REVIEW: ‘Monstress,’ Issue #42

After a long hiatus, Monstress #42 from publisher Image Comics, writer Marjorie Liu, artist Sana Takeda, and letterer Rus Wooton picks up seemingly right where the last issue left off, with Kippa and Ren having entered Maika’s mind, only to find her form shattered from guilt over the truth about her mother’s death. But is there anything the duo can do to save their struggling friend’s psyche? And perhaps even more concerning, what else might be moving around in there with them and Zinn?

Alongside this issue’s primary struggle, we get a few glimpses into the past, mostly of Maika’s life. In particular, we get to see a couple of key moments between her and Tuya. These moments each highlight a day when one or the other of them was at their worst, and the other was there to save them, whether they wanted to be saved or not. These moments go a long way in helping to shore up Tuya’s relationship with Maika, as well as explaining why the Halfwolf keeps letting Tuya stab her in the back. The moments are painfully written, and Takeda holds nothing back in her art as she delivers these hurtful, tear-streaked moments. They grace Monstress #42 with a few moments of that style of “beautiful sadness” that I find myself powerless against.

Along with Miaka’s past, Monstress #42 gives us a glimpse into Zinn’s previous life with the Shaman Empress. This moment is far less substantial than Maika’s but is nevertheless an interesting tidbit to get. Meanwhile, in the present, the situation isn’t looking great for our protagonists. As time passes, Ren becomes more and more concerned about what may happen to their bodies in the physical world, but Kippa refuses to leave before their work is done. With an unknown amount of time passing, there seems to be no end in sight. At least not until the group comes across a rather odd sight.

What exactly comes floating along, I won’t spoil, but I did love its appearance. Tying into past elements that I had taken for nothing more than some light world-building, Monstress #42 brings a name from the past and makes it relevant. The way the visuals implement this startling appearance helps build up the scene, further assuring that it is something of sizable significance. It is such a clever surprise, and I would dearly love to know for how long Liu has planned this moment.

Along with the art and writing, Monstress #42 is further helped by some excellent lettering. There are a couple of spots in this issue where little is on the page except the lettering. Wooton doesn’t fail to use the lettering to its fullest here, making it nearly as engaging as the art and story themselves.

Monstress #42 brings the band back together with all the emotion, beauty, and peril one would expect. It has set a solid bar for the coming story arc, and I can’t wait to see what this incredible team has to offer as the story unfolds.

Monstress #42 is available now wherever comics are sold.