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Monstress (Single Issues)
Monstress #30
Who will win this crucial first battle between the Federation and Arcanics? And whose side is Maika on, anyway?
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2020
4 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Marjorie M. Liu
320 books4,302 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 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 28, 2024
(A-) 80% | 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.
September 7, 2020
I think Liu, like me, has no idea how this comic will end.
September 9, 2020
Finally some more believable vulnerability from Maika. Although I have a feeling this series will need to be re-read in graphic novel form for me to truly appreciate all the character arcs. This story is so dense and long that sometimes it’s hard to remember all that transpired to get us to this point.
Kippa remains my favourite.
Kippa remains my favourite.
June 7, 2021
People are getting back together, not making peace but more setting up for another arch. I like the family element this comic is getting and wonder where it will be taken
September 6, 2020
No real complaints
This issue wasn’t spectacular or horrible, it just was. The slow-burn regarding Maika’s true relationship to Zinn (and all the others who are allegedly related to the Shaman Empress) continues. The chosen-family dynamics between Maika, Kippa, Corvin, and even Ren develop further. Unfortunately, another new character (or so it seems) is introduced on half of a page during major action, which is a sudden curveball that still manages to miss. I’ll continuing reading, if only to say I saw it through.
This issue wasn’t spectacular or horrible, it just was. The slow-burn regarding Maika’s true relationship to Zinn (and all the others who are allegedly related to the Shaman Empress) continues. The chosen-family dynamics between Maika, Kippa, Corvin, and even Ren develop further. Unfortunately, another new character (or so it seems) is introduced on half of a page during major action, which is a sudden curveball that still manages to miss. I’ll continuing reading, if only to say I saw it through.
December 26, 2021
2021 tuve que leer este de nuevo, para entender el sgte. la situacion de la guerra es demasiado compleja, con las facciones de humanos, cumae, y los otros. resulta que esta entrega me molesta en contenido, pero entrega varias cosas mas acerca de Zinn, y como todos traicionan y siguen apuñalandose por la espalda como su tia y Tuya, y corvin tratando de actuar en lo que cree, y ren una vez mas haciendo cosas contra unos y otros pese a aconsejar a tuya de decir la verdad a maika.
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February 13, 2021
"A good interrogation is a dance between nerves and patience. You must have the nerve to unleash maximum suffering and the patience to outlast your target's desire to live."
Another beautifully made entry. It wasn't as action packed as the previous entries but it was nonetheless a nice issue. We got to see the aftermath of what happened when she was a child at the beginning of the issue. We also get to see some more of Maika's vulnerabilities.
Another beautifully made entry. It wasn't as action packed as the previous entries but it was nonetheless a nice issue. We got to see the aftermath of what happened when she was a child at the beginning of the issue. We also get to see some more of Maika's vulnerabilities.
January 11, 2021
So many questions remain unanswered. For some time, it keeps you curious, but after a while, half-revealing flashbacks are not making you satisfied, but really annoyed. The graphics are still pompous and beautiful, but the balance of the story is somewhat insufficient, I would like to move on to the new story arch with a bit more of mysteries revealed and some chapters closed.
March 20, 2022
The last issue in this arc does a good job of consolidating some of the major storylines while opening up new questions and a pretty wide open field of possibilities for the next part of the series. Humans and arcanics are decidedly at war again, though Maika-Zion’s role in resolving or exploding that conflict remains unknown.
February 18, 2025
Monstress
Issue#30
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#30
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!
November 30, 2020
One of my favorite issues yet! So deep!
I loved how Maika is protective of her dark parts because it's part of who she is & how broken she is that she can't even accept that she loves Kippa. Gosh, My heart just broke.
Trust cannot live without truth. Epic. 5 stars!
I loved how Maika is protective of her dark parts because it's part of who she is & how broken she is that she can't even accept that she loves Kippa. Gosh, My heart just broke.
Trust cannot live without truth. Epic. 5 stars!
September 29, 2020
Rating: 5 Stars.
December 10, 2020
Unique art, brilliant plot
Monstress is the first marriage of literature and fine art. Don’t read it if you prefer to miss out on the experience.
Monstress is the first marriage of literature and fine art. Don’t read it if you prefer to miss out on the experience.
June 9, 2021
This issue, just as beautiful as the rest, yet I found it a little bit confusing. Hope vol 6 can clarify some things.
August 13, 2021
#30
“TRUST CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT TRUTH … to quote the poets.”
“TRUST CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT TRUTH … to quote the poets.”
June 1, 2024
Amazing
It continues the story well. We get more indept to what happened to Zenin, and why he's having a mental breakdown. Also, the cracks around Makia's heart are spreading.
It continues the story well. We get more indept to what happened to Zenin, and why he's having a mental breakdown. Also, the cracks around Makia's heart are spreading.
December 7, 2024
#30
“TRUST CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT TRUTH … to quote the poets.”
“TRUST CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT TRUTH … to quote the poets.”
July 10, 2025
The arc concludes with a brutal crescendo. Maika is forced to confront a truth about herself and her mother, as well as what kind of leader — or weapon — she truly wants to be. The final confrontation doesn’t end in triumph, but in survival. The cost of that survival? Another piece of Maika’s soul.
The last few pages are quiet and heartbreaking. Tuya’s fate leaves a deep wound, and Maika’s final moments suggest that while she may have survived the battle, the emotional war rages on.
The last few pages are quiet and heartbreaking. Tuya’s fate leaves a deep wound, and Maika’s final moments suggest that while she may have survived the battle, the emotional war rages on.
March 30, 2023
5/5
Bury me with this series in my grave
Bury me with this series in my grave
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews