Monstress #23

Monstress (Single Issues)

by Marjorie M. Liu (Writer), Sana Takeda (Illustrator), Rus Wooton (Letterer)

Maika is finally close to getting all the answers she ever wanted—but at what price?

Genres: Comics, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Horror, Steampunk, Graphic Novels Comics, Dark Fantasy

31 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 19, 2019

About the author

New York Times bestselling and award-winning writer Marjorie Liu is best known for her fiction and comic books. She teaches comic book writing at MIT, and she leads a class on Popular Fiction at the Voices of Our Nation (VONA) workshop.

Ms. Liu is a highly celebrated comic book writer. Her extensive work with Marvel includes the bestselling Dark Wolverine series, NYX: No Way Home, X-23, and Black Widow: The Name of the Rose. She received national media attention for Astonishing X-Men, which featured the gay wedding of X-Man Northstar and was subsequently nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for outstanding media images of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Ms. Liu also wrote the story for the animated film, Avengers Confidential: Black Widow and Punisher, which was produced by Marvel, Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Madhouse Inc.

Her newest work is MONSTRESS, an original, creator-owned comic book series with Japanese artist (and X-23 collaborator) Sana Takeda. Published by Image in Fall 2015, MONSTRESS is set in an alternate, matriarchal 1920’s Asia and follows a girl’s struggle to survive the trauma of war. With a cast of girls and monsters and set against a richly imagined aesthetic of art deco-inflected steam punk, MONSTRESS #1 debuted to critical praise. The Hollywood Reporter remarked that the longer than typical first issue was “world-building on a scale rare in mainstream comics.”

Ms. Liu is also the author of more than 19 novels, most notably the urban fantasy series, Hunter Kiss, and the paranormal romance series, Dirk & Steele. Her novels have also been bestsellers on USA Today, which described Liu “as imaginative as she is prolific.” Her critically praised fiction has twice received the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, for THE MORTAL BONE (Hunter Kiss #6), and TIGER EYE (Dirk & Steele #1). TIGER EYE was the basis for a bestselling paranormal romance video game called Tiger Eye: Curse of the Riddle Box.

Liu has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, MTV, and been profiled in the Wall Street Journal.com, Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. She is a frequent lecturer and guest speaker, appearing 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, including Germany, France, Japan, Poland, and the United Kingdom.

Ms. Liu was born in Philadelphia, and has lived in numerous cities in the Midwest and Beijing. Prior to writing full-time, she was a lawyer. She currently resides in Boston.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(A-) 84% | Very Good
Notes: Read in trade paperback. Collective review for issues #19-24 can be found here: Monstress, Volume 4: The Chosen.

[tammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

actual rating: 2.5
this issue was boring!!!!!!!!!!!! i glazed over this

[Yasmin Halliwell Fraser Bower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fights!

[Lo · Rating 5 out of 5]

me: does anyone know what goes on anymore
me: 5 stars

[Julio Bonilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAT THE FUCK HAVE YOU DONE?

Maika’s father has led her into a trap. Actions have consequences.

[Mitticus · Rating 3 out of 5]

not my favorite of this arc

[dathomira]

i fucking lost my mind on that last page every time zinn remembers a little more its like someone broke into my house and snapped my neck?????????? ALSO?????????????? listen.......i definitely think tuya dies :( shaman empress momma's 'you were older and insensate with grief' honestly i think tuya's the only one who would do that to her ;-----; i love them literally spy and princess im truly ajklsflsaj

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Skeptic Hecate · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Perhaps when we meet again you will have changed your mind. Until then... may you eat well."

[Vincent Stoessel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great issue. A lot of great dialog and revelations.

[Su · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, so many of the issues in this series have been kind of disappointing to me. I feel like too much is being done, like Lui is trying to write too many different stories in one. It’s really jarring for me how Maika is obviously this super brash foul-mouthed 21st century strong female protagonist type...but she’s living in this ancient fantasy world where everyone, or almost everyone else, acts and usually speaks in a manner that’s less anachronistic. Still every character, besides Kippa and Maika’s father perhaps, drops the f-bomb frequently and it usually doesn’t seem in line with their characters so that’s another peeve I have for the series in general. This issue? It went at break neck speed and didn’t really do much in the way of progressing the story. The description for this issue says Maika’s close to getting all the answers she wants but literally not a single question is answered, just a hand full of new questions posed instead. It’s really maddening. Kippa and Ren make the briefest of appearances, so brief I feel like it would’ve been better not to have seen them in this issue and instead catch up to them in a later one where more time can be spent on them. For all my gripes, I’m still giving this a 3 star because while I’m frustrated with the pacing and the disappointing lack of anything resembling “answers”, the last two pages due set up for a great twist (?) or at least reveal in the next couple of issues - a set up I really believe (read: desperately hope) will deliver a payoff that will make every frustrated reader feel justified in staying on this wild trip.

[Fantaghirò · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am getting tired of this one-dimensional badass protagonist, who uses swearwords in every other sentence. I have no problems with strong language, but there's a point where "fuck/fucking" starts to feel unimaginative. Grit is not a substitute for personality and I find the Halfwolf really boring.

Most characters lack depth and I find it hard to keep up with the plot, especially when it's dished out in a textwall of exposition balloons. No amount of amazing artwork makes it easier to read through all the incomprehensible politics of this saga.

[Vyshakh Aravindan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A plunge into the mythic and metaphysical. Maika's connection with Zinn intensifies, and the narrative dances on the edge of madness. The scenes are dreamlike—filled with dead gods, ancient symbols, and whispers of past cataclysms. Maika’s memories warp around her as Zinn shows more of himself, not just as a monster but as a manipulator with motives older than the known world. This chapter leans into horror, but it’s an existential horror. You can feel Maika’s identity fray at the edges, and it’s terrifying in the quietest way.

[Rae · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to say it - not my favorite. The cover doesn't match the inside (which Monstress doesn't usually do) and the plot, though having some important moments, feels sluggish because of the speed of the comic's release. I trust it'll turn out well though and I'm looking forward to the next issue. Which is another reason to pick up the trades to get the full story all at once, even though I love to collect the issues. Takeda's art is gorgeous as always.

[M. Ashraf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Monstress
Issue#23
Volume#04
The Chosen
Marjorie M. Liu

It is like a shift forward from the last volume,
We met Maika's father 3:) a scarry Silkroad figure :p
New creatures the Dracul
The gift of the little fox awakened
A War is coming!
The artwork is still amazing!!
Do not know when is the next volume :( But I will be waiting!

[Tim Nowotny · Rating 4 out of 5]

It becomes close to home for Mika, No feeling what will come out of this conflict

[Mousmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 Stars.

[Zian B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still don’t know what’s going on except that Maika’s father is an absolute menace. Also, I’m glad to see Vihn again.

[Stere Lizia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like how Maika were being characterized as a lowkey crybaby in this one with pure moral.

[Amelie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Andy Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Issue#23
“She might be your wolf .. but she is my MONSTER..” Maika’s father to her mother

[Ravyn (clockwork.bookdragon) Nightshade · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing new chapter in this series. The art is stunning as ever. I really can’t wait for the next issue!

[Cats W. Bats, Esq. · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

I love this series

[Andy Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Issue#23
“She might be your wolf .. but she is my MONSTER..” Maika’s father to her mother