What do you think?
Rate this book
Metal Made Flesh #1
Metal Made Flesh
Metal Made Flesh is a cyberpunk space opera that has been likened to "Bladerunner meets Game of Thrones." Chased to the brink of extinction by an unrelenting foe called the “Veul” humanity is forced to take refuge in Tuaoni, a sprawling city on the black market trading hub Equan Yas.
Reduced to extreme poverty, and treated as second class citizens by the planet’s inhabitants, humans must do whatever it takes to survive.
Metal Made Flesh features three short stories about three characters, trying to survive in this hostile environment. The cold, merciless cyborg Izobel Vice who loses more of her humanity with each passing upgrade; the psychopathic assassin Phaeon Nex, and Kalibos, a hideous mutant war machine.
"One amazing sci-fi epic graphic novella... 5/5" -Adrian Mursec Superrobotmayhem.com
“Cyberpunk GOLD... ART in its truest form... a privilege to own work like this.” -Gary Watson Comics Anonymous
“If Blade Runner and Judge Dredd are even remotely your thing, then you will not be disappointed.” -Richard Cosgrove Shadowlocked.com
“Gritty, adult sci-fi with few punches pulled.... cyberpunk with great hardware.” -Strictly Kev (DJ Food), Ninja Tunes
Reduced to extreme poverty, and treated as second class citizens by the planet’s inhabitants, humans must do whatever it takes to survive.
Metal Made Flesh features three short stories about three characters, trying to survive in this hostile environment. The cold, merciless cyborg Izobel Vice who loses more of her humanity with each passing upgrade; the psychopathic assassin Phaeon Nex, and Kalibos, a hideous mutant war machine.
"One amazing sci-fi epic graphic novella... 5/5" -Adrian Mursec Superrobotmayhem.com
“Cyberpunk GOLD... ART in its truest form... a privilege to own work like this.” -Gary Watson Comics Anonymous
“If Blade Runner and Judge Dredd are even remotely your thing, then you will not be disappointed.” -Richard Cosgrove Shadowlocked.com
“Gritty, adult sci-fi with few punches pulled.... cyberpunk with great hardware.” -Strictly Kev (DJ Food), Ninja Tunes
- GenresGraphic Novels
126 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2014
8 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 23, 2022
Interview with authors of Metal Made Flesh: https://youtu.be/BSVuQjDg9h0
Bought the printed version of what I now know is the first book of the series back in 2018 from a Kickstarter campaign as my memory serves me. When I got the package I got disappointed as I had understood it would be a graphic novel, while it turned out to be an illustrated "book". My impulse was to throw it away or give it as a gift, but something in me told me that I might want a cyberpunk fix later on so I kept it, now being VERY^2 glad I did.
At some point between other heavy material I need to read picked it up to make the final read or not read decision. Cyberpunk the way I want it to be all the way, and one of the best reads of the year, definitely a gem. Let's see: complex but not complicated characters - check. Tech advanced dystopia - CHECK. Alien races plus cyborgs - check. Set in a different planetary system - check, personal taste: I find that sometimes Sci-fi set on earth is "easy" or "boring".
First book has three stories with overlaps with the visuals make you engage more and feel that you are there. It gave me that feeling that I got as a kid reading Neuromancer: feel that I want to be there although everything was so dystopic.
Buy it, love it and then as me get the next one from their store, which seems to be a graphic novel. Curious if they have everything on print as it seems some items are kindle only (boo). Just bought volume two while tilting towards getting the rest of their material.
Bought the printed version of what I now know is the first book of the series back in 2018 from a Kickstarter campaign as my memory serves me. When I got the package I got disappointed as I had understood it would be a graphic novel, while it turned out to be an illustrated "book". My impulse was to throw it away or give it as a gift, but something in me told me that I might want a cyberpunk fix later on so I kept it, now being VERY^2 glad I did.
At some point between other heavy material I need to read picked it up to make the final read or not read decision. Cyberpunk the way I want it to be all the way, and one of the best reads of the year, definitely a gem. Let's see: complex but not complicated characters - check. Tech advanced dystopia - CHECK. Alien races plus cyborgs - check. Set in a different planetary system - check, personal taste: I find that sometimes Sci-fi set on earth is "easy" or "boring".
First book has three stories with overlaps with the visuals make you engage more and feel that you are there. It gave me that feeling that I got as a kid reading Neuromancer: feel that I want to be there although everything was so dystopic.
Buy it, love it and then as me get the next one from their store, which seems to be a graphic novel. Curious if they have everything on print as it seems some items are kindle only (boo). Just bought volume two while tilting towards getting the rest of their material.
June 5, 2018
I picked this is up from Birmingham Comic-Con, as it had a look that appealed. This can be explained as either a semi graphic novel (all the following books are full graphic novels) or simply an illustrated book.
A cyberpunk book, which obviously has a bunch of ideas and looks taken from stuff like Blade Runner, a lot from Judge Dredd, etc. While I wouldn’t consider it a ‘rip-off’, it does have a lot of ‘influences’ from these other sources. Filled with humans, robots, cyborgs and aliens and loads of future tech.
