Monstress (comics)
Monstress is an ongoing epic fantasy comics series written by Marjorie Liu and drawn by Sana Takeda, published since November 2015 by the American publisher Image Comics.
| Monstress | |
|---|---|
Monstress #1 cover | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Image Comics |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Genre | |
| Publication date | November 2015 – present |
| No. of issues | 48 (plus 2 Talk Stories issues) |
| Main character(s) |
|
| Creative team | |
| Created by | Marjorie Liu & Sana Takeda |
| Written by | Marjorie Liu |
| Artist(s) | Sana Takeda |
| Letterer(s) | Rus Wooton |
| Editor(s) | Jennifer M. Smith |
| Collected editions | |
| 1. Awakening | ISBN 9781632157096 |
| 2. The Blood | ISBN 9781534300415 |
| 3. Haven | ISBN 9781534306912 |
| 4. The Chosen | ISBN 9781534313361 |
| 5. Warchild | ISBN 9781534316614 |
| 6. The Vow | ISBN 9781534319158 |
| 7. Devourer | ISBN 9781534323193 |
| 8. Inferno | ISBN 9781534399525 |
The series has earned many awards, including seven Eisner Awards, four Hugo Awards, and the Harvey Awards Book of the Year in 2018.
Summary edit
The series is set in a matriarchal world inspired by early 20th-century Asia, and tells the story of Maika Halfwolf, a teenage girl who shares a mysterious psychic link with a powerful monster.[1][2] The background to the story is a war between the Arcanics, magical creatures who sometimes can pass for human, and the human Federation, led by the Cumaea, an order of sorceresses who consume Arcanics to fuel their power. Maika is an Arcanic who looks human, and who is set on learning about and avenging her dead mother. Maika's left arm has been severed and a "monster", Zinn, occasionally emerges from its stub.[3] The demon, who takes over her body and mind, is a source of great power, but challenging for Maika to understand and control.[2] The story unfolds as Maika navigates through the power games of the factions of humans and arcanics while learning truths about the "Ancients" and her family that change her perspective.
Publication history edit
Liu first introduced the story to Takeda in 2013. The two started working together a year later, and the first issue was published in November 2015; the trade paperback first volume in July 2016, the second in July 2017,[3] the third in September 2018,[4] and the fourth in September 2019.[5]
Liu has said that she struggled with depression before writing Monstress. She had taken a hiatus from writing before returning to the industry with Image Comics.[6]
She has described the comic as "a huge epic fantasy." As such, the story required world-building. The first issue was triple-sized (70 pages) in order to properly introduce the various characters and factions.[6]
Liu and Takeda first worked together on Liu's run of X-23 for Marvel. Liu would later describe her work with Takeda as "a wonderful process; it felt like she was reading my mind." A native of Japan, Takeda's art takes inspiration from manga.[6]
Themes edit
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.[7] Race also plays a large role in the series. In the series the Arcanics, a race of magical creatures, have been at war with humans for decades, and they are now at a stalemate; however the humans are taking Arcanics and selling them as slaves to other humans.[7]
Reception edit
At the review aggregator website Comic Book Roundup, the series received an average score of 9.0 out of 10 based on 212 reviews.[8]
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.[9] Reviewing the book for 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".[10] The comic was described by the Los Angeles Review of Books as "ambitious as George R. R. Martin or J. R. R. Tolkien" for its high fantasy concepts and heavy world-building.[11]
Awards and nominations edit
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bram Stoker Award | 2018 | Best Graphic Novel | Monstress – Volume 2: The Blood | Nominated | [12] |
| 2019 | Best Graphic Novel | Monstress – Volume 3: Haven | [13] | ||
| 2020 | Best Graphic Novel | Monstress – Volume 4: The Chosen | [13] | ||
| British Fantasy Award | 2017 | Best Comic / Graphic Novel | Monstress – Volume 1: Awakening | Won | [14] |
| 2018 | Best Comic / Graphic Novel | Monstress – Volume 2: The Blood | [15] | ||
| Best Artist | Sana Takeda | Nominated | [15] | ||
| Eisner Awards | 2016 | Best Writer | Marjorie Liu | [16] | |
| Best New Series | Monstress | [16] | |||
| 2017 | Best Publication for Teens | Monstress | [17] | ||
| Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art) | Sana Takeda | [17] | |||
| Best Cover Artist | Sana Takeda | [17] | |||
| 2018 | Best Continuing Series | Monstress | Won | [18] | |
| Best Publication for Teens | Monstress | [18] | |||
| Best Writer | Marjorie Liu | [18] | |||
| Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art) | Sana Takeda | [18] | |||
| Best Cover Artist | Sana Takeda | [18] | |||
| 2022 | Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art) | Sana Takeda | [19] | ||
| 2023 | Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art) | Sana Takeda | [20] | ||
| Harvey Awards | 2018 | Book of the Year Award | Monstress | Won | [21] |
| Hugo Awards | 2017 | Best Graphic Story | Monstress – Volume 1: Awakening | Won | [22] |
| Best Professional Artist | Sana Takeda | Nominated | [23] | ||
| 2018 | Best Graphic Story | Monstress – Volume 2: The Blood | Won | [24] | |
| Best Professional Artist | Sana Takeda | [24] | |||
| 2019 | Best Graphic Story | Monstress – Volume 3: Haven | [25] | ||
| 2020 | Best Graphic Story | Monstress – Volume 4: The Chosen | Nominated | [26] | |
| 2021 | Best Graphic Story | Monstress – Volume 5: Warchild | [27] | ||
| 2022 | Best Graphic Story | Monstress – Volume 6: The Vow | [23] | ||
| World Fantasy Awards | 2022 | Special Award, Professional | Monstress – Volume 6: The Vow | Won | [28] |
Collected editions edit
| Title | Material collected | Publication date | Format | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monstress – Volume 1: Awakening[29] | Monstress #1–6 | July 19, 2016 | Trade paperback | 9781632157096 |
