chirson's review against another edition
5.0
This was an early and awfully perfect gift from Joanka. And what a treat! The story is sweeping, glorious, messy and gripping, and the art is breathtakingly beautiful. I think this volume may have been my favourite so far, with the relationships between characters becoming more complex and the secrets having higher stakes. I can see myself re-reading this in the future, and discovering even more complexity. My only complaint is how long I have to wait for the next volume.
I really should have waited to start this series until 2020, or something. Not that I recommend doing so. If you don't mind some grimdark, this is well worth the time.
I really should have waited to start this series until 2020, or something. Not that I recommend doing so. If you don't mind some grimdark, this is well worth the time.
jmpeck16's review against another edition
4.0
The lore and the world building in this series are spellbinding. The illustrations are amazing, and the story twists and turns keep you constantly on your toes. I wish, however, that we took a bit longer for character development, or for sitting in a given situation before the next radical twist. With so little dialogue on each page and a crazy twist every other page, sometimes it feels like there isn't enough build up to make me care about whatever was just revealed or just happened. But still very much enjoying the ride.
sillypunk's review against another edition
5.0
God, the clothing depicted in these books are so beautiful, especially this volume
unrealpunk's review against another edition
4.25
The first four issues of this volume are fantastic but the art takes a big step down in the last three, especially issues 16 and 17. The one main weakness of Monstress so far has been the occasional tendency for the paints to get a bit too muddy and murky, especially in fight scenes that involve dark tentacles and dark hair mixing with mutilated and bloody bodies, at the same time the storytelling gets a bit rushed, so that it becomes difficult to tell what's happening. There were only a few isolated incidents of this in the first two volumes, and overall I thought the painting was improving with a wider palette bringing in more bright colors, but then the murky mishmash completely takes over the better part of the last three issues here. I don't mind the darkness or the fighting, I just wish it was a bit clearer, maybe with some solid blacks and more contrast to make things easier on the eyes instead of shrouding everything in the same shade of murk. Hopefully the high standards set by the series' first 15 issues will return in volume 4. (Update — Yes! Volume 4 is the first volume that gets a full 10/10 five-star rating from me.)
I've made a habit of rereading these volumes before getting on to the next, and I was able to enjoy the dark issues much more on the second go-around, after I'd already deciphered the murk and more-or-less knew what was supposed to be happening. There are still a number of panels where I couldn't really tell you what's what, but I was able to appreciate the art more for what it is. If you want to do it justice though, make sure you've got not decent but extremely good light. It might even be worth getting a digital version to see it backlit.
I've made a habit of rereading these volumes before getting on to the next, and I was able to enjoy the dark issues much more on the second go-around, after I'd already deciphered the murk and more-or-less knew what was supposed to be happening. There are still a number of panels where I couldn't really tell you what's what, but I was able to appreciate the art more for what it is. If you want to do it justice though, make sure you've got not decent but extremely good light. It might even be worth getting a digital version to see it backlit.
voxlunae's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kiikarodrigues's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Racism and Slavery
sfletcher26's review against another edition
5.0
This is simply the best graphic novel available to read at the moment and thoroughly deserves all of the Eisner awards it's won. The story is amazing and the artwork sublime. Each volume is every bit as good as its predecessor and leaves me champing at the bit for the next.
thebiparadox's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5