Between its intricate and complex mythology, eye-popping artwork and strong-minded female protagonist, “Monstress” is a true testament to the potential of comics as a medium. Despite a superhero-saturated market in the world of entertainment, this book offers something fresh and original for a more mature audience.
Published by Image Comics, a company that is experiencing a golden age with books like “Saga” and “East of West,” “Monstress” is a new dark fantasy comic book series from writer Marjorie Liu and artist Sana Takeda. Set in the aftermath of a war between humans and a race of supernatural creatures, the oversized first issue introduces us to one of these beings as she is captured and enslaved by a human Federation. Maika Halfwolf is a revenge-seeking warrior whose rage cannot be contained.
Burdened by seemingly uncontrollable magical powers as well as a terrible hunger, Maika is on a quest for vengeance and answers, as she believes her condition is linked to her mother’s murder.
Though gorgeous to look at, “Monstress” may isolate some readers with its somewhat obtuse narrative. Like countless fantasy novels, the book introduces us right away to a multitude of civilizations and characters, each of which are infused with their own elaborately constructed mythologies. If you’re looking for an easy-to-follow good-and-evil story, you won’t find it here.
That said, the book’s complexity is what makes it stand out. Liu wastes no time in providing readers with detailed explanations and backstories at the beginning in favor of revealing things as the story progresses. This is a book designed for older readers, and the fact that it’s not at all watered down makes it all the more intriguing.
“Monstress” also holds nothing back in terms of its graphic violence and examination of themes like slavery and cannibalism. Liu and Takeda are one of the many writer-artist pairs in the industry today who take full advantage of the freedom and lack of censorship they have as independent creators. A particularly gruesome scene in issue two involving Maika’s starvation demonstrates the unrestrained attitude which they’ve taken toward this book.
Genre-wise, Liu blends together elements of various Asian mythos with the explosive action of a Tarantino-style revenge thriller. Think along the lines of “Legend of Korra” meets “Kill Bill.” It’s got violence, bizarre creatures, incredible world-building, strong characterization and enough imagination to truly transport readers to another world.
In conjunction with Liu’s crisp and sharply executed writing, Takeda’s art is a true wonder to behold. Whether it’s the interior designs of the prison in issue one, the elaborate costumes, the brutal and bloody fight sequences or the skillfully crafted facial expressions of each character, Takeda continually mesmerizes with each panel, much in the same fashion as the criticality-acclaimed “Saga” artist Fiona Staples.
While no doubt dense and relentlessly gritty, “Monstress” is an indescribable display of talent from two of the top creators in the comics industry. With issue three coming out this week, now is a good time to jump on this series if you’re looking for a story that will engage, often terrify and stick with you long after you’ve reached the last page.
