Graphic Novel Review – The Mystery of the Mechanical Corpse (Lady Mechanika Vol 1) by John Benitez (5/5 stars)

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Steampunk/Graphic Novel
Length: 160 pages
Publisher: Benitez Productions
Release Date: November 18, 2015
ISBN-13: 978-0996603003
Stand Alone or Series: Vol 1 in the Lady Mechanika series
Source: Gift
Rating: 5/5 stars

“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 (originally published as Lady Mechanika #1-5), including its prequel chapter The Demon of Satan’s Alley (originally published as Lady Mechanika #0), plus a complete cover art gallery. “

I got the prologue chapter of Lady Mechanika to read at Free Comic Book Day this year and really loved both the illustration style and the story. So I decided to pick up the 1st TP volume. This was really well done. It has wonderful illustration/artwork, provides a fun story, and has some wonderful characters in here as well.

I really enjoyed Lady Mechanika as a character; she has a haunted past and can’t remember her origins but is determined to find out how she was made. Her search leads her to finding the body of a girl with mechanical arms; when this girl’s body is stolen Lady Mechanika makes it her top priority to find out the girl’s origins.

There is a lot of action in here as well as some good ole’ Victorian balls and witty dialogue. The illustration is beautiful with deep and rich coloring throughout. It was easy to follow and beautiful to look at.

Overall I really loved this steampunk graphic novel and can’t wait to read more of Lady Mechanika’s adventure. I would recommend to those who enjoy steampunk adventures. This was an awesome graphic novel!

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– Graphic Novel Reading Challenge
– You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge
– Pick Your Genre (Steampunk) Reading Challenge