Early Review: Lady Mechanika #1

Like many of you, I too have been looking forward to the release of the first issue of Lady Mechanika. This was primarily due to the art in the solicitations since I first saw some of it at San Diego Comic-Con. Not only is the preview art drop dead gorgeous--the entire issue is absolutely breathtaking. Everything from the vibrant colors, intricate details and the near perfect anatomy of the characters is nothing short of incredible. It isn't often that art can take my breath away, but Joe Benitez definitely does that here; sucking me into his steam-punk little world, set in 19th Century England. Every scene is filled with intense colors that effortlessly capture the mood and state of the story which transitions smoothly and eloquently from one setting to the next. His ability to tell a story through his art makes the use of location bubbles unnecessary. Visually, this is one of the best books I've seen in a very long time.  

The first issue of Lady Mechanika starts off well-- introducing characters who will likely dominate the series within the first couple of pages. The issue opens up with a young girl on the run from her captors, who have clearly operated on her. The girl has been transformed from a human to a cyborg-like-creature who is half woman, half machine--with long metal arms likening to steel claws. The narration that we see in the first few pages of this issue make you think that the young girl on the run is the primary character--but we quickly learn that is not the case. The young girl is relevant to the story, however; we learn that she could be the key to Lady Mechanika's origins.

The story's central character, Lady Mechanika, seems to be a kind of hero/vigilante--and while Benitez's artistic depiction of this new heroine is definitely sexy, with her pouty lips and voluptuous physique--she isn't over-sexualized. This is KEY! As a female reader, I want my heroine to be tough, sexy, brave and bold--but I don't want her to be a total skank. There is a thin line between tastefully sexy and, well, not, and Benitez is a master. I love Lady Mechanika. This is exactly the type of female character I want to be reading. While sex sells books, Lady Mechanika clearly doesn't need it.

The story is definitely not the most intricate, and isn't at all a tough read--this is not Alan Moore or Grant Morrison. The story line seems to be pretty plainly and clearly defined within the first few pages of the book and won't take a lot of thought to decipher--but that's okay. Not every comic reading experience should be a puzzle or a challenge, and Benitez's art more than makes up for some of the more simple attributes of this first issue. There were a few moments where I found myself wishing for a little bit more complexity in the dialogue and the story, but honestly, it wasn't really a big deal.

The first scene where we see Lady Mechanika is brilliant. She has a brooding and sophisticated air about her that is so alluring, and she has a great rapport with Professor Littleton's daughter. The first issue definitely ends on a high note, leaving you wondering what will happen next. Don't be surprised if you find yourself begging for more.
 
Verdict: 4.5 out of 5

Lady Mechanika #1 hits stores on December 8th, 2010.

Check out the exclusive images of Lady Mechanika #1 below, and let us know if you think you'll be picking it up next Wednesday!