A Review of Monstress Vol 1-3 by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda

Put simply: Monstress is the type of dark fantasy story I wish I could tell, and the type of art I wish I could draw.

As an author and and artist, both of those statements in regards to one single work offers the highest of praise. While not without its faults, Monstress packs so much character, beauty, pain, and terror into its pages that I would put it squarely as my favorite original work that I've read in the past year. Seeing as the first issue was published in 2015 by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda this praise may be late, but I felt compelled to give it all the same.

Set in a world that blends Victorian, Asian, and Art Deco aesthetics, Monstress follows the story of Maika Halfwolf (a half-breed with wolf blood who can pass for human) as she attempts to unravel the mystery surrounding her mother, a city-shattering war crime, and the tentacled creature inhabiting her body that infuses her with endless hunger.

The story is unrelentingly oppressive at times, with the weight of a looming world war and threat of constant pursuit stacked against Maika and her companions. It's a violent story of a war between humans and half-breeds with animal traits. Magic, mutilation, betrayal, and and worse are common in the world of Monstress and yet the artist never fails to capture the austere and sometimes brutal beauty. That darkness is juxtaposed by periods of light and characters with genuine charm and noble intent. There is love here, all the more vivid because of the evil and pain it endures. This is dark fantasy in its purest form, and each new deadly trial and harrowing stop on the journey peels back the mystery layer by layer while adding depth and new characters to the world. Progress is made only at great cost and by the inner strength of Maika and her companions.

All in all, I wholeheartedly recommend Monstress to anyone who would describe themselves as a fan of contemporary dark fantasy. Fans of dismal, oppressive worlds like Dark Souls and the Broken Empire trilogy who also like a side of bad-ass monster fighting a'la Hellboy will find themselves at home here.

Those with squeamish stomachs who are negatively affected by graphic depictions of violence and dismemberment should consider passing this one up.

Thanks for stopping by
-Scott Warren