or at the very least autonomy. The Cumaea, an anti-Arcanic group led by Mother Superior Desteria and the Inquisitrix, seek humans with power. Smaller forces function as well: The Thyria-based trade empire of Kenzi is relevant to several plotlines. And then there’s the Ancients. The first Arcanic, the Shaman Empress, left behind the mask, broken into many pieces, which could offer a connection to another world. The Old Gods, meanwhile, are imprisoned in this other world, save for a few—
In this series, we follow Maika Halfwolf, arcanic child of Moriko, who holds an Old God named Zinn inside her arm. She fights first to escape the Cumaea, then to escape from the Dawn & Dusk courts, and then . She struggles to gain trust in her companions: fellow arcanic Kippa, and cat nekomancer Ren, . She struggles with memories of her old , Tuya,
OKAY, now I’ve gotten that extremely long summary out of the way.
This story focuses on dynamics of oppression via allegory, and does so in a world that is complex and rich. At times, you’ll need to turn a few pages back, but the story will still hold weight. There’s an idea here that behind all these petty conflicts are secrets of the world, a war with the gods that will eventually hit a boiling point. As the story has continued, it’s leaned into more of a post-cataclysmic vibe that has really resonated with me. I hope certain threads will begin to progress, as the story has finally reached a point where we understand the world to a certain degree.
On a firm character level, this volume is coming closer to a theme I really like. I really love seeing Maika slowly grow feelings for Kippa. I loved the complexity of the relationship between Ren & Kippa in this one—it felt like a very well set up challenge of Ren’s willingness to do what he must. He’s ready to act for his own interests with Maika—but what about with Kippa?
This is also the first volume where the complicated relationship between Maika and Tuya has been explicitly depicted as romantic, which like… we knew, but it’s nice to get confirmed. This dynamic is increasingly fascinating.
As this is the third installment, I’d ask that anyone who wants a review for the beginning of the series, which I definitely did not understand as well as I should have, to check that review out. I would also recommend reading Melanie's two fantastically detailed wrap-ups! (Or the first half of this review, which I have filled with enough spoiler tags to populate a small country.)
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October 1, 2018
From Bitch Planet to Lumberjanes to Monstress, the idea in many girl/woman-centric comics in the present time would seem to be depicting a world with as few men as possible. And if you watched any of the recent Kavanaugh SCOTUS hearings, it may have crossed your mind to envision this kind of future, too: How can we get rid of all these vicious, aging mean-spirited representatives of the patriarchy that is destroying women and the planet? The tones differ; Bitch Planet (for adult women) is snarky and funny and profane; Lumberjanes (for young readers) is funny and sweet, and Monstress is intense and violent and lovely, ranging from cute fox girls and talking kitties to steely murderous women who all look like models (and when DO they take the time to do their hair to look like that?!). All three are All Girl Power, All the Time; Bitch Planet is connected to current political landscape; Lumberjanes is, well, set in a summer camp, and Monstress is a complex fantasy set in a medieval landscape. Men are basically peripheral in all of them.
The third volume of Monstress comes on the heels of the recent 2018 Eisner Awards, where it won for best continuing series, best publication for teens, best painter/multimedia artist (Sana Takeda, who also does wildly populat Ms. Marvel with Willow Wilson), best cover artist and best writer. The main impressions I have is that 1) first and foremost it is gorgeously illustrated, atmospheric, from cute and cartoony to sleek to horrific and majestic; 2) it is, given all the pretty pictures, surprisingly profane (though this doesn’t bother me in the least, just noting); 3) it is violent and 4) I have no idea how all the various factions and dimensions work, maybe in part because I am just not much of a High Fantasy reader. There are periodic “lecture experts” from Professor Tam Tam, a history, who is supposed to help us make sense of it all, but I need more help, really
So in volume 3 we finally get a Big War so we get to see how Takeda handles action (thought we already know she knows how to do bloody violence). And as with many such stories, after all the death and the world is saved, we understand that family and friendship are what makes the world go ‘round. The rest of it? Well, I am still reading! For my own taste and tolerance of multiple swirling levels of fantasy, I would say 3.5, which I round up because of the Beauty which gets ten stars, and because some very real action happens and some stuff gets resolved and because of the main girl character and Girl Power, yay.
