joshgauthier's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this one up knowing basically nothing about it - dramatic cover, cool steampunk vibe, plus I heard someone say it was good. I didn't know much more going in.
Turns out, it really was good. With vibrant and engaging art as well as a rich and well-developed storyline, "Lady Mechanika" offers a very strong read and (to me) seemed notably developed for a comic. It's funny. It's got adventure. It takes place on a large scale, but doesn't forget the struggles and successes of the characters on a more personal level.
My one main complaint - as there often is one - is that (for me) the visuals for the female characters make it clear that there is a male team behind the stylized artwork. But the artwork is otherwise great to look at, and it is backed up by consistently solid writing, so it was a lingering complaint, but really the only problem I had with this volume.
So, all in all, it's a well-developed world with an engaging and multi-leveled story and fun characters. Steampunk adventure really does make for an enjoyable read.
Turns out, it really was good. With vibrant and engaging art as well as a rich and well-developed storyline, "Lady Mechanika" offers a very strong read and (to me) seemed notably developed for a comic. It's funny. It's got adventure. It takes place on a large scale, but doesn't forget the struggles and successes of the characters on a more personal level.
My one main complaint - as there often is one - is that (for me) the visuals for the female characters make it clear that there is a male team behind the stylized artwork. But the artwork is otherwise great to look at, and it is backed up by consistently solid writing, so it was a lingering complaint, but really the only problem I had with this volume.
So, all in all, it's a well-developed world with an engaging and multi-leveled story and fun characters. Steampunk adventure really does make for an enjoyable read.
cptmosley's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
mcbeezie's review against another edition
5.0
I loved everything about this graphic novel collection. It is beautifully illustrated, the characters are well developed, and the story is entertaining and draws you along with it. This is easily one of my new favorites! I would totally cosplay Lady Mechanika, well done! Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for my review.
gabbyreadswithtea's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastically crafted! From the intriguing story, wonderfully paced and never confusing. To the characters, kick-ass, funny, distinctive. To the beautiful artwork and colouring - on point for every page. There’s nothing I didn’t love about this! Fantastic murder-mystery steampunk graphic novel that will keep you guessing. Can’t wait for Volume 2 and to be thrust back into this unique version of Victorian England.
Thank you to Diamond Book Distributor’s for providing me an e-copy of this graphic novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to Diamond Book Distributor’s for providing me an e-copy of this graphic novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
lilythpad's review
hey Joe, go fuck yourself. imagine writing a story set in “a fictionalised steampunk Victorian England”, which is two themes known for their incredible fashion hand in hand, and you choose TO PUT THE PROTAGONIST IN LOW WAIST PANTS. The BS fashion trend alone only came to exist in the 90s and it’s widely considered one of the worst trends in modern fashion and you put what’s clearly supposed to be our badass protagonist in that shit alongside unnecessary boob windows and whatever else nonsense WHY??
women drawn by men moment. fuck you and your male gaze, don’t even care for whatever story you wish to tell if you can’t do women the favour of simply giving them appropriate clothing to wear first.
women drawn by men moment. fuck you and your male gaze, don’t even care for whatever story you wish to tell if you can’t do women the favour of simply giving them appropriate clothing to wear first.
lucie_b's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
readingnymph's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars.
I liked the steampunk Victorian setting and artwork.
Not 100% sure if I will continue with this but I liked it.
I liked the steampunk Victorian setting and artwork.
Not 100% sure if I will continue with this but I liked it.
jnikolova's review against another edition
3.0
Also available on the WondrousBooks blog.
*** 3.5, but not enough for 4 ***
I enjoyed Lady Mechanika a lot more than I did Wraithborn. Considering my immense disappointment with the latter, I was almost scared to start Lady Mechanika.
But as I received both of these, and the 2nd volume of Lady Mechanika, from NetGalley, I had to finish it. I am glad I had this incentive, because ultimately, Lady Mechanika is by far better than Wraithborn.
Lady Mechanika is the epitome of steampunk. Everything about it is highly detailed and intricate. If you look at the illustrations, you would notice that there are layers upon layers of art and attention to detail and I can't not admit how impressive that is.
The art, in general, was much better here than in Wraithborn. If you remember my review, I was aghast at the depiction of women. They are still very sexual in Lady Mechanika, but it's done a lot more tastefully, to a point where I can agree that this is the wet dream of a classy high school boy.
I also found the story more intriguing. I enjoyed the main story arc about the mechanical people a lot. The part that didn't impress me as much were the sub-plots and hints at other relations between the character that just add fluff to a story that could go without. Almost all characters are related in pairs and have common past. These two are siblings, those two worked together, the two men know each other, etc. etc. As far as the story about the Frankenstein-esque doctor who creates the mechanical people goes, there's already enough suspense that everything else is just micromanagement of pages that need to be filled.
And speaking of, my major issue with Lady Mechanika: the writing. Literally. The author really wanted to write a book, didn't have enough material for that, but he obviously had too much for a comic book. There is just SO MUCH DIALOGUE. It doesn't go harmoniously with graphic novels. A book rat such as myself can tell you as much: when you are reading a book, you can take as many pages of text as there are; but if you are reading a comic book, you are not prepared for the insane amount of dialogue that is just out of place and both disjoints the story, and distracts the reader.
Looking at this, I remember what I thought when I was initially reading it: This is honestly outrageous.
*** 3.5, but not enough for 4 ***
I enjoyed Lady Mechanika a lot more than I did Wraithborn. Considering my immense disappointment with the latter, I was almost scared to start Lady Mechanika.
But as I received both of these, and the 2nd volume of Lady Mechanika, from NetGalley, I had to finish it. I am glad I had this incentive, because ultimately, Lady Mechanika is by far better than Wraithborn.
Lady Mechanika is the epitome of steampunk. Everything about it is highly detailed and intricate. If you look at the illustrations, you would notice that there are layers upon layers of art and attention to detail and I can't not admit how impressive that is.
The art, in general, was much better here than in Wraithborn. If you remember my review, I was aghast at the depiction of women. They are still very sexual in Lady Mechanika, but it's done a lot more tastefully, to a point where I can agree that this is the wet dream of a classy high school boy.
I also found the story more intriguing. I enjoyed the main story arc about the mechanical people a lot. The part that didn't impress me as much were the sub-plots and hints at other relations between the character that just add fluff to a story that could go without. Almost all characters are related in pairs and have common past. These two are siblings, those two worked together, the two men know each other, etc. etc. As far as the story about the Frankenstein-esque doctor who creates the mechanical people goes, there's already enough suspense that everything else is just micromanagement of pages that need to be filled.
And speaking of, my major issue with Lady Mechanika: the writing. Literally. The author really wanted to write a book, didn't have enough material for that, but he obviously had too much for a comic book. There is just SO MUCH DIALOGUE. It doesn't go harmoniously with graphic novels. A book rat such as myself can tell you as much: when you are reading a book, you can take as many pages of text as there are; but if you are reading a comic book, you are not prepared for the insane amount of dialogue that is just out of place and both disjoints the story, and distracts the reader.
Looking at this, I remember what I thought when I was initially reading it: This is honestly outrageous.