One graphic novel I have heard a bit about would be Lady Mechanika. While searching through what kind of comics and graphic novels I could read through the library I found a few volumes of this graphic novel. Shortly after that I found this volume on Netgalley and decided to give it a try.

When I first looked into Lady Mechanika I had to really search what was what. Most of these big volumes are first published in six different issues. Adding on to that confusion is that this volume is marked as 4 on the cover and the inside page, but the file is called volume 5. I do think that you can easily settle into this without having read any of the previous installments.

The art is great. Very consistent. The whole tone of the colors fit very well with the steampunk elements and Lady Mechanika’s personality. The full spread bust and pictures of Lady Mechanika in the back are also gorgeous. However the adult females, lady mechanika included, are all drawn the same. Fanservice for males. Skimpy clothes. Very busty, very thin waist. I mean, I’ve seen skimpier clothes but even so…be aware of that when you go into these.

Lady Mechanika is a very tough lady but it is also clear to see that she has her attachments to people. Like Lewis. I wish there had been more of an emphasis on their relationship. This is not a very long volume and could have easily been lengthened with a few pages.

As for the main mystery, I thought it was a bit boring. It was quite honestly a rather standard murder mystery. The twist at the end was easy to guess. Again, I feel like this whole volume could have used a few extra pages to deepen things out here and there. The question proposed in the synopsis about Lady Mechanika was to my eyes not touched upon at all.

As it stands now, this is a very standard volume. Nothing special. Nothing that seems to hint towards a bigger story line. Just a simple murder mystery. A nice in between read, but that is all it is.

A series of brutal murders seems to link back to Mr. Lewis, as the victims are former coworkers. Detective Inspector Singh has to evaluate if Lady Mechanika is a hero or a cold-blooded killer, as she seems to be one of the few people physically capable of slicing people in half.

The art is just as good as prior volumes, and this is a very tightly wound story that doesn't rely overly much on knowing a lot about prior events. There is one asterisk on one panel which refers back to a prior volume, but it doesn't slow down the reading or enjoyment of the story in the slightest.

This volume is more of a straightforward murder mystery, with only the barest of hints of an overarching conspiracy. That makes it a very quick read so that you can take your time and enjoy the steampunk art and the additional cover designs that are included in the back of the book.

As usual, an incredible mystery set in the street of Londons awaits our beloved Lady Mechanika. Who's killing all these famous engineers? A Lady Mechanika lookalike? Could this be a plot to frame our hero?

This is a well-rounded story in which we get to know a little more about the past of some of our main characters (yet not so much about Lady Mechanika) and even get to know the mysterious director of the Athena Enterprises. As with all the previous volumes I really liked how each of them can almost be read independently and still make sense for new readers. However, after loving "La Dama de la Muerte" so much, this story felt kind of flat. I can't wait to learn more about our main character and see her face more intense villains and mysteries than the one presented here.

I have waited for Mr. Lewis's backstory. I knew it would be tragic and heartbreaking and Benitez did not disappoint.

I picked this story up just to give it a try and fell in love. I am not a steampunk follower, but once I set aside the real world, I was able to get into the world of Lady Mechanika. So happy to see a strong female lead, that is not ashamed of her body (and its physical imperfections/alterations) and has a great mind!
The artwork in this story is absolutely gorgeous!
The story is a little hard to follow at times, with a lot of new characters introduced at one time, but if patient, it comes together.
I am a huge fan after reading this volume and will be going back to look up the others. Can’t wait for the next in the series!
Thank you NetGalley and publisher, Diamond Book Distributors, for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I've read several Lady Mechanika stories now, both as ARCs and as print books, and this will be my last. While I'm quite willing to put up with the improbability of steampunk stories if I can get a good story, these particular ones simply don't engage me. I don't feel any investment in them. The art is well done, but not to my personal taste: the characters are too tall and skinny which means the women have inane figures - literally hourglass with pencil waists and pneumatic breasts.

Even if we let slide the question of exactly how a clockwork assassin could even work, the story itself was quite simply confusing. A lot of the time I could not follow it at all, but even so it was pretty obvious who the villain was given that this was the only inventor we'd met in the entire story and was superficially the least likely suspect to boot!

I think the big problem with the Lady Mechanika series is that it isn't very well defined who she actually is, so she ends up hanging precariously between genres. Is she a detective à la Sherlock Holmes? Is she a super hero à la Batman? Is she a vampire with those red eyes?! I think the creators want her to be both detective and super hero, but in the end she's neither, and this is the problem. Worse than this, she doesn't invite investment in her as a character, at least not from me. I feel no warmth in her so I feel no warmth for her, and so for me, there was nothing at stake here. I can't recommend this one.

