Title: Monstress #1
Author: Marjorie M. Liu
First published November 1, 2015
72 pages, Comics
Rating: 4.17
Overview
Enter a world of fantasy and intrigue in Monstress #1, a tale for mature readers that blends steampunk and Kaiju. Maika, a young girl, must overcome all odds to control her powerful psychic link with a monster of unimaginable strength.
As she navigates a dangerous war between humans and otherworldly beings, Maika soon realizes that the fate of the world rests squarely on her shoulders. With thrilling action and unforgettable characters, Monstress #1 is a must-read for fans of epic fantasy.
About the Author
Marjorie Liu is a talented writer and comic book creator who has achieved great success. She is well-known for her award-winning fiction and comic books, and teaches comic book writing at MIT.
Additionally, she leads a class on Popular Fiction at the Voices of Our Nation (VONA) workshop.
Ms. Liu has an impressive portfolio of work with Marvel, including the popular Dark Wolverine series, NYX: No Way Home, X-23, and Black Widow: The Name of the Rose. Her work on Astonishing X-Men, which featured a gay wedding, earned her a GLAAD Media Award nomination for outstanding media images of the LGBTQ+ community.
She also wrote the story for the animated film Avengers Confidential: Black Widow and Punisher, produced by Marvel, Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Madhouse Inc.
Her latest project is MONSTRESS, a creator-owned comic book series illustrated by Japanese artist Sana Takeda. Set in an alternate, matriarchal 1920’s Asia, the story follows a girl’s journey to survive the trauma of war.
With a cast of girls and monsters and a richly imagined art deco-inflected steam punk aesthetic, MONSTRESS #1 has received critical acclaim. The Hollywood Reporter said the longer than typical first issue was “world-building on a scale rare in mainstream comics.”
In addition to her work in comics, Ms. Liu has authored more than 19 novels, including the popular urban fantasy series, Hunter Kiss, and the paranormal romance series, Dirk & Steele. Her novels have been bestsellers on USA Today and have received critical acclaim, earning her the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award twice.
Ms. Liu has been featured in numerous media outlets, including MSNBC, CNN, MTV, the Wall Street Journal.com, Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. She is a sought-after lecturer and guest speaker, and has appeared 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 in Germany, France, Japan, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
Born in Philadelphia, Ms. Liu has lived in various cities in the Midwest and Beijing. Prior to her writing career, she worked as a lawyer.
Currently, she resides in Boston.
Editoral Review
Monstress #1 by Marjorie M. Liu is an epic fantasy comic book.
The author is a prolific writer and New York Times bestselling author, best known for her ‘Dirk and Steele’ series. Her work has won multiple awards, including Eisner and Hugo awards.
This graphic novel, illustrated by Sana Takeda, was first published on November 1, 2015. Set in a fantasy world, Monstress revolves around the story of a young girl named Maika Halfwolf who has mysterious powers that make her a target of many groups.
Regarded as a dark sorceress, she is pursued by the human forces of the Cumaea, a religious order that claims to be dedicated to the protection of the human race from dangerous magical creatures such as witches and Arcanics. The story follows her as she sets out on a dangerous journey to unlock the secrets of her past and discover the source of her powers.
Along the way, she meets a diverse cast of characters, both friends and enemies, who aid or hinder her mission. The first issue of Monstress establishes the richly layered world-building by introducing readers to the complex political and social order of the setting.
The use of heavy exposition is a common practice in the comics, mostly due to the compressed narrative format. Despite this exposition, the author maintains a good flow in the story, which ultimately makes this issue very enjoyable to read.
Readers will also appreciate the intricate character designs and gorgeous illustrations, which convey a sense of grandeur and beauty in every panel. At its core, Monstress is a story about discrimination and oppression, a theme that is relevant in our current times.
The author uses the fantastical world and storytelling conventions of the comic book medium to explore these issues in nuanced ways that do justice to the complexity of the real-world problems. The strong female characters in the story stand out as particularly poignant in a genre traditionally dominated by male protagonists.
As this is only the first issue of an ongoing series, many of the plot points and story arcs are still in its infancy, and it’s not possible to judge the plot as a whole just yet. However, the first issue is a perfect introduction to the author’s vision and the world that she has created.
Overall, Monstress #1 is an exceptional debut issue. With its stunning artwork, well-crafted narrative style, and important themes, this graphic novel has the potential to become a classic of the genre.
Fans of fantasy, particularly those who enjoy strong female characters, will find this comic immensely satisfying. Rating: 4.5/5 stars