The third volume of Monstress comes on the heels of the recent 2018 Eisner Awards, where it won for best continuing series, best publication for teens, best painter/multimedia artist (Sana Takeda, who also does wildly populat Ms. Marvel with Willow Wilson), best cover artist and best writer. The main impressions I have is that 1) first and foremost it is gorgeously illustrated, atmospheric, from cute and cartoony to sleek to horrific and majestic; 2) it is, given all the pretty pictures, surprisingly profane (though this doesn’t bother me in the least, just noting); 3) it is violent and 4) I have no idea how all the various factions and dimensions work, maybe in part because I am just not much of a High Fantasy reader. There are periodic “lecture experts” from Professor Tam Tam, a history, who is supposed to help us make sense of it all, but I need more help, really
So in volume 3 we finally get a Big War so we get to see how Takeda handles action (thought we already know she knows how to do bloody violence). And as with many such stories, after all the death and the world is saved, we understand that family and friendship are what makes the world go ‘round. The rest of it? Well, I am still reading! For my own taste and tolerance of multiple swirling levels of fantasy, I would say 3.5, which I round up because of the Beauty which gets ten stars, and because some very real action happens and some stuff gets resolved and because of the main girl character and Girl Power, yay.
October 31, 2018
In this third volume we follow Maika and her gang (mainly consisting of Kippa and Master Ren) as they are still trying to get away from the Blood Queens and thus have no choice but to seek refuge in Tear Shed in Pontus Waters. Tear Shed is a harbour town full of refugees. They have an ancient shield they are desperate to get to work again so they are trying to enlist Maika's help (because of her bloodline) in exchange for granting her and her companions sanctuary.
Thus, old and new characters are battling it out here in their quest to find more mask fragments - war is coming and the veil between the different worlds is growing ever thinner (also explaining why Pontus Waters wants the shield working again).
Meanwhile, Maika is still trying to piece together what actually happened to her, how she ended up with Zinn, why their link is different from the ones other vessels have with their old gods, what her mother's plan had been, how to stop the old gods from coming back, ...
Slowly but surely, we get more puzzle pieces, learning more about the history of this world and of the single characters (their backgrounds and motivations) like master Ren for example.
I'm not sure how many volumes this series is supposed to have, if there is indeed a plan, but I think the pacing works great though I still think the art is the highlight.
Still a fantastic combination of Cthulhu-like gods and typical Japanese kaiju-like creatures of all kinds.
Thus, old and new characters are battling it out here in their quest to find more mask fragments - war is coming and the veil between the different worlds is growing ever thinner (also explaining why Pontus Waters wants the shield working again).
Meanwhile, Maika is still trying to piece together what actually happened to her, how she ended up with Zinn, why their link is different from the ones other vessels have with their old gods, what her mother's plan had been, how to stop the old gods from coming back, ...
Slowly but surely, we get more puzzle pieces, learning more about the history of this world and of the single characters (their backgrounds and motivations) like master Ren for example.
I'm not sure how many volumes this series is supposed to have, if there is indeed a plan, but I think the pacing works great though I still think the art is the highlight.
Still a fantastic combination of Cthulhu-like gods and typical Japanese kaiju-like creatures of all kinds.
September 3, 2018
4.5 stars.
First 2 volumes where on tip to get 5 stars but quite there. Volume 3 goes slightly over that threshold and gets 5 stars. What I like about volume 3 the most is that we see character development in Zinn. He is no longer shapeless Lovecraftian horror (he is not even horror for that matter) but an actual character.
Illustrations are still one of prettiest I seen.
First 2 volumes where on tip to get 5 stars but quite there. Volume 3 goes slightly over that threshold and gets 5 stars. What I like about volume 3 the most is that we see character development in Zinn. He is no longer shapeless Lovecraftian horror (he is not even horror for that matter) but an actual character.
Illustrations are still one of prettiest I seen.
July 23, 2018
Actual review: 3.5
There's something wrong when I love the artwork more than the story. The artwork is absolutely gorgeous! It is the best I've seen in graphic novels. It's intricate, delicate, with a lot of detail.
