Monstress (comics)

Monstress
Publication information
Publisher Image Comics
Format Ongoing series
Genre Epic Fantasy
Publication date November 2015 to present
No. of issues 18
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.

Summary

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 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 demon (one of the Old Ones of lore), occasionally emerges from its stub.[3] The demon taking over her body and mind is both source of great power, but also great challenge to understand and control.[2]

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 and second in July 2017.[3]

Themes

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.[4] Race also plays a large role in the series. In the graphic novel 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. [4]

Reception

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.[5] 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".[6]

Awards

Award Year Category Nominee Result
British Fantasy Award 2017[7] Best Comic / Graphic Novel Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening Won
Eisner Awards 2016[8] Best Writer Marjorie Liu Nominated
Best New Series Monstress Nominated
2017[9] Best Publication for Teens (ages 13-17) Monstress Nominated
Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art) Sana Takeda Nominated
Best Cover Artist Sana Takeda Nominated
2018[10] Best Continuing Series Monstress Won
Best Publication for Teens (ages 13-17) Monstress Won
Best Writer Marjorie Liu Won
Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art) Sana Takeda Won
Best Cover Artist Sana Takeda Won
Hugo Awards 2017[11] Best Graphic Story Monstress, Volume 1: Awakening Won
2018[12] Best Graphic Story Monstress, Volume 2: The Blood Won
Best Professional Artist Sana Takeda Won

Collected editions

TitleMaterial collectedPublication dateISBN
Monstress Vol. 1: AwakeningMonstress #1–6July 13, 2016 9781632157096
Monstress Vol. 2: The BloodMonstress #7–12July 5, 2017 9781534300415
Monstress Vol. 3: HavenMonstress #13–18September 5, 2018 9781534306912

References

  1. ↑ Liu, Marjorie. "Marjorie Liu". Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 Cruz, Lenika. "Marjorie Liu on the Road to Making 'Monstress'". The Atlantic. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 Kelts, Roland (19 March 2017). "Breaking the comic book glass ceiling". The Japan Times. Retrieved 25 January 2018. image
  4. 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.
  5. ↑ Narcisse, Evan (23 November 2015). "Monstress Is A Gorgeous Comic Book About Racism, War and Slavery". Kotaku. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  6. ↑ Rosberg, Caitlin (10 November 2015). "Monstress captivates with its fusion of Western comics and manga". A.V. Club. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  7. ↑ "Announcing the 2017 British Fantasy Award Winners". Tor. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  8. ↑ "2016 Eisner Award Winners (Full List)". Newsarama. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  9. ↑ "2017 Eisner Awards Winners (Full List)". Newsarama. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  10. ↑ "2018 Eisner Awards Nominations". Newsarama. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  11. ↑ "MONSTRESS Wins 2017 HUGO AWARD". Newsarama. Retrieved 2017-08-15.
  12. ↑ "2018 Hugo Award Winners". The Hugo Awards. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
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