About a year ago I had a friend suggest the Lady Mechanika series to me, and I’ve been so grateful ever since. Now we’re up to four volumes in the main plot, as well as one short story (Le Dama de la Muerte) to the series. It’s hard to believe it’s come so far so fast, but here we are!
There are a lot of reasons I enjoy the Lady Mechanika series, one of the reasons is probably pretty obviously. The Artwork is absolutely amazing. I’d say that this series probably has the best artwork out of all of the series I read (and if somebody knows work of this quality – please send me the name of a new series I can fall in love with!). I love the steampunk elements used in this series, and how much attention is giving to the details, something that is especially important in a believable steampunk series.
The one downside to this series is the length. Most of the volumes are pretty short, with this one being less than ninety pages. It would be nice to have more pages to immerse oneself into it, but really it is what it is. Each volume is more or less a standalone plot, with the main plot being an undercurrent that’s supplemented by the events occurring. That means that at least we’re not left with cliffhangers or anything annoying like that.
Also, quick side note. If you look at this volume in multiple locations you’ll find that the novel number changes from one to the other. I think this probably depends on if they’re counting the Le Dama de la Muerte to be number four or not, but I’m not entirely certain of it. All I know is that it’s listed as five on Goodreads and NetGalley, but only four on Amazon. The cover also says four, so take from that what you will.
If you’re enjoyed the previous few volumes of this series, then I can pretty much guarantee you’ll enjoy this one as well. The tone has been uniform throughout the series, as has the artwork (thank goodness – I don’t think I could survive a deviation from the style I’ve fallen so in love with). Lady Mechanika is still trying to track down her origins, though as always more current issues take the fore front of her adventures.
I absolutely loved the tone of this volume. I know that could probably be said for every volume, but this one in particular felt like they perfected what they were aiming for. They held to the same elements, while introducing yet another new set of characters, intrigue for our current members, and potential risks and danger. There wasn’t really that much advancement to the main plot, though we learned quite a lot about Mr. Lewis and his background, which was fantastic.
I’m looking forward to the next volume. Hopefully it’ll once again begin hinting at Lady Mechanika’s past and creation. They’ve been building up to it since the start, and who knows how long it’ll be before we ever learn the truth. Still, I hold out hopes each volume that we’ll get a hint or two (admittedly this volume was rather slim on that front).

I found this volume to be my favorite of the series so far. The artwork is, as usual, very good. The real difference for me was the story. This was a story about human emotions and the types of things all of us can easily relate to. Just like the best science fiction, no matter how unique the world, can be understood as being about human nature and human society, so too the best of steampunk.

There are the usual characteristics that are evident in a lot steampunk graphic novels, namely suggestively drawing the women, that can be a bit annoying but even that is done fairly well here. If you're reading this to complain about the sexist nature of drawing the female form in much of graphic literature, while it is certainly problematic, it amounts to complaining about the portrayal of murderers in murder mysteries. They are there and they are often portrayed with some degree of empathy if for no other reason than to trick the reader into not recognizing them. The artwork here is primarily to satisfy the juvenile, whether in age or maturity, aspect of many of the readers. Looking beyond the easy complaints is far more rewarding than simply pretending to demonstrate one's disapproval of a big part of the genre.

I would recommend this to readers of steampunk and those who like strong female leads who, even with serious physical alterations, are not ashamed of either their body or their mind.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

I had not read the past books so I didn't quite understand everything but I really loved the art and the story just seemed to scratch the surface of what the story can be. I am very excited to go back and read past volumes as well as look forward to future issues!

I have a special place in my heart for well done, overly detailed comics and graphic novels and Lady Mechanika falls into that place. My husband brought me home the first issue of this series years ago and I loved it, Mechanika is awesome - she is a self sufficient woman in a time when that wasn't really a thing. She can handle her own and she is mysterious and interesting.

This volume is a murder mystery and Mechankia is helping to solve the puzzle of who done it in order to save her own skin and help out a friend. This part of the story steps back from her background and overall missions and we get more background on Dr. Lewis, her close, often drunk friend, and it was refreshing to finally learn more about him.

The story is woven pretty well, some things were predictable but other parts were very surprising and I really liked the mystery and conclusion. As always Mechanika is sexualized and I am not a huge fan of that but that is how she has always been drawn.

Overall this was another great addition to the series and I really enjoy them a lot. If you are looking for a kick-butt female heroine and a steampunky setting - these could be for you. But be warned - there is a lot of violence and death.

Pros: gorgeous artwork, interesting characters, short mystery

Cons:

When old co-workers of Archibald Lewis start dying, Lady Mechanika is implicated in their murders.

As with the previous volumes I loved the artwork. I love the sharp cheekbones and narrow chins. I love Lady Mechanika’s Victorian-steampunk outfits. There’s a lot of motion and animation to the frames.

This volume can easily be read independent of the others (there are 2 minor references to prior events). The mystery is fast paced and while there are only a few suspects, it’s neat seeing the team investigate. I was curious why Gwendolyn Cain wasn’t the first person they questioned given her entourage at the funeral and the description of the killer.

This volume collects three issues and tells a complete story that’s entertaining and beautifully rendered.