The story, however, lacks a good background for understanding. Recently, I've found myself disappointed in graphic novels with a high fantasy story, and it could be that it's a format that doesn't work for me. There is just something lacking in reading a high fantasy story in this format. Usually, it's the world building. In this case, because the artwork is detailed, I think the character backgrounds, their histories and motivations are a bit lacking.
We are thrust into this action-packed fight at the beginning of the series and now it has waned to include new players with their own motivations. The story has become confusing with too many new elements thrown in and not enough answers.
I hope the next edition is better.
And let us not forget how adorable Kippa is.
There's something wrong when I love the artwork more than the story. The artwork is absolutely gorgeous! It is the best I've seen in graphic novels. It's intricate, delicate, with a lot of detail.
The story, however, lacks a good background for understanding. Recently, I've found myself disappointed in graphic novels with a high fantasy story, and it could be that it's a format that doesn't work for me. There is just something lacking in reading a high fantasy story in this format. Usually, it's the world building. In this case, because the artwork is detailed, I think the character backgrounds, their histories and motivations are a bit lacking.
We are thrust into this action-packed fight at the beginning of the series and now it has waned to include new players with their own motivations. The story has become confusing with too many new elements thrown in and not enough answers.
I hope the next edition is better.
And let us not forget how adorable Kippa is.
May 6, 2022
Estes livros são qualquer coisa :D à medida que vamos avançando na história, as peças do puzzle vão começando a encaixar umas nas outras, a história vai ficando mais composta e menos confusa.
No primeiro volume, achei que a arte era superior à história. A história interessou-me, muito, mas mesmo assim achei que a arte era o que fazia sobressair o livro, mas já não penso dessa forma. Quanto mais avançamos na história, mais a qualidade da história vai equilibrando com a arte fabulosa!
As coisas estão a ganhar alguma velocidade e estou deserta para que saia o próximo volume, porque as coisas vão começar a aquecer!
No primeiro volume, achei que a arte era superior à história. A história interessou-me, muito, mas mesmo assim achei que a arte era o que fazia sobressair o livro, mas já não penso dessa forma. Quanto mais avançamos na história, mais a qualidade da história vai equilibrando com a arte fabulosa!
As coisas estão a ganhar alguma velocidade e estou deserta para que saia o próximo volume, porque as coisas vão começar a aquecer!
August 8, 2019
Vol. 1: Awakening ★★★★★
Vol. 2: The Blood ★★★★★
Vol. 3: Haven ★★★★★
For some reason, I originally thought Monstress was only ever going to be a 3-volume series, so I went into this one expecting things to wrap up at the end. That's definitely not the case, and I'm so glad, because that cliffhanger ending juuuust about killed me. This was my least favorite volume so far overall, and I can't quite place why — maybe just too much going on, plus a bit of back-tracking on a certain character's development that frustrated me to no end — but even with that being said, it was such an easy 4.5-star read and I didn't hesitate to round up for GR's sake. More than anything, I loved the development of this bizarre relationship/friendship/whatever between Maika and Zinn.
October 8, 2021
La historia se va aclarando y se va haciendo menos confusa, me gusta mucho la diversidad de personajes. El arte de Sana Takeda, la dibujante, increíble.
December 1, 2018
Art, amazing as always.
Plot, continuing to grow ever more convoluted as new players, places, and powers are added. This isn't exactly a criticism, but I must admit they are hard to keep straight when reading a serial publication over time (like, the black lady with white hair who is a spy? I think was around earlier but that's all I remember). I guess later I can go back and reread for specifics.
I notice that this world has trains, and also uses the adjective "olympian" as in heights. I hadn't thought this was our world, but maybe it is?
Plot, continuing to grow ever more convoluted as new players, places, and powers are added. This isn't exactly a criticism, but I must admit they are hard to keep straight when reading a serial publication over time (like, the black lady with white hair who is a spy? I think was around earlier but that's all I remember). I guess later I can go back and reread for specifics.
I notice that this world has trains, and also uses the adjective "olympian" as in heights. I hadn't thought this was our world, but maybe it is?
December 7, 2018
3.5 star
Fantastic art. Love how women-centric this story is.
