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Monstress (Single Issues)
Monstress #26
In a border city about to be invaded by Federation troops, Maika finally begins to accept who she must become to survive…no matter the cost.
31 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 26, 2020
5 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
Marjorie M. Liu
322 books4,300 followersNew 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 28, 2024
(A-) 81% | Very Good
Notes: Read in trade paperback. Collective review for issues #25-30 can be found here: Monstress, Volume 5: Warchild.
Notes: Read in trade paperback. Collective review for issues #25-30 can be found here: Monstress, Volume 5: Warchild.
April 30, 2020
3.5
Can we say: Finally! All the 'I don't care' of Maika was getting really old.
Kippa,
in war , no one wants a friend,
they only want killers who will help them survive.
Poor Kippa, her sweet heart is hurting again.
Tuya is still an unknown. Deceiving? 2 or 3 agent?
Zinn is more a mentor/father figure now. Still
Can we say: Finally! All the 'I don't care' of Maika was getting really old.
Kippa,
in war , no one wants a friend,
they only want killers who will help them survive.
Poor Kippa, her sweet heart is hurting again.
Tuya is still an unknown. Deceiving? 2 or 3 agent?
Zinn is more a mentor/father figure now. Still
April 30, 2020
“You say ‘no’ an awful lot for someone who never listens to anyone.” - Kippa, February 26th, 2020
I gave 4 stars alone for Kippa’s savage clapback. 1 more star for Maika coming to the realization that she wants to live and will do anything to do so.
I gave 4 stars alone for Kippa’s savage clapback. 1 more star for Maika coming to the realization that she wants to live and will do anything to do so.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2020
MAIKA
February 27, 2020
This series needed some excessive unwarranted violence to finally spice up the recent mundane plot.
April 10, 2020
Best Issue Yet!
This is the action and the story I’ve been waiting for! Finallly! Maika making an effort to accept who she is and working with others - willingly - and admitting she has feelings beyond anger and frustration is so powerful. Plus I’ve always been a fan of the Maika-Kippa-Corvin clan, although I am trully holding out for Ren returning to fill out the fam. It was also happy to see more of Professor Tam Tam! His lectures are wonderful tie-ins to upcoming issues and really help pull you into the upcoming mysteries and how they play into the greater world as a whole. I missed him and his little students. It was so good getting to see them again. The dynamics between all the characters flowed and made sense for their current circumstances and played out so well in this issue. I’m excited to see what happens next.
This is the action and the story I’ve been waiting for! Finallly! Maika making an effort to accept who she is and working with others - willingly - and admitting she has feelings beyond anger and frustration is so powerful. Plus I’ve always been a fan of the Maika-Kippa-Corvin clan, although I am trully holding out for Ren returning to fill out the fam. It was also happy to see more of Professor Tam Tam! His lectures are wonderful tie-ins to upcoming issues and really help pull you into the upcoming mysteries and how they play into the greater world as a whole. I missed him and his little students. It was so good getting to see them again. The dynamics between all the characters flowed and made sense for their current circumstances and played out so well in this issue. I’m excited to see what happens next.
March 1, 2021
5/5
I've slowed down my reading of this series considerably because I don't want it to ever end.
I've slowed down my reading of this series considerably because I don't want it to ever end.
March 1, 2020
”this is not a negotiation. i am the halfwolf... and my word is law.”
i loved this issue, especially seeing what maika keeps under her impenetrable exterior :((( anyway some quotes from this stellar issue... i just love maika halfwolf so so very much. this makde me want to reread the other issues weeeeee
”you’re so naive. our kind don’t care if we die, maika. we are no one.” yes thank u tuya very cool
”what matters is that i don’t remember killing those people.”
”this is absurd, wife.”
“if you thought so, why did you come with me?”
“maybe i wanted to protect you. or see for myself how crazy you are.”
“or maybe you’re still capable of hope.”
“hope isn’t what drives you. i’m certain of that.”
now all the lines from maika, all of which are iconic
”are you done? all of you, shit-faces, shut your fucking mouths and line up.”
“i’ll feed them to the witches myself.”
“in war, no one wants a friend. they only want killers who will help them survive.”
now everyone say thank u to maika for being an absolute killer bye bye
i loved this issue, especially seeing what maika keeps under her impenetrable exterior :((( anyway some quotes from this stellar issue... i just love maika halfwolf so so very much. this makde me want to reread the other issues weeeeee
”you’re so naive. our kind don’t care if we die, maika. we are no one.” yes thank u tuya very cool
”what matters is that i don’t remember killing those people.”
