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Monstress Volume 1: Awakening by Marjorie…
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Monstress Volume 1: Awakening (edition 2016)

by Marjorie Liu (Author)

Series: Monstress (1-6)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
2,2221377,049 (4.02)83
"Set in an alternate world of art deco beauty and steampunk horror, Monstress tells the epic story of Maika Halfwolf, a teenage survivor of a cataclysmic war between humans and their hated enemies, the Arcanics. In the face of oppression and terrible danger, Maika is both hunter and hunted, searching for answers about her mysterious past as those who seek to use her remain just one step behind ... and all the while, the monster within begins to awaken ..."--Page 4 of cover.… (more)
Member:dcollins
Title:Monstress Volume 1: Awakening
Authors:Marjorie Liu (Author)
Info:Image Comics (2016), 192 pages
Collections:Your library
Rating:
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Monstress, volume 1: Awakening by Marjorie M. Liu

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» See also 83 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 137 (next | show all)
This book took me by surprise on so many levels.

First we have settings. Set on alternative Earth around the beginnings of Industrialization we are presented with breathing and living world where Humans (technology) are waging silent war against Arcanics (magic). Between these two you have plethora of creatures, starting from wise-cracking cats (as far as I can see separate race completely and considering they are true offspring of Gods and others are faulty races - I mean ... cats, right :)), wondrous animals used for traveling, monstrous apparitions from other dimensions, strange creatures lurking under guises of Humans and of course (again this book is very much a steam-punk story) dirigibles and sky ships.

Then we have story. Entire story happens during uneasy armistice between Humans and Arcanics. Both races found themselves at the stalemate after one especially destructive event that cost thousands of lives on both sides. Now both sides are licking their wounds and trying to find this unknown weapon to use it against their foes. And then in the middle of all of this we have our main protagonist Maika Halfwolf, Arcanic girl seeking revenge against the most powerful person in Human realm. As the story progresses we can see that Maika is more than it meets the eye - at times terrible power strikes out from within her and causes havoc to friend or foe surrounding her.

And finally we have art. Man, what a beautiful art. Each panel is just mesmerizing. Trust me you need to see it to believe it. To be honest this is what hooked me - when I saw it I knew this was truly a gem.

All in all exquisite book. Highly recommended to all comic and beautiful arts fans.

Merged review:

This book took me by surprise on so many levels.

First we have settings. Set on alternative Earth around the beginnings of Industrialization we are presented with breathing and living world where Humans (technology) are waging silent war against Arcanics (magic). Between these two you have plethora of creatures, starting from wise-cracking cats (as far as I can see separate race completely and considering they are true offspring of Gods and others are faulty races - I mean ... cats, right :)), wondrous animals used for traveling, monstrous apparitions from other dimensions, strange creatures lurking under guises of Humans and of course (again this book is very much a steam-punk story) dirigibles and sky ships.

Then we have story. Entire story happens during uneasy armistice between Humans and Arcanics. Both races found themselves at the stalemate after one especially destructive event that cost thousands of lives on both sides. Now both sides are licking their wounds and trying to find this unknown weapon to use it against their foes. And then in the middle of all of this we have our main protagonist Maika Halfwolf, Arcanic girl seeking revenge against the most powerful person in Human realm. As the story progresses we can see that Maika is more than it meets the eye - at times terrible power strikes out from within her and causes havoc to friend or foe surrounding her.

And finally we have art. Man, what a beautiful art. Each panel is just mesmerizing. Trust me you need to see it to believe it. To be honest this is what hooked me - when I saw it I knew this was truly a gem.

All in all exquisite book. Highly recommended to all comic and beautiful arts fans. ( )
  Zare | Jan 23, 2024 |
This book took me by surprise on so many levels.

First we have settings. Set on alternative Earth around the beginnings of Industrialization we are presented with breathing and living world where Humans (technology) are waging silent war against Arcanics (magic). Between these two you have plethora of creatures, starting from wise-cracking cats (as far as I can see separate race completely and considering they are true offspring of Gods and others are faulty races - I mean ... cats, right :)), wondrous animals used for traveling, monstrous apparitions from other dimensions, strange creatures lurking under guises of Humans and of course (again this book is very much a steam-punk story) dirigibles and sky ships.