But I can't always keep track of all the characters, especially the dark-haired women with their faces covered in some way. Hope there is a Monstress character guide somewhere on the net, or I'll be completely lost at some point.
Fantastic art. Love how women-centric this story is.
But I can't always keep track of all the characters, especially the dark-haired women with their faces covered in some way. Hope there is a Monstress character guide somewhere on the net, or I'll be completely lost at some point.
August 16, 2019
Monstress Volume 3: Haven is a 2019 Hugo Awards finalist in the Best Graphic Story category.
Maika, Kippa and Ren have now made it to Tear Shed, a refugee camp. Corvin is also there and he, Maika and Kippa have some awkward moments in a coffee shop.
Lady Atena and Resak meet up with the Prime Minister and Admiral Brito to discuss politics, fake news and the potential threat of the Mother Superior.
While Maika and Zinn are working together to try to fix the Shield,
Once again the artwork was exceptional. I’m in awe of the details and just want to keep paging through each Volume. One of my favourite images in this Volume is this one,
I am rounding up from 4.5 stars. I expect a reread will help me to figure out the connections I’ve missed during this read.
Maika, Kippa and Ren have now made it to Tear Shed, a refugee camp. Corvin is also there and he, Maika and Kippa have some awkward moments in a coffee shop.
Maika also meets Vihn Nem, the Royal Engineer of Pontus, who offers Maika and her friends sanctuary in exchange for her reactivating the Pontus Shield.
Lady Atena and Resak meet up with the Prime Minister and Admiral Brito to discuss politics, fake news and the potential threat of the Mother Superior.
While Maika and Zinn are working together to try to fix the Shield,
all hell is breaking out as the war has begun.
Kippa’s cute factor, which I didn’t think could cope with any additional adorability points, skyrocketed. I love her to bits and want to adopt her. Her loyalty, positivity and courage put most adults to shame.
I wasn’t quite as invested in the story during the first half of this Volume, as everyone seemed to be positioning themselves for the inevitable war, but I got sucked back in, only to find myself perched on the edge of a cliff at the end. If anything bad happens to I’m going to ugly cry, I just know it!
Once again the artwork was exceptional. I’m in awe of the details and just want to keep paging through each Volume. One of my favourite images in this Volume is this one,
but my absolute favourite is this awesomeness.
Yes, of course the location of my favourite illustration is a library! I can’t help myself where majestic libraries are concerned.
I am rounding up from 4.5 stars. I expect a reread will help me to figure out the connections I’ve missed during this read.
October 10, 2022
this is my Joker
January 23, 2020
The story is finally coherent and fluid enough to say at last this series was well worth its five Eisner and Hugo awards. :)
Five tar-black, tentacle-nimble and ornately gilded stars.
Five tar-black, tentacle-nimble and ornately gilded stars.
November 24, 2019
The 3rd volume of Monstress, Vol. 3: Haven features great graphics a fast-moving if convoluted storyline. Definitely worth reading if you enjoyed the first two. That being said, it is a bit repetitive in the storyline with respect to Monstress, Vol. 2: The Blood which was a bit of a downside. Some of the images, like to zoom on the mean-fox dude seem copied from that previous volume. That being said, Monstress, Vol. 4: The Chosen is really good and even more incomprehensible if you don't wade through this one with Team Maika.
February 21, 2021
"He didn't say you were a good person. He said you were a hero. There's a difference."
I adore this comic series. I love seeing Zinn & Maika working together. Zinn is reeeeeally growing on me. Loving Vihn and Corvin as well. Who is an ally? Who is a double agent? I have no freaking clue. No one knows. This is not a comic you can read when not paying full attention. It is too intelligent and in depth. I still don't completely understand the world or what is happening but I don't care. It's stunning.
I adore this comic series. I love seeing Zinn & Maika working together. Zinn is reeeeeally growing on me. Loving Vihn and Corvin as well. Who is an ally? Who is a double agent? I have no freaking clue. No one knows. This is not a comic you can read when not paying full attention. It is too intelligent and in depth. I still don't completely understand the world or what is happening but I don't care. It's stunning.