What I didn’t know before reading, was this is essential a bunch of short stories, that all have different characters doing separate things. What links them together is that they occur with the giant metropolis Tuaoni. A city on a distant alien planet, where the last of humanity has been given the permission to live, and as one of the lowest rungs of the social ladder among the multitudes of different alien races that also live there.
The are essentially three different stories here; one centring on a hitman on a job that presents its own unique set of challenges against an alien clown on a television show, a prince of the humans ruling family just before a summit with the alien race that almost wiped out humanity (the Veul), and a veteran female cyborg, who is a mix of prostitute/con-artist and security guard.
The characters and their stories range from the above average to good. The first story about a hitman who goes undercover to assassinate this alien children’s presenter, I would say is interesting but the weaker of the three. The second, is longer and more varied, with the story told from a few viewpoints, from the hedonistic prince to a buddy pair of a human and alien beggar scavenging in the sewers. The third, is an ex-soldier cyborg down on her luck, is given a job as a security guard on the docks for a gangster’s operation.
While the stories are good, the main problem I had is that they didn’t really finish, they ended a bit abrupt, waiting to see what the full conclusion of the stories would be. The characters were good enough for the stories they’re in, the real standout of the book is its setting. The look, the feel and backstory of Tuaoni is what really appealed to me. The history of humans living there, the dark technology and the mix of alien races could mean a ton of weird and interesting stories. This is what will draw me back.
The artwork is very good in my opinion. The style I liked, it having a kind of western-style manga feel to it. Whether this remains the same in the full graphic novels I’m not sure.
As introduction into this dark sci-fi world, I think it does a good job. For readers who like a mix of far-future alien gangster/cyborg fighting might want to have a look.
A cyberpunk book, which obviously has a bunch of ideas and looks taken from stuff like Blade Runner, a lot from Judge Dredd, etc. While I wouldn’t consider it a ‘rip-off’, it does have a lot of ‘influences’ from these other sources. Filled with humans, robots, cyborgs and aliens and loads of future tech.
What I didn’t know before reading, was this is essential a bunch of short stories, that all have different characters doing separate things. What links them together is that they occur with the giant metropolis Tuaoni. A city on a distant alien planet, where the last of humanity has been given the permission to live, and as one of the lowest rungs of the social ladder among the multitudes of different alien races that also live there.
The are essentially three different stories here; one centring on a hitman on a job that presents its own unique set of challenges against an alien clown on a television show, a prince of the humans ruling family just before a summit with the alien race that almost wiped out humanity (the Veul), and a veteran female cyborg, who is a mix of prostitute/con-artist and security guard.
The characters and their stories range from the above average to good. The first story about a hitman who goes undercover to assassinate this alien children’s presenter, I would say is interesting but the weaker of the three. The second, is longer and more varied, with the story told from a few viewpoints, from the hedonistic prince to a buddy pair of a human and alien beggar scavenging in the sewers. The third, is an ex-soldier cyborg down on her luck, is given a job as a security guard on the docks for a gangster’s operation.
While the stories are good, the main problem I had is that they didn’t really finish, they ended a bit abrupt, waiting to see what the full conclusion of the stories would be. The characters were good enough for the stories they’re in, the real standout of the book is its setting. The look, the feel and backstory of Tuaoni is what really appealed to me. The history of humans living there, the dark technology and the mix of alien races could mean a ton of weird and interesting stories. This is what will draw me back.
The artwork is very good in my opinion. The style I liked, it having a kind of western-style manga feel to it. Whether this remains the same in the full graphic novels I’m not sure.
As introduction into this dark sci-fi world, I think it does a good job. For readers who like a mix of far-future alien gangster/cyborg fighting might want to have a look.
December 8, 2018
First and foremost the illustrations in this book are absolutely stunning. They're so detailed and intricate beyond belief I'd stop for a good couple of minutes whilst I was reading to fully appreciate them.
As for the stories themselves, I think my feelings can be summarised as eh. It's all right. Nothing particularly revolutionary, some nice world building and the beginnings of some interesting characters. The first story was probably the weakest, the conclusion is really what you're reading for. I liked the second one a lot. It had some excellent build up and a twist I never saw coming. I had a little issue with Izobel's story- whilst it was nice to see a strong, capable woman in a scifi novel, it was a shame that she was introduced like most of the other women in the book so far: utilising her sexuality as a prostitute. There are more eloquent ways to phrase this analysis, but I can't seem to form the words right now, so whilst I enjoyed the book by a fundamental definition of the word, I do have my issues with it. There are quite a few typos and odd grammar- capitalisation in the wrong place, for instance, and a myriad of strangely worded sentences, or poorly framed dialogue. It's also rather exposition heavy, in a manner that doesn't always read as authentic, but I will admit this is nitpicking. Overall, I think this story could really l benefit from a clean up of its text, tightening of its grammar, and a diverse handful of beta readers to give their thoughts before going to publication. But it is almost worth getting just for the artwork alone.
