Marjorie Lui and Sana Takeda’s gorgeously rendered epic Monstress is back with its third volume, Haven. If you’ve read and recall my reviews for Volume 1 and Volume 2, it will come as no surprise that this is something I’ve been eagerly awaiting all year.
Throughout the story of Monstress, our main character Maika Halfwolf has seen some shit. Potty-mouthed poet cats, crazy-ass witch-nuns with a deadly agenda, ancient gods that hunger for flesh, and bipedal shark people to name just a small few. Really, that is only the smallest of tastes for the complex and layered world presented to readers throughout the series. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Monstress has the most detailed and fleshed out worldbuilding I’ve ever seen in comic form. The more you read of the series, the more things begin to come together and take shape, especially in volume 3.
The artwork, as always, continues to shine in the third installment, and the characters are being forced even more out of their comfort zones (well, what little bit of comfort they were previously able to cling to in their war-torn world, anyway). Kippa is finding direction in her life and becoming stronger, Ren is forced to make a difficult decision, and Maika might even have to start playing nice(er) and make . . . dun dun dun . . . friends! GASP! š Even the ever-growing, ever-hungry god Maika constantly struggles with is taking shape, both literally and figuratively.
Although we get more answers, there are still plenty more questions you’re left with by the end of Volume 3, but it only makes me look forward to Volume 4 that much more. Especially with such a doozy of a cliffhanger.
IgnitedMoth 
The artwork for this is astonishingly good. I also cannot deny my intrigue for ‘potty-mouthed poet cats’ and ‘bipedal shark people’ now that you mention it. Beast folk have always fascinated me. I even have a few of them in my own works.
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That’s awesome that you include them in your own works, too. š
I agree that the artwork is outstanding. I’m always blown away by how they manage so much detail in each and every panel. A lot of comics with otherwise great artwork even usually have several panels with rushed or sloppier looking art (usually far off shots) but seriously, every panel in these comics is beautiful to look at. It’s really impressive.
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Ooooo, can’t wait to borrow it from you. š
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I will definitely be thrusting it upon you at our next encounter! (And maybe the book too, if you’re lucky!) š š Haha
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Woo! It just got really sexy in here. š
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Wow, this is beautiful!
And that tiny white dog?? Even if i didn’t like the story, i’d check this out purely for the illustrations.
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Yeah, the illustrations are just fantastic in this series. Every panel is so beautiful and nothing ever looks rushed like you see in a lot of other comics. And yes, haha, the little white fluffy dog was too cute. Had some funny parts in the comic as well. š
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Cool šš½ I wanna be a potty mouthed poet cat haha
I like to eat mice
And I like to hunt
Call me a pussy
But don’t be call me a Cu#t
š
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Hahaha I think that poem would totally convince the other poet cats to let you in among their ranks. š
There’s one panel from volume 1 I believe that I got a kick out of where the cat says, “To quote the poets . . . we’re fucked.” So eloquent! š
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Haha very eloquent haha. Who knew cats were so funny and poetic. I’m not generally a cat person I prefer bacon.
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I like cats, but I think I prefer cats who act like dogs. My cat falls into that category. She comes when you call her, will bring back her toys if you throw them for her, loves hanging out with people (she’s a total party cat, but just watch your beer if you’re drinking it around her as she’s likely to steal it if given the chance!) š
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Ahaha that’s cool and uncanny because my cat (long dead) used to drool like a dog.
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I’m sort of ashamed to not have gotten around to starting this series! It has always seemed so fascinating and beautiful! I’m glad to hear it’s still going strong at volume 3! š
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It’s definitely worth reading in my opinion. š Haha and I know what you mean, there’s just so many good things out there to be read and never enough time! I do hope you get to read it though and that you enjoy it just as much as I have. Happy reading to you! š
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