Read
July 12, 2021Жила-була і переклала третій том історії про дівчинку, в якої завелися глисти в якій сидить старий бог, що, можливо, поламає світ. Ще в дівчинки завелася прибрана родина з різних довбойобів, яких вона підбирає по дорозі - і це її лякає більше, ніж кінець світу.
Сюжетна арка досить прохідна, тобто нам підвозять сюжетних гачечків на наступні томи (ось-ось вибухне війна, відкриваються нові грані міфології цього світу, давно знайомі персонажі виявляють у собі несподівані навики тощо), але відповідей поки що не дають. Проте тема found family й людей, які прикидаються брутальними, а всередині м'якенькі пиріжечки, мене завжди розчулює.
А лисенятко Кіппа стрімко виривається в мої улюблені персонажі.
Сюжетна арка досить прохідна, тобто нам підвозять сюжетних гачечків на наступні томи (ось-ось вибухне війна, відкриваються нові грані міфології цього світу, давно знайомі персонажі виявляють у собі несподівані навики тощо), але відповідей поки що не дають. Проте тема found family й людей, які прикидаються брутальними, а всередині м'якенькі пиріжечки, мене завжди розчулює.
А лисенятко Кіппа стрімко виривається в мої улюблені персонажі.
June 21, 2020
4.5 stars.
I love this series so much.
Maika has been explicitly confirmed as queer! I mean, it was pretty obvious from the first two volumes too, but there are people who will ignore every hint when it comes to women liking other women. Her past romance and complicated relationship with Tuya is both very compelling and heartbreaking to read and I want to know more.
Maika isn't the only queer character - I described this book as a "gay steampunk Asian matriarchy", because by now I pretty much assume that every character here is queer until it's confirmed otherwise, and I love this.
I love the way women are portrayed here. They're beautiful without being sexualized, and they're not written for men - it's clear that men are not the intended audience. (Also, I don't think there are any white people in this book.)
Another thing I love about this series? It trusts its readers. Which means that yes, sometimes it's confusing. Sometimes I have to go back and reread parts, sometimes it takes me a while to understand what's happening. But I love how it doesn't talk down to the reader, how its world is just as complex as one you'd find in a fantasy novel - and even more beautiful, of course. This series has some of the most gorgeous panels I've ever seen. Sometimes, I went back and reread parts just for that.
But I have to say that with this volume, the many PoV changes lost me sometimes. I couldn't follow so many storylines at once, with all those setting and time jumps, which added to my confusion. Also, I'm here mostly for Maika's story - both present and past - and some of the subplots just aren't as interesting.
Monstress is a story about war, about a traumatized teenage girl with a terrible past and even worse secrets. It reads like a darkest, less romantic, more diverse Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It's everything I want from a fantasy comic, and I'm glad it's getting the recognition it deserves.
I can't wait for the next volume - I especially want to see more about Tuya, both in the past and in the present.
I love this series so much.
Maika has been explicitly confirmed as queer! I mean, it was pretty obvious from the first two volumes too, but there are people who will ignore every hint when it comes to women liking other women. Her past romance and complicated relationship with Tuya is both very compelling and heartbreaking to read and I want to know more.
Maika isn't the only queer character - I described this book as a "gay steampunk Asian matriarchy", because by now I pretty much assume that every character here is queer until it's confirmed otherwise, and I love this.
I love the way women are portrayed here. They're beautiful without being sexualized, and they're not written for men - it's clear that men are not the intended audience. (Also, I don't think there are any white people in this book.)
Another thing I love about this series? It trusts its readers. Which means that yes, sometimes it's confusing. Sometimes I have to go back and reread parts, sometimes it takes me a while to understand what's happening. But I love how it doesn't talk down to the reader, how its world is just as complex as one you'd find in a fantasy novel - and even more beautiful, of course. This series has some of the most gorgeous panels I've ever seen. Sometimes, I went back and reread parts just for that.
But I have to say that with this volume, the many PoV changes lost me sometimes. I couldn't follow so many storylines at once, with all those setting and time jumps, which added to my confusion. Also, I'm here mostly for Maika's story - both present and past - and some of the subplots just aren't as interesting.
