Monstress: Talk-Stories #2

Monstress (Single Issues) #30.2

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

Once again bridging the gap between the fifth and sixth arc (which resumes January 2021), Part Two of MONSTRESS: TALK-STORIES follows Maika as she opens up to Kippa and recounts an important day from her childhood in Thyria.

Genres: Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comics, Comic Book, Steampunk, Graphic Novels Comics, Adult

24 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 30, 2020

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]

(B+) 78% | Good
Notes: Read in trade paperback. Collective review for issues #1-2 and Monstress #31-35 can be found here: Monstress, Volume 6: The Vow.

[luciana · Rating 3 out of 5]

6.43/10

[Mitticus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, Maiko and friend Areka are the cutest!

When Kippa asks Maiko to tell her something, we learn of moments of happiness in her childhood in Thyria , a moment of escape that could be said of her destiny. Or in this case , the Federation school.

Also old tigress queen rocks.



But the angst is deeep on this one.

[Julia Benassi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I could say the last carefree weeks of my early life were spent with my mother... but it was that pirate queen who allowed me to be a child... briefly.
.
3.5
.
Me rompe el corazón leer del pasado de Maika, she was an innocent child before everything. Me habría gustado igual que hubiera un poco más de información sobre Maika -como pasa en Talk-Stories #1 y Kippa-, pero como es la protagonista era obvio que iba a ser algo más bien como el resultado final. Igual es hermoso.

[Sara Jovanovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this! I can't wait for the sixth volume.

[Ashley]

BRO. HOW DID I NOT KNOW THAT THESE EXIST?!
*rearranges TBR pile*

(yes, i am affected enough by this discovery that I just said bro. I don't regret it either. 🤷🏼‍♀️)

[Phoenix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, a visibly vulnerable moment from Maika. Not like it hasn’t happened before, but these moments are so rare. I think this was actually my favourite of the two “Talk Stories”.

[Fadi Antwan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these shorts! They’re so lovely and poignant and provide a nice respite from the savagery of the main series. Don’t sleep on them, Monstress fans!

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

After relating a story about her sister, Kippa asks Maika to share one of her memories. Maika prefaces her response with, “My mother always said that happy memories are a double edged sword. You’ll cut yourself if you lean on them too much.” She then tells a story about an adventure with her young friend Areka that she describes as "the last carefree weeks of her early life." While Kippa points out that Maika had such a good life with friends and people who loved her, Maika covers her face in despair.

[Fey Kanz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute peek into Maika’s short childhood🖤

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the end of the fifth story arc, we get a two-part side story, and a little glimpse into Maika's childhood in Talk-Stories #2. Maika's childhood experiences were in contrast to Kippa's experiences, and the dichotomy between them was interesting to see.

Maika and her friend Areka try to run away and end up going on an adventure of their childhood. This shows the happier bits of Maika's life before things got way more serious. And for the observant and curious, there was a scene where Areka sees an engraving of something that bares an eerily close resemblance to Maika. I wonder if this information foreshadows a future event or story line. . The old tiger queen is badass and such a nice addition.

I hope they return with another Talk Stories double-issue at the end of the next arc. It would be cool to see some backstories of the main characters, and see more character development. Absolutely fantastic series and the side-stories are just as great!

[Evelyn Blackwater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shame this series ends at a mere 2 issues- I was quite fond of their bittersweet charms. They feel like fables with all the wholesome (if a bit frank) moral lessons- while at the same time just being really impactful. The last few pages of both this issue and the last leave raw impressions.
I can't believe I'm saying this- but if I had to hunt for things to dislike, I'd say the art is so-so... feels more sketchy than usual. While simultaneously the water and sky work feel almost overdrawn. It creates a very unfinished look- and if that's the style then by all means. I'm just saying it kinda threw me for a loop.
Granted, I hesitate to even complain, because even though Image is really good at highlighting artists that aren't just copying Jim Lee, they still seem to have a specific brand of art- and in the halls of independent art- Monstress always holds its uniqueness high

[Shu Wei Chin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maika is such a hardened, pessimistic warrior throughout the series but this gorgeous issue finally brought out a vulnerability from remembering some trauma-buried memories. It also felt so simultaneously warm but heart-wrenching to see little kiddo Maika from before, when life was more straightforward, when she had a best friend and a family to love her.


Although the resurfacing of these memories is upsetting, it seems like a relief to be able to honestly confide in a friend, who is none other than our loyal, adorable, wholesome Kippa.

[Jennifer Zeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this I realize why Makia keeps Kippa around and protects her as much as she can. Kippa is the embodiment of Makia's youth. Fierce, strong, lives for her friends and family that she chooses. What would Makia's life had been if her Mother had actually been a Mother to her instead of a commander.

[Paul Allard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is review of both Talk Stories which add background to the main characters as they recover. It’s two separate stories about Maika’s and Kippa’s pasts. They’re entertaining and, as usual, beautifully produced. A worthwhile addition to the main story. I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

# Talk-Stories – Part Two
“Lightning squids! I didn’t think they were real!” – Young Maika. “Because no one survives he experience!” – Areka
“There is no more savage teacher than the sea, child. Remember that, when the danger comes. Fight like the sea – the sea is relentless. It never stops. It has no pity. It devours.”- Sauri Imura

[Ανδρέας Μιχαηλίδης · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the balm to soothe the pain from the vicious kick of the first issue. For once, a happy, relatable Maika, at home among monsters, for monsters can be family too. This is the first time I've seen Maika as a person in a long, long time. Feel-good and highly recommended.

[Mitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not as heart breaking as Talk Stories one, but close. There is some background with Maika and her last real fun time as a child before everything goes south. Of course it hits hard in the feels at the end but it was nice to see her have a little happiness at some point.

[Ze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baby Maika is adorable! I think we needed to see a good childhood memory of hers, we only ever get to see the heartbreaking ones.

[Gerald J Conroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continued brilliance

The story touches and delights. The art is perfect. As always. . . . . . . . . .

[Jason Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! There was some deep messaging in this one and I loved seeing more than a few characters developed. Art is phenomenal. This may be one of my favorite individual comic books of all time.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another small glance into characters pasts . A well done snippet , and all very melancholy

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Wonderful Insight Into What Might Have Been

A rare thing, a happy story in a usually dark world. A glimpse of what Maika's life might have been had fate not have different plans.

[Samhain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Maika... :(

[Luiza · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice story, adds depth to Maika's character

[Réka · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is wholesome (i'm super sad)

[Rachel H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish this was longer and with more depth, but it is a nice titbit of information about Maika's childhood. We also learn more about her ancestry. Gorgeous artwork as always with this amazing series.

[Dina ElMaamoun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute small little thing

[Vincent Stoessel · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story, it was sad that this was her happy memory, but I'm glad that we got to see it!