Not only for the title character a teenager who literally has a monster living inside. Liu is a novelist but has also written comics for marvel. Written by marjorie liu and illustrated by sana takeda for image comics, monstress is a sprawling epic fantasy that drops readers into the middle of. Some of them are slaves, and some are the slavedrivers. 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.
She teaches comic book writing at mit, and leads a class on popular fiction at the voices of our nation vona workshop. Maika is analyzed and explored using murdocks heroines journey model. Browse issues from the comic book series, monstress, from image comics. What does western popular culture represent to the characters in these stories. Monstress is an epic fantasy comics series written by marjorie liu and drawn by sana takeda, published since 2015 by the american publisher image comics. Shelley smarz is a comic book scholar and business woman.
When i wasnt manning the epic proportions booth, i was able to sneak away and meet with writer marjorie liu. Ive been hearing good things about it from various sources since the first issue was released but i dont want to start reading graphic novels per issue, so i to wait for volume. Marjorie liu and sana takeda are creators you should be paying attention to. Monstress, a new comic book series from image comics which launches this week, is all about hidden depths. Marjorie liu raises dark questions on war and slavery for. Marjorie liu gets graphic with monstress marjorie liu. A monstress journey, part 1 comic book blog talking comics.
We got the inside scoop on marjories methods, inspiration, and the most important piece of info for anyone looking to write comic books. I feel like ive been waiting for monstress, volume 1. If you tell people what everything is before they have a. Entertainment weekly praised monstress as one of image comics most.
Marjorie, i know you write novels as well as comics. Dec 18, 2009 marjorie liu revisits x 23 in march, x23 returns to the mean streets of nyc where she reunites with her former friends from the nyx series. Do you see yourself as a person whod be willing to kill others if it would bring you, and the memories that haunt your every sleep, peace. Our flagship title, jack of spades, has been a fan favorite because of its unique noir style and its combination of pulp detective stories dealing with supervillains. In the face of oppression and terrible danger, maika is both hunter and hunted, searching for answers about her mysterious past as those. Liu discusses her own hopes and dreams for the series in this interview with zachary clemente. In the first part of this exclusive, wideranging interview, marjorie and i discuss the origins of the book. The origins of monsters in monstress the graphic novel. My name is marjorie liu, and im a new york times bestselling author of over seventeen novels, mostly urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Monstress, written by marjorie liu and illustrated by sana takeda, is about women of. In an effort to highlight the most well received current comic book series, weve set up a real time list of the best image comic book series of the past three months.
An interview with monstress author marjorie liu the atlantic. She is a little bit broken, liu tells me at new york comic con. Astonishing xmen and black widow writer marjorie liu returns to. Oct 11, 2015 monstress is the first issue in a comic book series about magic, slavery, revenge, and the darkness within. The comicbook writer discusses working for marvel, the loneliness of novel writing, and why her epicfantasy series is mostly populated by. The first issue is much longer than a typical comic, and yet, it only. Book one, by marjorie liu and sana takeda marjorie liu and sana takedas epic, gorgeous tale of a young woman with a monster inside her has won countless awards and been. And amidst all of this, i have become a much better artist. Nov 04, 2015 monstress is a book that shows the freedom of creatorowned comics, as liu discusses in this blog post. Awakening by marjorie liu and sana takeda to be released for ages. Listed below are individual issues, which should be available at your local comic book store. This years image expo announcements seem to have something for everyone. The comicbook writer discusses working for marvel, the loneliness of novelwriting, and why her epicfantasy series is mostly populated by.
The comicbook writer discusses working for marvel, the loneliness of novelwriting, and why her epicfantasy series is mostly populated by women and characters of color. In monstress, readers are transported into the early 1900s, where immense leviathans roam the earth. Theyll be debuting a new creator owned series with image comics called monstress. Lius extensive work includes the bestselling astonishing xmen for marvel comics, which featured the gay. Source point press is a small press that publishes the horrorscifi comic series, up the river, and the true crime series, serial, the was banned from amazon and comixology. Hitfix talked with writer marjorie liu about creating monstress, diversity issues in the comics industry, why it was essential to have the comic drawn by a woman, the tokyo museum that.
Comic book writer marjorie liu on how rejection shaped her writing author marjorie liu writes adult fantasy novels that explore alienation and identity. Is there a limit as to how much you would fight for those you love. Good, evil and long black tentacles make a monstress. Marjorie m lius first volume of monstress is utterly breathtaking. Monstress volume 4 by marjorie liu, 97815343361, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Oct 12, 2015 i spent this past weekend at new york comic con. So, when i heard that marjorie liu was creating a new comic book series called monstress and i had heard a lot of good things about this series, i just had to check this series out. According to the image comics website, monstress centers on a young woman warrior as. The world of monstress is so big and expansive that we cant fit it all into the book. Good, evil and long black tentacles make a monstress gaudy beauty and extravagant horror twine around each other in marjorie lius new graphic novel monstress. Never has a comic been so cute or so horrifying within the same few pages. Monstress issue 1 is available today, and we spoke with writer marjorie liu about the series and her thoughts on diversity in comics. Nov 04, 2015 marjorie liu raises dark questions on war and slavery for new image series monstress. I really cant stress enough how much i loved all the imagery.
Takedas artwork was unique before, and now that shes working on monstress, shes taking things to the next level. Monstress series 5 primary works 6 total works set in an alternate world of art deco beauty and steampunk horror, montress tells the epic story of maika halfwolf, a teenage survivor of a cataclysmic war between humans and their hated enemies, the arcanics. Marjorie liu and sana takedas epic, gorgeous tale of a young. Nov 04, 2015 astonishing xmen and black widow writer marjorie liu returns to comics with artist sana takeda x23 for an allnew ongoing series. And another guy comes to his mountain base to interview this female. The series has earned many awards, including five eisner awards, four hugo awards, and the harvey awards book of the year in 2018. Han solo comic coming from marvel in june marjorie liu. Comic book writer marjorie liu on how rejection shaped her writing. Kippa had to be in the book, because kippa was alive. Now i will admit that i had never read any of marjorie lius comic books before, even though most of them were highly praised. Former astounding xmen writer marjorie liu has announced today her new image comic coming out this summer, monstress a tale of an alternate history, a brave girl, and. This was just one of many anecdotes that combined to paint image comics monstress as. With an expansive scope to match its oversized page count, monstress is a whole lot of epic fantasy to take in.
Shes still glowing from this interview also, she lets out an occasional squee. Astonishing xmen and black widow writer marjorie liu returns to comics with artist sana takeda x23 for an allnew ongoing series. Monstress creators marjorie liu, sana takeda discuss hit comic monstress marjorie liu recommends graphic. Aug 02, 2016 good, evil and long black tentacles make a monstress gaudy beauty and extravagant horror twine around each other in marjorie lius new graphic novel monstress. But her new series, monstress, goes beyond superheroes to tell a wholly. Kids in the hall was an integral part of her life from 1988 to 1994. I wanted to tell a story that encompasses all these things, and more. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read monstress. In the first panel of marjorie lius recently released comic, monstress, maika, the.
Marjorie liu image comics marjorie liu is an attorney and new york times bestselling author of over nineteen novels. Image expo announces marjorie liu and sana takedas. Marjorie liu revisits x 23 in march, x23 returns to the mean streets of nyc where she reunites with her former friends from the nyx series. I started out as a fine artist, specifically a printmaker. Sep 12, 2016 i feel like ive been waiting for monstress, volume 1. By benjamin nobel, november 8, 2015 in 1979, something happened in comics that would change everything marvel made its first sales of distinct direct edition type comic books to specialty comic shops, at discounted prices but on a nonreturnable basis. There is a caste system of humans vs slaves, a massive war is going on and something awful went. The epic world and all the details that make it so real. Marjorie liu readies dark fantastic adventure monstress. Liu born 1979 is an american new york times bestselling author and comic book writer. Sep 14, 2017 written by marjorie liu and illustrated by sana takeda for image comics, monstress is a sprawling epic fantasy that drops readers into the middle of a magicfilled alternate history. Monstress is absolutely stunning comic with a dark story and artwork that is simply gorgeous. We spoke with writer marjorie liu about the oneshot, which is part of marvel comics year long women of marvel celebration.
An interview with monstress author marjorie liu the. Jul 22, 2016 comic book writer marjorie liu on how rejection shaped her writing author marjorie liu writes adult fantasy novels that explore alienation and identity. Set in an alternate matriarchal 1900s asia, in a richly imagined world of art decoinflected steampunk, monstress tells the story of a teenage girl who is struggling to survive the trauma of war, and who shares a mysterious psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, a connection that will transform them both. Comic book writer marjorie liu on how rejection shaped her. Takedas ethereal art and lius masterful touch have created a very smart and imaginative fantasy that is guaranteed to. For me, the most exciting is the announcement of monstress, a new series written by marjorie liu and drawn by sana takeda. To be eligible for this list, a series must have had at least two issues published within the past three months and at. She teaches comic book writing at mit, and she leads a class on popular fiction at the voices of our nation vona workshop. Monstress is about an outsider, a young woman who belongs nowhere. Monstress is the first issue in a comic book series about magic, slavery, revenge, and the darkness within. Of course, the presence of monsters in this book is a given, thanks to the name, but liu works at a deeper truth to what it really. Sana takeda is an artist and has done work for marvel too. This is a dark, brutal, and at times gory comic that examines what it really means to be a monster, what it truly means to be human, and how it feels to be caught between the two.
Marvel creates an atmosphere of chaos, oppression, magic, and dread in this fantasy tale. Marjorie liu raises dark questions on war and slavery for new image series monstress. Chris becker talks to marjorie liu about her awardwinning comics and her recent series, monstress. Liu wrote astonishing xmen, which featured comic books first gay. Though this is the first issue of monstress, you already get a sense of how rich the world is. 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. The beatles, comic books, and bmovies, and are featured in many of these stories. She is acclaimed for her horror fantasy comic monstress which is an international favorite and of great critical acclaim.
Trade editions in paperback and hardcover, which collect these issues into a single bound format, are also listed in the following section. I was going to ask how youd sum up monstress, but miyazaki meets game of thrones is pretty perfect. Since becoming a design instructor, i have become a better designer. Of course, the presence of monsters in this book is a given, thanks to the name, but liu works at a deeper truth to what it really means to be a monster. Liu, sana takeda, image comic 2nd printing, an allnew ongoing series. New york times bestselling and awardwinning writer marjorie liu is best known for her fiction and comic books. Former astounding xmen writer marjorie liu has announced today her new image comic coming out this summer, monstress a. Set in an alternate world of art deco beauty and steampunk horror, montress tells the epic story of maika halfwolf, a teenage survivor of a cataclysmic war between humans and their hated enemies, the arcanics. Monstress volume 1 awakening graphic novels reed comics. Marjorie liu readies dark fantastic adventure monstress at. Tolkien for its high fantasy concepts and heavy worldbuilding.
I am incredibly lucky to be caught in this particular upward spiral, and i hope to help others find their own cycle of growth through teaching and writing. Ive heard of marjorie liu but have not read anything by her. She makes her longawaited return to comics with image comics monstress, reuniting her with x23 artist sana takeda. Nov 29, 2015 5 things we love about monstress, the new comic from marjorie liu and sana takeda. Marjorie liu signs copies of monstress at san diego comiccon. Monstress, written by marjorie liu and illustrated by sana takeda, is about women of all shapes, sizes, and dispositions. Writer marjorie liu on her beautiful, horrifying comic. The series has earned many awards, including five eisner awards. The dazzling new comic monstress explores why we fear powerful women. This is the first scene in monstress image comics, the acclaimed comic series.
Her paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels include most notable the hunter kiss and tiger eye series. Writer liu astonishing xmen spins an interesting if confusing yarn. Marjorie liu and sana takeda discuss their monstress collaboration. Marjorie liu and sana takedas world building is excellent and immersive. That was a major development, because outside of some nonreturnable comics produced for whitmanwestern. Her comic book work includes x23, black widow, dark wolverine, and astonishing xmen, for which she was nominated for a glaad media award for outstanding media images of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Set in an alternate matriarchal 1900s asia, in a richly imagined world of art decoinflected steam punk, monstress tells the story of a teenage girl who is struggling to survive the trauma of war, and who shares a mysterious psychic. Marjorie liu creates a dark and dangerous world full of mystery and mysticism that in lesser hands would fall apart but here stands tall. Marjorie liu on writing comics, the eisners, and monstress.
1020 877 1666 145 1099 19 269 236 1344 1024 231 932 1429 530 882 235 214 204 1605 1451 1012 679 191 388 906 875 984 1469 460 110 988 1064 1110