”this is absurd, wife.”
“if you thought so, why did you come with me?”
“maybe i wanted to protect you. or see for myself how crazy you are.”
“or maybe you’re still capable of hope.”
“hope isn’t what drives you. i’m certain of that.”
now all the lines from maika, all of which are iconic
”are you done? all of you, shit-faces, shut your fucking mouths and line up.”
“i’ll feed them to the witches myself.”
“in war, no one wants a friend. they only want killers who will help them survive.”
now everyone say thank u to maika for being an absolute killer bye bye
March 17, 2020
With everything that's going on in the world, Monstress continues to be a breath of fresh air. There were so many moments in this issue where Maika and Tuya stepped up as women and owned their power and strength as warlords. My god, I can't wait to see how this all continues to play out. I do hope we get to see master Ren soon!! I miss him so much!
August 10, 2020
"It means... I'm okay with killing... and eating... so I can survive"
Reading a trully engaging and complex issue for the first time since the war arch. Sana Takeda's art is also better than ever, the dynamic angles and still shots. Finally, how complex it gets when Maika accepts her own cruelty, her own selfishness. Loved it
Reading a trully engaging and complex issue for the first time since the war arch. Sana Takeda's art is also better than ever, the dynamic angles and still shots. Finally, how complex it gets when Maika accepts her own cruelty, her own selfishness. Loved it
March 19, 2022
The various sides continue politicking behind the scenes as tensions ramp up for war — then Maika invokes Zinn and lays down some badass shit. The image of Zinn emerging from Maika’s steampunk arm is all-time awesome. The political intrigue in this book can get a bit convoluted and even tiresome but then shit like that instantly refreshes and invigorates the story.
February 18, 2025
Monstress
Issue#26
Volume#05
Warchild
Marjorie M. Liu
A new war starts on the doors of Ravena;
We see a flashback into Constantine and how the god's wrath unleashed on the city;
And we get to see Zinn's memories come back to him;
The Half Wolf take control of the situation and fall into her commanding role "I am the Half Wolf and My Word IS LAW";
The artwork continues to be amazing!
Issue#26
Volume#05
Warchild
Marjorie M. Liu
A new war starts on the doors of Ravena;
We see a flashback into Constantine and how the god's wrath unleashed on the city;
And we get to see Zinn's memories come back to him;
The Half Wolf take control of the situation and fall into her commanding role "I am the Half Wolf and My Word IS LAW";
The artwork continues to be amazing!
April 6, 2020
Art is gorgeous and the people interesting. This volume comes across truly as a character piece and not weighted down by its rich world
September 29, 2020
Rating: 5 Stars.
June 17, 2021
War is hell. If you cannot trust those you fight with then you may as well kill them yourself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2023
Oh shit oh shit.... This comic continues to take no prisoners. Brutal AF.
July 10, 2025
The arc opens in a state of dread and unease. Maika and her companions — Tuya, Kippa, and Zinn — find themselves navigating a harsh winter and an increasingly unstable war zone. This issue does excellent groundwork in establishing tone: quiet, dangerous, and thick with tension. Tuya’s loyalty becomes questionable, and Maika remains emotionally shut off, though we see flickers of vulnerability.
Takeda’s art captures the stillness of snow and silence before carnage. Intricate costume details, desolate ruins, and monstrous shadows linger in every panel.
Takeda’s art captures the stillness of snow and silence before carnage. Intricate costume details, desolate ruins, and monstrous shadows linger in every panel.
February 13, 2021
"In war, no one wants a friend. They only want killers who will help them survive.
I never hesitate to state how beautiful the artwork is in this series. In this issue, they added some action that has been craved for a little bit and showing how our main character is a total badass. In the same issue, we also see how vulnerable she is to her feelings and how she is concerned about the safety of her friends even though she tries to distance herself.
I never hesitate to state how beautiful the artwork is in this series. In this issue, they added some action that has been craved for a little bit and showing how our main character is a total badass. In the same issue, we also see how vulnerable she is to her feelings and how she is concerned about the safety of her friends even though she tries to distance herself.
February 7, 2023
#26
“Tuya, stay close! Keep talking to …” (6 years earlier)
.
“Tuya, stay close! Keep talking to …” (6 years earlier)
.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews