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Monstress, Vol. 2: The Blood by Marjorie Liu – Sana Takeda – Comic Book Review

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Monstress, Vol. 2: The Blood by Marjorie Liu - Sana Takeda - Comic Book Cover

Stunningly Complex World

It’s rare to find a work where saving the world is at stake, yet it doesn’t quickly devolve into a predictable and monotonous clash between good and evil. Fortunately, that’s not the case in Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda’s Monstress series (and its second volume titled The Blood).

The world of Monstress is so intricately complex that, for now, you have no idea who needs saving from whom. Arcanics, humans, ancients, gods, and cats!—each has their own goals, and amidst this intricate web of relationships, Maika Halfwolf, with her ever-decreasing body mass, pushes forward, knee-deep in blood, seeking answers to many tormenting questions. Such as: Is it good for you if a ravenous monster is awakening inside you? Or: How beneficial is it for your mental health if you’ve been trained to be a killer since early childhood?

(In the long run, probably not at all, but if someone messes with you in a thyrrian ruin-pub, both can come in handy.)

All of this is covered in the continuation of the blog’s highest-rated (8.7/10) and most beautifully executed work to date (see Monstress – The Awakening, Vol. 1).

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Saga: Volume Three by Brian K. Vaughan – Fiona Staples – Comic Book Review

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Saga: Volume Three by Brian K. Vaughan - Fiona Staples - Comic Book Cover

The Pace of Saga Slows Down

Our favorite, scandalous space opera, Saga, continues its journey. However, by the third installment, the pace seems to have slowed down a bit. Of course, the never-ending war taking place in a galaxy populated with surreal and bizarre creatures and locations provides a solid foundation that can handle some deceleration.

Still, while most of the events previously felt life-changing for our heroes, now there are episodes that seem more like filler, such as the bickering between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, or various characters’ hallucinations. The only positive aspect of these is the appearance of the series’ (so far) best character, The Stalk, whom the authors clearly can’t let go of. You might rightfully ask, why the hell did those damn fools kill her off in the first place?

The Impact is Gone, but It’s Still Highly Entertaining

In the third part of Saga, the introduction of new characters feels the most unnecessary. The two pesky tabloid journalists won’t uncover anything you haven’t known for a long time. Except perhaps that Alana is an even bigger bitch than you thought.

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The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu – Book Review

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The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu - Book Cover

The first chapter of The Three-Body Problem stands alone brilliantly, akin to a superb standalone short story. It offers a brief retrospective on the madness of the Chinese Cultural Revolution from the perspective of one of the characters, providing a great foundation (or so it would seem) for the rest of the story. It’s a real pity that not a single moment in the rest of Cixin Liu’s book lives up to this initial promise.

Casual MMO game with robot-like characters

Are scientists dropping like flies? Yes, especially those involved in fundamental research. This reeks of a foul conspiracy, so our protagonists set out to investigate. That is, until a virtual reality computer game takes center stage in their inquiries – from that point on, no one gives a damn about the dying scientists anymore. Instead, we get lengthy descriptions of in-game adventures wrapped in physics and mathematical jargon. Does all this sound interesting? Well, actually… IT. IS. NOT.

What’s even less interesting? The Chinese characters. In The Three-Body Problem, with one exception, everyone is completely unremarkable, as if they were brainwashed robots controlled by a single central will. Ahem. The exception, an overzealous police inspector, is like a half-deaf uncle who loudly tells nonsensical stories at a supposedly restrained family gathering (say, a wake) and occasionally spits on the floor with great gusto.

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