Monstress (comics)
| Monstress | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Image Comics |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Genre | Epic Fantasy |
| Publication date | November 2015 to present |
| No. of issues | 12 |
| Main character(s) |
Maika Halfwolf Kippa |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | Marjorie Liu |
| Artist(s) | Sana Takeda |
Monstress is an epic fantasy comics series written by Marjorie Liu and drawn by Sana Takeda, published since 2015 by the American publisher Image Comics.
The series is set in a matriarchal "alternate Asia"[1] riven by war between the Arcanics, magical creatures who sometimes can pass for human, and the Cumea, an order of sorceresses who consume Arcanics to fuel their power. The main character, Maika Halfwolf, is an Arcanic who is set on learning more about, and avenging, her dead mother. According to Liu, among the series's themes are the inner strength required to withstand constant dehumanization, as well as the power of friendship among women.[1]
The first, triple-sized issue of Monstress received critical praise. Writing for Kotaku, Evan Narcisse called it "a gorgeous comic book about racism, war and slavery", noting the intricate detail of Takeda's manga-inspired art.[2] In the A.V. Club, Caitlin Rosberg described the leading characters, all women, as "deeply flawed and showing layers of nuanced characterization that you don’t often see in comic books", and appreciated the series's "sense of in-between-ness—(...) neither traditionally Western nor manga, paced like a novel but drawn like a comic".[3]
Collected editions
| Title | Material collected | Publication date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monstress Vol.1: Awakening | Monstress #1-6 | July 2016 | 9781632157096 |
| Monstress Vol.2: The Blood | Monstress #7-12 | July 2017 | 9781534300415 |
References
- 1 2 McMillan, Graeme (3 November 2015). "'Monstress': Inside The Fantasy Comic About Race, Feminism And The Monster Within". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ↑ Narcisse, Evan (23 November 2015). "Monstress Is A Gorgeous Comic Book About Racism, War and Slavery". Kotaku. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ↑ Rosberg, Caitlin (10 November 2015). "Monstress captivates with its fusion of Western comics and manga". A.V. Club. Retrieved 24 November 2015.