Monstress is a story about war, about a traumatized teenage girl with a terrible past and even worse secrets. It reads like a darkest, less romantic, more diverse Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It's everything I want from a fantasy comic, and I'm glad it's getting the recognition it deserves.
I can't wait for the next volume - I especially want to see more about Tuya, both in the past and in the present.
July 13, 2019
Buddy read with Nana!
Wow, the Kazu Kibuishi's Amulet parallels just keep getting stronger. Except Amulet is good and idek what this was.
It was pretty. I'll give it that. The aesthetic is on point. I had no clue what was happening most of the time, but it sure was pretty. I could barely keep track of the characters, and almost everything that happened was pure self-indulgence. It really took me out of the narrative when certain large sea monsters were spouting certain words that sounded like something straight out of a drunk draft of Nevernight by Jay Kristoff.
Also, Corvin gives me ACOTAR x TOG vibes and I'd really rather not rn. The weird Freudian crap going on with Tuya is also very weird and very uncomfortable. Overall, this was just a mess and the next one better be good, because the last one was great.
But, I must admit, it was very pretty.
Wow, the Kazu Kibuishi's Amulet parallels just keep getting stronger. Except Amulet is good and idek what this was.
It was pretty. I'll give it that. The aesthetic is on point. I had no clue what was happening most of the time, but it sure was pretty. I could barely keep track of the characters, and almost everything that happened was pure self-indulgence. It really took me out of the narrative when certain large sea monsters were spouting certain words that sounded like something straight out of a drunk draft of Nevernight by Jay Kristoff.
Also, Corvin gives me ACOTAR x TOG vibes and I'd really rather not rn. The weird Freudian crap going on with Tuya is also very weird and very uncomfortable. Overall, this was just a mess and the next one better be good, because the last one was great.
But, I must admit, it was very pretty.
October 22, 2019
4.5
Why would you do this Marjorie Liu?! THAT WAS EVIL AND I NEED VOLUME 4!!
*after reread October 2019*
Just as awesome I remembered!!
Why would you do this Marjorie Liu?! THAT WAS EVIL AND I NEED VOLUME 4!!
*after reread October 2019*
Just as awesome I remembered!!
May 31, 2019
[4.5 stars] What a cliffhanger!
April 25, 2019
And now we wait...
March 29, 2020
How does this series just stay so good all the time? In this one we have our usual one-armed main character, we have a half blind one and a wheelchair user (the latter two are brief appearances.) We also get a range of POC and lgbt+ characters are socially accepted and the norm. I love it.
I also love the plot more than ever in this one. Most of the world building has pretty much been established by this volume, so now it is much easier to follow the political scheming and allying that is going on. I really loved that as it is something I generally enjoy seeing across my reading tastes. I thought the questionings of loyalty and friendships, and how they were tested was good in this one too. There was so much suspense at the end and I was so invested in what was happening!
By this point I realise I’ve completely fallen for the main characters, especially: the monster, Marika, Kippa and the poet cat. I want them all to be safe and happy and I love seeing them trust each other and working as a team. However, at the same time, all of them have their own motivations and way of playing each other. It’s a very interesting double game.
The art, is, as ever, perfectly gorgeous and out of this world. I was very happy reading this one and can’t wait for more.
This review and others can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: https://oliviascatastrophe.com/2020/0...
I also love the plot more than ever in this one. Most of the world building has pretty much been established by this volume, so now it is much easier to follow the political scheming and allying that is going on. I really loved that as it is something I generally enjoy seeing across my reading tastes. I thought the questionings of loyalty and friendships, and how they were tested was good in this one too. There was so much suspense at the end and I was so invested in what was happening!
By this point I realise I’ve completely fallen for the main characters, especially: the monster, Marika, Kippa and the poet cat. I want them all to be safe and happy and I love seeing them trust each other and working as a team. However, at the same time, all of them have their own motivations and way of playing each other. It’s a very interesting double game.
The art, is, as ever, perfectly gorgeous and out of this world. I was very happy reading this one and can’t wait for more.
This review and others can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: https://oliviascatastrophe.com/2020/0...
October 3, 2018
Ehm, dear author, HOW DARE YOU
October 5, 2019
sometimes I still have no idea what's going on, but it's gorgeously illustrated as usual lol
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