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Book Review: Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening by Marjorie Liu, artwork by Sana Takeda

Monstress, Volume 1 written by Marjorie Liu, artwork by Sana Takeda

Image Comics, 2016

ISBN: 9951632157096

Available: Kindle ebook, print

Monstress, Volume 1 collects issues 1-6 of a fantastic comic written by Marjorie Liu and drawn by Sana Takeda. The story is set in an alternate vision of 1900’s Asia, and includes elements of steampunk, kaiju, and horror fiction. The world includes humans, monsters, and magical creatures, existing in a constant state of struggle and war. The animal-hybrid Arcanics and the Cumea witch-nuns are at the center of this war. The Cumea capture, auction, or buy Arcanics for reprehensible experiments, slavery, or worse. The story opens with Maika Halfwolf, a teenage girl who is discovering her mysterious past, up for auction. A high ranking member of the Cumea takes her, and a few other Arcanics, back to her mistress’s palace. The sorceress doesn’t know it, but the taking of Maika will turn out to be a deadly mistake for her captors. Upon her escape, Maika rescues the tiny, skittish, fox girl, Kippa. They are joined by the ever-present badass of a cat, Master Ren.

I love horror comics, and Monstress has quickly become my favorite comic series for this genre. Liu has created a rich, dark world, and characters are fascinating. Maika, throughout the story, remains stalwart and aloof, despite her class status in this world. This manages to be a strength as much as a weakness. She’s cold and calculating, even when such a demeanor is not warranted, and puts her at odds with her “betters.” Since Kippa is a child, she exudes innocence and cuteness. Maika does her best to be patient with her, which is to say she isn’t. No matter how badly Maika treats her, Kippa doesn’t give up on her. Master Ren is a talking cat, who seems to appear when he is needed the most. He’s protective and mysterious, and knows more than he communicates.

Takeda’s artwork is, in a word, exquisite. There is so much detail in the panels, and every page is in full color. The book took me three times as it normally takes me to get through a comic because I just wanted to drink in the artwork. It’s absolutely gorgeous.

I can’t get enough of this series. Highly recommended.

Contains: blood, violence

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker


Posted on October 26, 2016 by , 1 comment

Book Review: Aliens/Vampirella by Corinna Beckho, illustrated by Javier Garcia-Miranda


Aliens/Vampirella by Corinna Beckho, illustrated by Javier Garcia-Miranda

Dynamite, 2016

ISBN: 978-1606909911

Available: Hardcover, Kindle edition, and comiXology ebooks

 

In this graphic novel, the first human colonists on Mars digs into the planet’s soil, only to discover it is an excavation into horror. When they uncover the catacombs of a long-sleeping civilization called the Nosferatu, Vampirella is called to lend her knowledge and abilities to the human colony, although she is looked at with suspicion by the humans. During their venture into the planet, Vampirella and her nearly unwilling allies enter a chamber containing familiar, leathery, pulsing eggs, in the process of hatching. When the crew loses contact with the station above ground, hatred and fear of Vampirella grows on the surface, as the humans overhead think the vampire’s hunger got the better of her….until they learn the truth.

I was very skeptical picking up this comic. Usually I find that merging two franchises together can either be great, or it can be a groan worthy failure. I’m happy to say I found this combination to be creative and well done. Between the artwork and the story, I was entertained from the first page. One of the most interesting parts of this book was seeing the product of a Xenomorph and a vampire. The Xenomorph/vampire hybrid is utterly terrifying.

If you like the Vampirella and Alien franchises, and ever wondered if a crossover could be done, let alone done well, you won’t be disappointed. Recommended.

Contains: blood and gore

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on October 17, 2016 by , Reply
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