As with previous issues, Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda bring a level of storytelling to Monstress that’s unlikely to be found elsewhere in the comic industry.

While there are arguments for and against story summaries at the beginning of comics, it’s often helpful in reading Monstress. The story is never simply an overload of facts, but it is incredibly multifaceted and, on occasion, it’s easy to miss finer details. Monstress #5 left Maika’s fate at the hands of Corvin D’Oro, a member of the Arcanic Dusk Court, and #6 picks up immediately after, with Maika imprisoned once again.

The story’s pacing has been one of its (many) strengths, with plot points occurring in quick succession and just enough supplementary information to keep readers informed on what’s important. Liu makes use of the good kind of guessing to keep the plot fresh and interesting each issue, and Monstress #6. Power and humanity, which have been an underlying themes throughout the story, are brought to the forefront in this issue, as many forces, including Maika herself, grapple for control of Maika and her inner monster.

As Maika develops, so does Kippa, a character who often praises Maika’s strength but displays many strengths of her own, including loyalty and bravery. Monstress showcases strength in many forms through its female characters. Each character has a distinct appearance and personality that informs their reaction to the very dark and real tragedies that befall them. It’s an aspect of the story that allows readers to relate to the characters, even if no one has experienced this alternate version of 1900s Asia.

Sana Takeda’s art is as breathtaking as it has ever been, with character designs that push the boundaries of the usual fantasy types. The amount of detail that goes into each panel is an amazing feat, another aspect of the story that elevates it above and beyond an average fantasy story. The panel layout maximizes the space of the page, giving Monstress a larger than life feel.

The story is an incredibly huge undertaking, and Liu and Takeda keep readers guessing as to where it will go next. If it hasn’t already claimed a spot on your pull list, Monstress is absolutely deserving of it.

Story: Marjorie Liu Art: Sana Takeda
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

It’s difficult to believe the story in Monstress #5 was contained to a single issue. Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda have outdone themselves in bringing the latest chapter of Maika’s story to life. Monstress’s oversized first issue certainly established that the story is a steampunk fantasy epic, but #5 truly gives the sense that this is a series to watch in the long haul.

The newest installment in Liu’s fantasy epic offers answers, background, and significant character development in what is perhaps the most information-packed issue since Monstress #1. The summary at the beginning of the book is always helpful, because even the closest of reads can leave readers missing details. Monstress #4 left Maika being hunted by the Federation of Man, the religious Cumaea, the Arcanic Dawn Court, and now, the Dusk Court. Monstress #5 provides background on these organizations, developing the stories of the Courts and pushing the plot of the Cumaea along after their stronghold in Zamora was decimated. All signs point toward a dramatic retaliation from the Cumaea, but Liu does establish more depth than their story and background has previously been given. The worldbuilding in the story is often subtle, but is at times overt with lessons from Master Ren featured as something of a postscript to the story. All contribute to a world that is beautiful to look at but unspeakably cruel in nature.

In addition to providing character insight, Monstress #5 deepens the theme of racial inequality. It has already been established that Maika is a war survivor, but the extent of her experience was unknown, and readers will finally get to discover more of Maika’s mysterious origin, as well as background on Tuya, the girl who is present in Maika’s flashbacks. Readers who are on the fence about Monstress would likely benefit from this issue, as it answers a number of questions.

With so much going on, Monstress #5 drives the story in a new direction and raises an entirely new set of questions. The pacing of the story remains as steady as ever, and Maika’s character and relationships with the Monstrum and others continue to develop bit by bit. It’s rare that Maika interacts with people she chooses to interact with, and her relationship with Tuya is a side that Maika doesn’t usually outwardly show.

Sana Takeda’s art is just as stunning as ever, giving each character a distinct set of movements and expressions. The character design (especially for the Dusk Court and Cumaea) is engrossing to look at with gorgeous detail. The colors of the story are muted and dreamy, adding to the fantasy of the story, while pops of color emphasize individual characters. Each new character is more interesting than the last, with variation that keeps every character on the page distinct in race and body type.

As usual, Monstress utilizes every bit of space on its pages to weave an increasingly complex narrative. As usual, though, the story is absolutely worth reading and deserving of the time it takes to understand the narrative.

Story: Marjorie Liu Art: Sana Takeda
Story: 10.0 Art: 10.0 Overall: 10.0 Recommendation: Read

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review.

The worst part about reading Monstress is that it’s over far too quickly. Writer Marjorie Liu and artist Sana Takeda have created a world both beautiful and terrible, and above all, utterly engrossing. The writing and art have been consistently gorgeous, evolving for the better each issue.

Liu has been careful in her reveal so far, purposefully immersing readers in the world bit by bit. With Monstress #4, she and Takeda create a bigger backdrop for the story, going into more detail on the political climate among the Cumaea, the Federation of Man, and the Arcanic hybrids. Significant character development gives the Inquisitrixes more presence in the story, and the Monstrum inside of Maika continues to make itself known. Liu’s worldbuilding is also increasingly expanding, giving more of a sense of the different races inhabiting the society and how they fit with one another. One helpful aspect of the story is the excerpt included at the end of the comic, which details the history between the Cumaea and the Arcanics.

Maika is again forced to confront the Monstrum, or it is forced to confront her as their relationship develops. The pacing of the story is steady, never too much at one time. It is deliberately unclear, and the information that Liu works into each issue is enough to keep readers guessing, but enough that the story doesn’t become frustrating in its obscurity. This is something that, overall, makes each new piece of information all the more exciting.

One thing that has never been in question, though, is that the obvious cruelty of the world runs much deeper than anyone knows. The series has consistently earned its mature rating, but not without reason. Cruelty and violence are important aspects of the story, allowing Maika to grapple with the morality of her revenge and how far she will go to achieve it.

Monstress is deserving of time, as it becomes a little more understandable on the second read through. It’s a comic that demands attention from the reader, not only for the story, but for the art, as well. Sana Takeda’s style is beautifully fluid, and each panel is full of movement. The character designs are each more visually interesting than the last, set against gorgeously detailed backgrounds. Takeda’s painterly art contributes to the sense that Monstress isn’t an average fantasy story.

Both visually and story-wise, Monstress continues to be one of Image’s most unique publications. The next two issues will be released monthly, after the short break between Monstress #3 and #4.

Story: Marjorie Liu Art: Sana Takeda
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review.

In its first two issues, Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda’s Monstress has not been for the faint of heart, and #3 is no different. It premiered with a triple-sized first issue in December and tells the story of Maika, an Arcanic hybrid with a psychic link to a powerful supernatural being. Although the new issue doesn’t do much to advance the plot in terms of time passing, it puts a generous scratch in the surface of the comic’s mythology.

Until now, the story has mainly been Maika’s actions and their repercussions, with bits and pieces of her background told as flashbacks. The divide between Human and Arcanic is a history told in passing comments and context clues, as is much of Maika’s past.

Monstress #3 finally begins to bring everything the reader has learned into sharper focus, something that has also begun to extend to other characters like Kippa, Master Ren, and the Inquisitrixes. In this issue, Maika is forced to confront the connection with what she calls her “hunger,” a voice denoted only by its blue speech balloons. The suspense of knowing this character only through its voice is something this comic does well, and the outcome of this suspense is all the more satisfying because of it.

Much of the satisfying payoff is due to Sana Takeda’s art. She and Marjorie Liu have created a beautiful world, despite the tragic and violent nature of the story. Takeda has a remarkable ability to translate movement onto the page, breathing life to human and Arcanic characters and fantastical creatures alike. Everyday scenes are full of soft lines and muted colors while flashbacks are colored in rich golds and jewel tones, alluding to, perhaps, something of a better time in Maika’s life. Takeda’s art is dreamy, which has the effect of softening some of the weight that comes with a violent comic that deals with heavy topics like slavery and suicide.

Monstress #3 breaks the use of flashbacks, however, and sticks to an entirely linear structure. It doesn’t cover much in terms of timeline, but pulls finer details into a more cohesive and fuller story. As usual, the comic works for its Mature rating, but if readers can stomach the blood, Monstress is absolutely worth the read. Monstress will return after a short break in mid-March with #4.

Story: Marjorie Liu Art: Sana Takeda
Story: 8.9 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Read

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy of this comic for review

Marjorie Liu returns to comics with artist Sana Takeda for an all-new ongoing series, Monstress! Steampunk meets Kaiju in this original fantasy epic for mature readers, as young Maika risks everything to control her psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, placing her in the center of a devastating war between human and otherworldly forces.

Monstress kicks off with a triple-sized first issue (60 pages!), and even when you get to that last page, it doesn’t feel like enough. Liu has put together a magical world (pun intended) that mixes so many genres that there’s a little something for so many. Fantasy, steampunk, Kaiju, anime, it’s all here mixed together in an amazing combination that seamlessly flows together.

I think what’s more impressive is Liu’s inclusion of political and societal commentary within, and doing so in a way that doesn’t come of as preachy, and is almost not noticeable. It too is mixed in and peppered throughout. The story at it’s core is about a woman, a minority, fighting against the oppressive majority. Choices by Liu to have what seems like a matriarchal society changes that context into something more than a woman fighting the patriarchy which the series could have easily been (and it still would have been great I’m sure). Instead, Liu gives us women who are good, evil, and somewhere in between painting a broad swath that can be debated for hours on end. It’s this type of layering of ideas, themes, and concepts that has created one of the richest debuts of the year.

Takeda’s art helps that richness literally painting a canvass that I was in awe staring at. The art is some of the best of any comic out right now. Its style is so detailed, and beautifully colored, I just don’t know how to praise it enough. The amount of work that has to go into each issue feels like it must be staggering.

Liu in one issue has put together what feels like a thought out world with a history that goes back decades. Battles are referenced, events mentioned, it all feels like its been thought out and meticulously put together. Add on top of that women (well character really) of all types, shapes, sizes, skin color, and you have what is a diverse, in many ways, debut. All of that together creates one of the best debuts, and comics, of the year.

Story: Marjorie Liu Art: Sana Takeda
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review