There is a dark side to everyone, the fleeting thought about hurting someone, or sometimes not so fleeting. Palpitating, waiting to be free and feed off more darkness… Maika let her horrible darkness out, what she calls her hunger, and it’s now feeding off the Inquisitrix who found her and the little fox girl in the woods as they hid from the law. On the other side, a newly resurrected Yvette and the Holy Mother Destria discuss what the next course of action to take in order to capture a very dangerous Maika and more importantly, the piece of the mask she stole. There is more insight into what actually resides inside Maika in this issue, but it’s done by showing what that “hunger” could be capable of.

Marjorie Liu is pulling no punches with Montress. She’s set up a fantasy world with well-rounded characters in the last two issues and allowed herself to have fun with this one. Although there was more insight into Maika, and the people after her, Liu did it by showing Maika as she goes full “Monstress” and what the people after her could be plotting and what they’re capable of.

I had a small complaint (which was more wishful thoughts) to have more splash pages in future issues; Sana Takeda has shut me right down and dropped the mic just in the first five pages of this book. Dark, grim, angry, and delightfully violent to the point that i’s tough to tell where Maika beings and the monster ends, and it’s still makes sure to tell you that it’s not even its final form. The panels breathe well when necessary and will asphyxiate the reader in blood, gore, and action and we’ll love every page of it.

As I was reading this issue, one thing kept coming back to mind. This book is metal as fuck. It’s a ruthless, relentless story with conniving characters, a very dark main character, and antagonists who seem to be cold and calculated, and the main character in the world of Monstress are willing to do whatever it takes to get to their goal. There are no friends in this book, people with common interests and aware that they’re willing to kill each other with no moment’s notice. The brutality doesn’t shy away from anything but invites watch what it is the darkness that shrouds Monstress in mystery. It revels in a world torn by war, factions ready to obliterate each other and vast lands where people can only fend for themselves, if you don’t? Easy, you die. The sheer brutality that set the tone in the first five pages confirmed how metal Montress really is; and if you don’t believe what I say, press play on The Art of Dying by Gojira and read along. A quick and beautiful read, Monstress #3 is fast paced and action-packed, only stopping to remind you how terrible everything in this world is and they’ve just scratched the surface.

Score: 5/5

Monstress #3 Writer: Marjorie Liu Artist: Sana Takeda Publisher: Image Comics Price: $