Then we have story. Entire story happens during uneasy armistice between Humans and Arcanics. Both races found themselves at the stalemate after one especially destructive event that cost thousands of lives on both sides. Now both sides are licking their wounds and trying to find this unknown weapon to use it against their foes. And then in the middle of all of this we have our main protagonist Maika Halfwolf, Arcanic girl seeking revenge against the most powerful person in Human realm. As the story progresses we can see that Maika is more than it meets the eye - at times terrible power strikes out from within her and causes havoc to friend or foe surrounding her.

And finally we have art. Man, what a beautiful art. Each panel is just mesmerizing. Trust me you need to see it to believe it. To be honest this is what hooked me - when I saw it I knew this was truly a gem.

All in all exquisite book. Highly recommended to all comic and beautiful arts fans. ( )
  Zare | Jan 23, 2024 |
I can't even give it any rating because from the outside, I can recognize it as a stunning piece of work, with truly beautiful illustrations and an interesting story. However, i choose not to read stories with too much death, violence, and blood, especially visual ones, so I did not get very far.

Merged review:

I can't even give it any rating because from the outside, I can recognize it as a stunning piece of work, with truly beautiful illustrations and an interesting story. However, i choose not to read stories with too much death, violence, and blood, especially visual ones, so I did not get very far.
  mslibrarynerd | Jan 13, 2024 |
I can't even give it any rating because from the outside, I can recognize it as a stunning piece of work, with truly beautiful illustrations and an interesting story. However, i choose not to read stories with too much death, violence, and blood, especially visual ones, so I did not get very far.
  mslibrarynerd | Jan 13, 2024 |
Monstress is something else.

CW: A LOT, including, Graphic Violence, Gore, Slavery, Prejudice, Child Abuse (including threats of sexual assault), Torture, Cannibalism, Self Harm.

Liu and Takeda have created a world as aesthetically arresting as its lore and people are wondrously fascinating. An art deco science fantasy world that takes inspiration and imagery from various cultures, mythology, and time periods with magic animals, hybrid Arcanics, authoritarian witches, steampunk blimps, fae courts, eldritch monsters, and yonic eyed cosmic horrors...which is a lot! But the tone set by Takeda's unbelievable artwork and the mercurial folkloric voice Liu tells the tale in come together to blend that heady mix together.

As you can summise from the content warnings that I could recall from the top of my head, this is no light fairytale. Following a horrific war, ended only by an unknown calamity of unthinkable destruction, the hybrid Arcanics and humans live entirely separate, except where witches imprison, enslave, and experiment on any Arcanics they can get their hands on. The world and its people are traumatised and twisted by the carnage and a willingness of some to claim ancient power for themselves, regardless of the cost.

We have an immensely powerful, quiet, and uncaring protagonist with a cute sidekick and extreme violence in the vein of Berserk with a monstrous entity within her that is as mighty as it is dangerous, putting me in mind of The Darkness and Venom, as well as a mysterious past with her mother and experiments, reminiscent of Attack on Titan. These are touchstones to convey the elements, while Monstress has its own clear identity.

I truly cannot get over the artwork! Even if you have no intention of reading it, check out the art (maybe with safe search on of you want to avoid the gruesomeness).

Coming from binging Saga, I am aware that I am not completely emotionally engaged with the characters, but a little fox girl did bring me to tears, and I am truly ensnared by the richness of the world and the mystery of it and can see this becoming my next comic binge. ( )
  RatGrrrl | Dec 20, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 137 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (4 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Marjorie M. Liuprimary authorall editionscalculated
Takeda, SanaIllustratormain authorall editionsconfirmed
Smith, Jennifer M.Editorsecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
Wooton, RusDesignersecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
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"Set in an alternate world of art deco beauty and steampunk horror, Monstress tells the epic story of Maika Halfwolf, a teenage survivor of a cataclysmic war between humans and their hated enemies, the Arcanics. In the face of oppression and terrible danger, Maika is both hunter and hunted, searching for answers about her mysterious past as those who seek to use her remain just one step behind ... and all the while, the monster within begins to awaken ..."--Page 4 of cover.

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