Zamora is the capital of the known world, which blossomed because of the trade between all races, who met and prospered in what was then known as Zamor’ata. To explain the main story-line, I’ll have to break down the basics first. It isn’t difficult to follow, being a graphic novel, but definitely easy to get sucked into. In a wider sense, it’s an epic, comprised of imaginary worlds, ancient histories, and various races. So, basically, Monstress is an Asian-influenced steampunk fantasy. I do know that this graphic novel is the gold, and I’ll keep my eyes peeled for something like it in the future. Has the Monstress managed to change my mind about manga? I don’t know yet. Now I cry in happiness each time Ghibli produces a new movie. But I had the same experience with anime, until I discovered Ghibli studio, and the genius which is Hayao Miyazaki. Why? I don’t know, it all seemed the same and generic to me, and the art style never piqued my interest. Now I have to confess I dislike manga in general. I bought it for the art, because I’m weak in that area, but I honestly thought the story will be a generic manga. Well, I have to admit Monstress has sat on my shelf for more than a year without being opened.

Set in an alternate matriarchal 1900’s Asia, in a richly imagined world of art deco-inflected 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 link with a monster of tremendous power, a connection that will transform them both and make them the target of both human and otherworldly powers. PUBLISHED : July 19th 2016 by Image Comics

“ They call us monsters because it makes it easier to hurt us.

Monstress, Vol. 1 by Marjorie M. Liu