I received an ARC of this from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was the First Lady Mechanika graphic novel I’ve read and I really enjoyed it. I was drawn to it because of the artwork which gets better and better throughout the book. Even though I haven’t read any of the other books, this story was easy to follow and get into. It was an interesting steampunk murder mystery that revealed some of the dark parts of some of the characters. I really enjoyed it and I’m going to definitely pick up the authors other works to read as well. Great quick read and beautiful artwork.

First, the painting style looks really amazing, all the colors and details so good. The story itself was quite good. Really recommend this to steampunk admirers :D And again amazing art. Just got the first volume. Really want to know more about Mechanika and her story :D

Lady Mechanika is on the case. Someone is murdering scientists, Lady Mechanika is a suspect she right away is on the case. There is a great mystery and plenty of action the art is splendid as always.

A mysterious murderer lurks in the dark. The victims have been sliced in half by someone with enormous strength and skills, and Lady Mechanika is accused of the murders, as she is the only one capable of such brutality. But as the murdered victims are connected to each other and to Mr. Lewis, Lady Mechanika and Detective Inspector Singh will have to work together in order to find the real murderer. What dark secrets are hidden in Mr. Lewis' past? And how can a human being have committed these inhumane acts?

This is a stunning steam-punk graphic novel, part mystery and part thriller. The story is full of intriguing characters and the storyline grasps the reader's immediate attention. The artwork is absolutely stunning, and the concept is overall original and 100% worth giving your whole attention to. Definitely recommended for fans of graphic novels.

Another visual feast in the Lady Mechanika series, with the added bonus of the story being significantly stronger than that of <i>La Dama de la Muerte]</i>.

Received via NetGalley.

Okay, I’m gonna pretend the Day of the Dead volume never happened. Also a bit sad I missed the Free Comic Book Day edition, but what can you do?
A mysterious lady who could easily pass for Mechanika slashes an industrialist on an empty street. Luckily for Mechanika it’s her “admirer” Detective Singh who’s on the case, but after two more murders even he’s not sure of her innocence.
I love that Harry says he’s the brains and she’s the brawn, and Mechanika doesn’t object.
“Umph. That was graceful. Executed with all the poise of a proper lady.” I keep saying it every time: my favorite trait of Lady Mechanika is her always surprising sense of humor.
The bad guy is not that hard to guess, but then I’m not here for the story. The real reason to be here is the artwork, particularly but not just the renderings of Lady Mechanika.
The girl reminds me of Emma Watson. . . or a certain witch she played.
So, nothing that screams out new, but more of the same good stuff.
As always, there are extra visual goodies at the end; I will never believe Mechanika stopped moving long enough to pose for them.
3.5 pushed up to 4/5

I read Volume 1 some time ago and thought I give this a try. Pretty much the same experience. Pretty nice artwork, if you don‘t mind that the women are built like Barbie and have rubber tire lips. I like the muted colours.

The murder mystery was ok, alas it did not interest me much. There is a twist at the end, but it is not terribly surprising.

If you are into steampunk murder-mysteries with busty women, this might be a great choice.

There is some confusion regrading the numbering. Not quite sure if this is Volume 4 or 5.

I received this free e-copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

Lady Mechanika, Vol. 5: Clockwork Assassin is another great addition to Joe Benitez and his run on this book. You will be blown away by the artwork but what Benitez does so well here is tell the story. Each tale in the mythos that is Lady Mechanika adds to the overall brilliance of these books. Clockwork Assassin is a strong addition to the growth of this terrific character.

Lady Mechanika lives in a Steampunk England and her body has been experimented on to the point that her enhancements have given her speed and strength. She is more cyborg than human but still searches for her humanity. Her friend Mr. Lewis is an engineer/scientists whose past is finally coming to roost as mistakes and regrets have deadly consequences.

An old friend and colleague of Mr. Lewis is brutally murdered by a female assassin. An assassin who resembles Lady Mechanika. As more of Lewis' old workmates are killed he must reveal secrets of himself and his past to clear Lady Mechanika and help find the killer. But what he doesn't realize is that he too is scheduled to be killed by the Clockwork Assassin!

The brilliant and beautiful artwork will draw you into these books, Benitez also does the pencilling on these books, but it is the story itself that will keep you turning the pages and buying up the next books in line. Benitez is in full control here and the tales of mystery and thrills will make a fan of anyone who picks up these books.

Because these are Steampunk in genre, some readers may pass them by but that is a mistake. These are damn good comics and I highly recommend the read!

Once again I'm kind of disappointed that this volume is so short because I think it definitely could have benefited from a few extra details. Still, it was a fun read and I think the series has really come into its own with the last few volumes so I'm definitely glad i didn't stop reading this series. I absolutely love the new art style in this volume. I think the style is a good fit for this book and is a testament to the fact that you actually can draw a woman who looks sexy but not ridiculous. Also I liked the way that gears were incorporated into the panel framing and some of the cool new designs like the steampunk wheelchair and motorcycle thing.