As for the stories themselves, I think my feelings can be summarised as eh. It's all right. Nothing particularly revolutionary, some nice world building and the beginnings of some interesting characters. The first story was probably the weakest, the conclusion is really what you're reading for. I liked the second one a lot. It had some excellent build up and a twist I never saw coming. I had a little issue with Izobel's story- whilst it was nice to see a strong, capable woman in a scifi novel, it was a shame that she was introduced like most of the other women in the book so far: utilising her sexuality as a prostitute. There are more eloquent ways to phrase this analysis, but I can't seem to form the words right now, so whilst I enjoyed the book by a fundamental definition of the word, I do have my issues with it. There are quite a few typos and odd grammar- capitalisation in the wrong place, for instance, and a myriad of strangely worded sentences, or poorly framed dialogue. It's also rather exposition heavy, in a manner that doesn't always read as authentic, but I will admit this is nitpicking. Overall, I think this story could really l benefit from a clean up of its text, tightening of its grammar, and a diverse handful of beta readers to give their thoughts before going to publication. But it is almost worth getting just for the artwork alone.
March 5, 2023
Pros: illustrations are superb; the tone and vibe are great, nails gritty; cyberpunk perfectly; 3 stories following 3 different characters offer a more varied glimpse into the world; good worldbuilding that often is too telling to avoid infodumps but skirts around nonsensical technobabble for the most part
Cons: feels half baked in parts, needed another spelling pass as well as an editor's review, often feels more novel than graphical, with stories being or too long or too short. Personally at 128 pages, I'd prefer if there were 2 characters with more depth to their stories.
A fascinating take on the genre that is more style than substance. Feels it needed a bit more time in the oven, but I would definitely like to know more about this universe
Should have received 3.5 stars
Grade: 6.5/10
Cons: feels half baked in parts, needed another spelling pass as well as an editor's review, often feels more novel than graphical, with stories being or too long or too short. Personally at 128 pages, I'd prefer if there were 2 characters with more depth to their stories.
A fascinating take on the genre that is more style than substance. Feels it needed a bit more time in the oven, but I would definitely like to know more about this universe
Should have received 3.5 stars
Grade: 6.5/10
February 4, 2019
I picked this up, thinking it was a graphic novel. It isn't. It is three connected short stories based on a very engrossing world that happens to also have some (beautiful) pictures as well. The wiring is very tight and each story builds from the previous. I was left hoping for a continuation of each character.
June 14, 2024
A Must read
A must read for any cyberpunk or sci-fi fan. A Dark gritty tale that hits all the marks perfectly. Look forward at ready their other works
A must read for any cyberpunk or sci-fi fan. A Dark gritty tale that hits all the marks perfectly. Look forward at ready their other works
June 12, 2016
This graphic novel is a collection of gritty, grown-up cyberpunk stories, for people who like their sci-fi just a little bit darker.
The vivid depictions of the world the novel is set in, both in the writing and the artwork, are the highlight of the stories, and I felt like I really got to know the kind of world the characters lived in. Not all of the characters are particularly likeable, but I don't think they need to be, and in fact, I think I liked the graphic novel more because of it.
Since it's an independently published title, there were quite a few grammatical errors and typos throughout, which can be a bit jarring when reading, but I can forgive this, because the writing was otherwise snappy, straightforward, and each character had a unique voice.
Another downside is that being quite short, I felt like I wanted a little more from some of the stories, but I suppose there are worst things than "leaving readers wanting more". Additionally, I found the second story difficult to really get into, but the payoff came a little later on in the story, when I realised the significance of the various viewpoints.
Overall, I enjoyed this read, although it wasn't perfect, and it made a nice change of both pace and setting from the epic fantasy novels that I tend to stick to.
The vivid depictions of the world the novel is set in, both in the writing and the artwork, are the highlight of the stories, and I felt like I really got to know the kind of world the characters lived in. Not all of the characters are particularly likeable, but I don't think they need to be, and in fact, I think I liked the graphic novel more because of it.
Since it's an independently published title, there were quite a few grammatical errors and typos throughout, which can be a bit jarring when reading, but I can forgive this, because the writing was otherwise snappy, straightforward, and each character had a unique voice.
Another downside is that being quite short, I felt like I wanted a little more from some of the stories, but I suppose there are worst things than "leaving readers wanting more". Additionally, I found the second story difficult to really get into, but the payoff came a little later on in the story, when I realised the significance of the various viewpoints.
Overall, I enjoyed this read, although it wasn't perfect, and it made a nice change of both pace and setting from the epic fantasy novels that I tend to stick to.
July 26, 2015
Jeremy Biggs and Simoen Aston have created an engrossing world of cyberpunk sci-fi in Metal Made Flesh.
Set in Tuaoni a sprawling city on the planet Equan Yas ,a melting pot of alien races, the tales of mercenaries Phaeon Nex, Kallibos and Izobel Vice are full of intricate world building, imagination and memorable characters.
Simeon Aston's art is stunning too.
Set in Tuaoni a sprawling city on the planet Equan Yas ,a melting pot of alien races, the tales of mercenaries Phaeon Nex, Kallibos and Izobel Vice are full of intricate world building, imagination and memorable characters.
Simeon Aston's art is stunning too.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews