Steampunk Saturday - Lady Mechanika

Note: yes, this was posted on a Monday. It was originally planned to be posted 2 days ago, but I made a small error ...

Today, I'd like to share my view on a comic book series: Lady Mechanika.

28414769(image from Goodreads)

I first came across this series whilst perusing NetGalley, and after reading the first compilation volume, I was hooked.

It has engaging storylines, and a strong heroine (who manages to be kick-ass and sexy without running around half-naked). She's also half mechanical (hence her adopted name).

The blurb says it better than I can:

Discover a beautifully illustrated steampunk world of airships, monsters, and one courageous but haunted heroine...

The tabloids dubbed her "Lady Mechanika," the sole survivor of a mad scientist's horrific experiments which left her with mechanical limbs. Having no memory of her captivity or her former life, Lady Mechanika eventually built a new life for herself as an adventurer and private investigator, using her unique abilities to solve cases the proper authorities couldn't or wouldn't handle. But she never stopped searching for the answers to her own past. 

Set in a fictionalized steampunk Victorian England, a time when magic and superstition clashed with new scientific discoveries and inventions, Lady Mechanika chronicles a young woman's obsessive search for her identity as she investigates other mysteries involving science and the supernatural. 

This volume collects the entire first Lady Mechanika mini-series The Mystery of the Mechanical Corpse, including its prequel chapter The Demon of Satan's Alley, plus a complete cover art gallery.



The details in the drawings are amazing, and after reading Volume 1, I immediately read Volume 2 ("Tablet of Destinies") and when Volume 3 ("The Lost Bys of West Abbey") became available on Netgalley, I pounced on it.
3122347934427868(both covers from Goodreads)

In Volume 2, the team of artists behind the series prove they are really good at creating strong female characters. Fred (short for Winnifred), a young girl who's fascinated by Lady Mechanika, and who happens to be a friend of hers, is kidnapped, and as she's being held captive, she's really smart about how to interact with her captors and trying to find ways to escape. Not in a brainless, movie-style way, but with tactics applicable to real-life situations.

In Volume 3, her ladyship investigates the disappearance of several young boys, who used to live on the street. This storyline also introduces us to Inspector Singh, whom I hope is going to be a regular character. It's going to be rather interesting to see how their partnership develops.

The premisses of the stories are not original, but the take on them feels fresh, and they also supply a familiar framework for the more outlandish parts of this alternate universe. Seeing how the series is progressing, I'm definately going to keep follwing it.

So seek this series out, go read them for yourself. You won't be dissapointed.

As you've probably noticed from my writing here, I received cpoies of this series through NetGalley, in return for an honest review. This has not influenced my opinion of the series. As a matter of fact, I've put all three editions on my 'must buy' list, which is a rare occurance for graphic novels.

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