Reviews

I really enjoyed the cast of characters and the art style but the series is definitely in need of some breathing room. It feels like there’s a lot of information crammed onto each page, to the point where it slowed down my reading and diminished a lot of the book’s higher qualities. I’m sure I’m just being a comics snob, but I do see this story’s potential and am rooting for the creative team!

Content Warnings

mistermipsy's review against another edition

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adventurous funny inspiring fast-paced

5.0

I love that cast uses basic math and science to solve problems mid-battle--makes her feel like more of a reachable goal/role model than most child prodigy type characters and I think that will make her more inspiring for tween and teen readers. Sure to be a hit with shonen fans, and I think most action/adventure readers and aspiring engineers in middle and high school will enjoy it as well!

greysonk's review

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fast-paced

2.5

librarianryan's review

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adventurous medium-paced

2.0

I really wanted to like this book, but it was very confusing. Part of it seems new, modern and futuristic. At the same time you have a group of engineers working on clockworks. I got about halfway through this book and ended up with a DNF. I wanted to like it, but found myself not caring because I was having a hard time following the story.

destdest's review

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

larakaa's review

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adventurous hopeful mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

The best shonen like I've read in years. Not only are the characters diverse and interesting, the world and the story are exciting, mysterious and there's a ton of action.

kintara81's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

3.5

Clock Striker, now in graphic novel format, follows Shonen manga’s first Black female lead hero, Cast, in her quest to become a member of the SMITHS, the legendary warrior engineers. Cast dreams of being a SMITH, and though she’s rather handy with her tools, no one in her small town ever realizes their dreams. Besides, these legendary warrior engineers haven’t been seen in years and were never known for having female members. Fortunately, Cast meets one surviving member named Ms. Philomena Clock, who agrees to take her on as her apprentice, or striker. Now Cast is thrust into one deadly adventure after another! From cybernetic desperadoes to technology thieves and more, Cast has to use her mind and her remodeled robotics-lab prosthetic hand, which offers unfathomable offensive power in the form of scientific experiments. Need lightning? Cast can generate it from her hand! Cast’s mentor seeks to uncover an ominous mystery that explains what happened to the SMITHS and shines a light on a hidden power that may be within Cast herself. Can Cast become a new member of the SMITHS? More importantly, can Cast survive the process to become a SMITH?

I really enjoyed this interpretation of the Manga as I have yet to try any of the titles in that genre. This was an uplifting and inspiring story of how a young girl can be who she wants to be even with her limitations and people not believing that she is able to complete her dream. It follows her from school to getting an apprenticeship which leads to her being involved in fighting crime. Cast is the character which I resonate with the most and she is the one that links the story together and keeps everything cohesive. This is a fast paced story which is engaging and it has made me interested enough to continue with the series if more of it.

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