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Monstress (Single Issues)
Monstress #28
Trapped in a burning city under siege, Kippa must survive against all the odds.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 24, 2020
6 people are currently reading
97 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.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 25, 2024
(A-) 82% | 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.
June 29, 2020
Kippa is just THE BEST. She is adorable and super brave, love her!
Love is stronger than fear. Great quote.
Love is stronger than fear. Great quote.
July 22, 2020
The scientists have more experiments to show.
I think for the first time Kippa is really living what war is, with all the horrendous mistakes and having to live with the guilt of mistakes.
On the other hand, there are new indications that there is more to the little fox than can be seen. So there is ANOTHER mystery? Argg..
And that without counting all that about the seers with Corvin and not able to 'see' Kippa and Maika? Well, Corvin is not certain of following the script. Go you!
But - I'm not very happy with the Art. Drawings are more loose and not defined.
I think for the first time Kippa is really living what war is, with all the horrendous mistakes and having to live with the guilt of mistakes.
On the other hand, there are new indications that there is more to the little fox than can be seen. So there is ANOTHER mystery? Argg..
And that without counting all that about the seers with Corvin and not able to 'see' Kippa and Maika? Well, Corvin is not certain of following the script. Go you!
But - I'm not very happy with the Art. Drawings are more loose and not defined.
October 25, 2020
Solid. Outstanding artwork
January 12, 2022
”the dead will be the lucky ones.”
i have no idea what happened in this issue,,, where is maika i miss her. i waited three months and no maika. i feel baited with this cover. NO TUYA OR MAIKA HELPPP. also the random witch demon sisters are weird i hope they all die. needle and hammer are also cool. i miss gull, i don’t remember if she’s dead or just didn’t show up but yup.
i admit i’m obsessed with the snippets of maika and tuya as children at the battle of constantine.
hoping next month i’ll get my kaiju possessed arcanic teen back and maybe finally a reunion with her dusk court baroness best friend
”i feel straaaange.” “how sad. i was hoping you’d feel only agony.” very cool needle also ”i shudder if that’s your idea of perfection. maybe you should have taught them manners instead.”
i have no idea what happened in this issue,,, where is maika i miss her. i waited three months and no maika. i feel baited with this cover. NO TUYA OR MAIKA HELPPP. also the random witch demon sisters are weird i hope they all die. needle and hammer are also cool. i miss gull, i don’t remember if she’s dead or just didn’t show up but yup.
i admit i’m obsessed with the snippets of maika and tuya as children at the battle of constantine.
hoping next month i’ll get my kaiju possessed arcanic teen back and maybe finally a reunion with her dusk court baroness best friend
”i feel straaaange.” “how sad. i was hoping you’d feel only agony.” very cool needle also ”i shudder if that’s your idea of perfection. maybe you should have taught them manners instead.”
February 13, 2021
More beautiful artwork as the story of the war continues. Kippa is adorable, tough as nails and is growing into a little badass. The sisters were a force to be reckoned with and as someone stated in the previous issue a bit "strange" but an interesting addition to the cast of characters. The issue started with another brief scene from Maika's youth of the horrors she had to deal with. We see the after effects of the attack on the foxes and cats as the survivors evacuate and seek help.
June 30, 2020
Despite all the action this issue was just okay. The pacing felt sluggish to me, and I’m finding the Cumaea to be boring as the series winds on.
I hope this reads well when it’s read within the collected graphic novel when it’s released. I have a feeling I might also just be out of my rhythm for this series because it goes on hiatus often.
I hope this reads well when it’s read within the collected graphic novel when it’s released. I have a feeling I might also just be out of my rhythm for this series because it goes on hiatus often.
February 18, 2025
Monstress
Issue#28
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#28
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!
March 19, 2022
Monstress reaches new depths of depravity as it coldly represents the horrors of war. Alongside the bracing depictions of death and destruction, we learn about the terrifying human-weapons created by injecting lillium into fetuses to grow hybrid war machines.
April 6, 2020
It truly feels rich this time and not complicated.
July 2, 2020
Continues to please
The art has always been stunning. The story continues to grow into a wonderful epic. Can't wait for more! I love it
The art has always been stunning. The story continues to grow into a wonderful epic. Can't wait for more! I love it
August 23, 2020
I have no idea if Zinn is being gaslighted or it is true. On the other hand, Kippa coming to the realization that she made a fatal mistake is so heartbreaking. Cannot wait to read the rest.
September 29, 2020
Rating: 5 Stars.
June 17, 2021
The Sword of the East has arrived, but is it enough?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2025
This issue gives more backstory and mythological depth, showing how past atrocities have shaped the present. We dive into Maika’s bloodline, her relationship with Zinn (the eldritch god living inside her), and how that relationship is changing. Zinn, once merely a source of power, becomes a more tragic and complex figure here.
There’s a growing sense that Maika is being used once again — by everyone. But she’s starting to see it, and question her role in all of this.
There’s a growing sense that Maika is being used once again — by everyone. But she’s starting to see it, and question her role in all of this.
August 18, 2023
#28
“… goddess … please … please .. I’ll do anything..” – Kippa
“I’ve missed the smell of witch blood.” – warrior-ess
“… goddess … please … please .. I’ll do anything..” – Kippa
“I’ve missed the smell of witch blood.” – warrior-ess
March 30, 2023
5/5
I love this series so much
I love this series so much
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews