Image publishes many
remarkable comics, and Monstress is one of them. I had preordered Compendium
One a few months before its release, and there was a delay that made me
anxious, as for a moment I thought my order might be canceled. Fortunately,
that did not happen, and now this massive volume sits on my shelf, from which I
have read the first six issues that make up the initial paperback. I did not
want to read it straight through and start and finish all 1,152 pages at once
because, as always with something I truly enjoy, I prefer to follow the rhythm
of my mood while also setting a stopping point for the future, so that
something remains waiting for me a little longer. This is especially true with
comics, where the reading pace tends to be faster.
The sentence I
quoted at the beginning appears in the opening pages and stayed with me. It is
one of those thoughts that make immediate sense and feel self evident, yet I
had never articulated it in quite that way. It is that familiar experience of
encountering someone who puts into words something you have long felt, and
suddenly everything aligns. Maika, the protagonist through whom this line is
spoken, is absolutely right, and although she speaks within a fantasy world
filled with monsters and magic, at its core it does not differ all that much
from our own, the only real distinction being the outward form of its
creatures. These are the moments when an artist connects with an idea and,
through the lens of fiction, constructs a mythic narrative while in essence
recording and attempting to interpret philosophical, social, and existential
concerns. It is, in a sense, the phenomenology of creation.
Marjorie Liu and
Sana Takeda have come remarkably close to perfection with this work and have
delivered, and continue to deliver, since the series is not yet complete, a
story that I believe will stand as a landmark within the medium in the years to
come. It is certainly one of Image’s titles that the publisher should feel
proud to have on its roster. I also doubt it could have followed the same
trajectory or retained the same creative identity had it been published
elsewhere, although that is, admittedly, a somewhat speculative claim on my
part.
So what takes place
in this first volume? As expected, it introduces the world and its characters,
yet the narrative remains distinctly character driven. The author anchors
everything in her protagonist, and around her the universe of this strikingly
realized setting is constructed, drawing from familiar fantasy traditions,
steampunk elements, and, for me personally, echoes of the renowned manga Berserk.
Maika is, in
essence, an Arcanic, something between human and mythic being, attempting to
make sense of herself while existing in a state of trauma. She carries within
her a terrifying entity with which she can communicate, though she does not
fully control it, and that alone presents a significant conflict. At the same
time, she is pursued by an order of witches for their own purposes, which makes
survival a central theme. Alongside this, the narrative addresses social
inequality and racism, accompanied by depictions of violence and oppression,
all rendered through the work of the exceptionally talented Takeda, whose art,
while reminiscent of manga aesthetics, clearly draws inspiration from the Art
Deco movement of the early twentieth century.
Monstress
is a highly acclaimed and widely recognized title, so I assume that anyone
reading this will at least have heard of it. If not, all I suggest is typing
its name into Google and looking at a few images. That alone will likely be
enough, believe me. Then simply order the first volume and immerse yourself in
the pages of this extraordinary work.
And if you are
feeling particularly indulgent, you can always opt for the Compendium.
Until next time —
be well, and keep reading.
It’s important!
Accompanying Notes:
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