| Monstress – Volume 2: The Blood[30] | Monstress #7–12 | July 5, 2017 | 9781534300415 | |
| Monstress – Volume 3: Haven[31] | Monstress #13–18 | September 5, 2018 | 9781534306912 | |
| Monstress – Volume 4: The Chosen[32] | Monstress #19–24 | September 25, 2019 | 9781534313361 | |
| Monstress – Volume 5: Warchild[33] | Monstress #25–30 | October 6, 2020 | 9781534316614 | |
| Monstress – Volume 6: The Vow[34] | Monstress: Talk-Stories #1–2 Monstress #31–35 | September 8, 2021 | 9781534319158 | |
| Monstress – Volume 7: Devourer[35] | Monstress #36–41 | September 7, 2022 | 9781534323193 | |
| Monstress – Volume 8: Inferno[36] | Monstress #42–48 | November 22, 2023 | 9781534399525 | |
| Monstress – Book One[37] | Monstress #1–18 | July 3, 2019 | Hardcover | 9781534312326 |
| Monstress – Book Two[38] | Monstress #19–35 Monstress: Talk-Stories #1–2 | December 7, 2022 | 9781534323148 |
References edit
- ^ Liu, Marjorie. "Marjorie Liu". from the original on January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- ^ a b Cruz, Lenika (September 14, 2017). "Marjorie Liu on the Road to Making 'Monstress'". The Atlantic. from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- ^ a b Kelts, Roland (March 19, 2017). "Breaking the comic book glass ceiling". The Japan Times. from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.image 2017-12-14 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Monstress, Vol. 3 TP". Image Comics. from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ "Monstress, Vol. 4 TP". Image Comics. from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- ^ a b c Cruz, Lenika (September 14, 2017). "Marjorie Liu on the Road to Making 'Monstress'". The Atlantic. from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- ^ a b McMillan, Graeme (November 3, 2015). "'Monstress': Inside The Fantasy Comic About Race, Feminism And The Monster Within". The Hollywood Reporter. from the original on November 27, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
- ^ "Monstress Reviews". Comic Book Roundup. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
- ^ Narcisse, Evan (November 23, 2015). "Monstress Is A Gorgeous Comic Book About Racism, War and Slavery". Kotaku. from the original on November 24, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
- ^ Rosberg, Caitlin (November 10, 2015). "Monstress captivates with its fusion of Western comics and manga". The A.V. Club. from the original on November 25, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
- ^ Song, Min Hyoung (December 24, 2016). "Monsters Come Home: On Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda's "Monstress"". Los Angeles Review of Books. from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- ^ "Marjorie M. Liu Awards". Science Fiction Awards Database. Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ a b "Sana Takeda Awards". Science Fiction Awards Database. Locus Science Fiction Foundation. from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- ^ "Announcing the 2017 British Fantasy Award Winners". Tor.com. October 2017. from the original on September 3, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ a b "British Fantasy Society, British Fantasy Awards 2018". British Fantasy Society. from the original on January 30, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- ^ a b "2016 Eisner Award Winners (Full List)". Newsarama. from the original on July 24, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ a b c "2017 Eisner Awards Winners (Full List)". Newsarama. from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "2018 Eisner Awards Nominations". Newsarama. from the original on April 29, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ Kaplan, Rebecca Oliver (July 23, 2022). "SDCC '22: 2022 Eisner Award winners, top moments, and more!". Comics Beat. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ McMillan, Graeme (April 24, 2023). "And the winners of the 2023 Eisner Awards are..." Popverse. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ . Harvey Awards. Archived from the original on December 1, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- ^ "MONSTRESS Wins 2017 HUGO AWARD". Newsarama. from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
- ^ a b "Sana Takeda Awards". Science Fiction Awards Database. Locus Science Fiction Foundation. from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ a b Morgan, Cheryl (August 19, 2018). "2018 Hugo Award Winners". The Hugo Awards. World Science Fiction Society. from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
- ^ Morgan, Cheryl (August 19, 2019). "2019 Hugo Award Winners". The Hugo Awards. World Science Fiction Society. from the original on August 19, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- ^ "2020 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. World Science Fiction Society. from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. World Science Fiction Society. from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
- ^ "World Fantasy Awards 2022". The Science Fiction Awards Database. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ "Monstress, Vol. 1 TP". from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
- ^ "Monstress, Vol. 2 TP". from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
- ^ "Monstress, Vol. 3 TP". from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
- ^ "Monstress, Vol. 4 TP". from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
- ^ "Monstress, Vol. 5 TP". from the original on June 15, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
- ^ "Monstress, Vol. 6 TP". from the original on October 3, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
- ^ "Monstress, Vol. 7 TP". Retrieved July 28, 2022.
- ^ "Monstress TP, Vol. 8". Retrieved October 7, 2023.
- ^ "Monstress, Book One HC". from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
- ^ "Monstress, Book Two HC". Retrieved July 28, 2022.
External links edit
- Official website at Image Comics