Those who follow Brian Kesinger on social media undoubtedly remember his mermaid drawings for Mermay a while back. These popular images have now been bundled in a coffee-table book, Brian Kesinger’s Inked Tails.

Inked Tails is a fun, all-ages book, focusing mostly on mermaids, with the image on one page and a few lines about the character on the opposite.

It’s great for just looking at beautiful art, when you want a very quick read or to read with kids.

Free Comic Book Day 2018: Lady Mechanika

Steam

Hilde HeyvaertMay 10, 2018September 26, 2020

Free Comic Book Day 2018: Lady Mechanika

Lady Mechanika is a title to look forward to every year when Free Comic Book Day arrives and this year’s edition was no different.

Although in theory these free comics are only available for free on the first Saturday of May, the reality is that many, especially online, stores have stock of Free Comic Book Day issues left and will allow you to include them for free with an order. So it’s still possible to get your hands on a copy.

Skies of Fire, Volumes 1-4

Diesel

Nick OttensApril 14, 2018September 26, 2020

Massive diesel-powered airships dueling in the sky. It sounds like winning formula and there is a lot to like about Skies of Fire, the four-part (so far) comic series created by Vincenzo Ferriero and Ray Chou.

The art, by Pablo Peppino, is perfect for a dieselpunk story: crisp and elegant.

The setting — the fictional Aquilan Empire, inspired by early-twentieth-century Britain — is marvelous.

The mystery at the heart of the story — a never-ending storm called The Expanse, which sky pirates call their home — is an inspiration.

But the comic is light on plot.

Lady Mechanika, Volume 3: The Lost Boys of West Abbey

Steam

Hilde HeyvaertMarch 22, 2018September 26, 2020

In this fourth (third according to publication chronology, but fourth in the storyline) bundled storyline of steampunk favorite Lady Mechanika, we find our hero investigating the death of a couple of street urchins in a seedy part of town. Aided by genius engeneer Mr Lewis, his niece Fred, two recurring characters, and dashing young police inspector Singh, a new addition to the cast.

Lady Mechanika, Volume 2: The Tablet of Destinies

Diesel
Steam

Hilde HeyvaertJanuary 11, 2018September 26, 2020

In the second volume of Lady Mechanika, we learn more about our partly-mechanical heroine and the world she lives in.

When a dear friend of Mechanika finds himself in peril across the globe, she sets off to his aid with both new and old friends, leaving her home town to traverse deserts and jungles. Only to encounter a fan-favorite enemy of the dieselpunk genre, out to get the fabled tablet of destinies.

Lady Mechanika, Volume 4: La Dama de la Muerte

Steam

Hilde HeyvaertNovember 11, 2017September 26, 2020

You may find it strange that I’m not reviewing the second volume of Lady Mechanika after reviewing the first, but I feel it’s better to read volume 4 next.

As the cover suggests, we find Lady Mechanika traveling to Mexico, where she finds herself caught up in events that will change her forever.

Lady Mechanika

Steam

Hilde HeyvaertNovember 2, 2017September 26, 2020

I know we’re extremely late to the party with reviewing these, but it is an ongoing series and better late than never, right?

Besides, surely some readers aren’t aware of Lady Mechanika yet and it’s one of the best steampunk comics around.

The Rocketeer at War

Diesel

Hilde HeyvaertMarch 30, 2017September 26, 2020

This volume bundles together the first four single issues in the ongoing The Rocketeer at War storyline. It is actually the first to be released as a trade paperback, the previous ones, with exception of the short-story book Jet-Pack Adventures, have always been hardcover.

What is great about this issue is that they have kept the same writers and used only two different artists. Which is a vast improvement on past storylines and really helps with consistency.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Steam

Hilde HeyvaertJuly 21, 2016September 26, 2020

Let me start by saying that Big Thunder Mountain is one my favorite rides in Disneyland Paris, only narrowly beaten by Les Mystères du Nautilus. So, of course, when Marvel and Disney announced that the runaway train was being turned into a comic, I was excited.

Design-wise, it’s very pretty. Like all Disney Kingdom series books, it comes only in hardcover. Which is too bad, because it means a fragile flap and a higher price than what you would pay for a paperback edition. On the upside, once the flap is removed, you get a really nice sketch of the ride.

City Hall, Volume 6

Steam

Hilde HeyvaertFebruary 4, 2015September 26, 2020

With the sixth installment of the City Hall saga, we continue to regret that these manga are only available in French, as they are one of the best things around when it comes to steampunk graphics.

Every issue, or tomes as they are called by the creators, has been better than the one before and the story continues to unfold via masterful storytelling and fantastic art.