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Vögelein #1
Vögelein: Clockwork Faerie
When Jakob, Vogelein's Guardian of fifty years, dies quietly in his sleep one night, her life is thrown into utter turmoil. Left without someone to wind her, the tiny clockwork faerie has less than five hours to live - unless she can find someone to trust. Unable to reach the keyhole in her back, she continues to wind down until she stops - and then her memories of the past three hundred years will quickly slip away, leaving her a simple automaton unable to speak or move on her own. In her search for a new Guardian, Vogelein must grapple with her own past, her current daily survival and a true Faerie who has taken an instant disliking to her, all so that she will not lose her memories - and her self.
167 pages, Library Binding
First published September 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 8, 2009
Vögelein has lived for hundreds of years. She was created by a master clock maker in Germany in the likeness of his true love, Brigit, who broke his heart by dying young and just before they could be wed. She is a clockwork faerie. Since her creation, Vögelein has passed through the care of various guardians. She must be wound regularly or she runs down – her memories fade and she forgets how to move and speak. When we meet her, her most recent guardian has just passed away and she is searching for someone else to guard her. It is becoming more and more difficult for her, however, to find someone suitable while at the same time feeling that she has some independence and making her guardians understand that she is not just some kind of toy or pet. She is just beginning to explore her freedom and other ways of forming bonds with people (other than guardianship) when the story ends.
The drawings are all in black and white (shades of gray), softly muted, but detailed. The lack of color emphasizes the rather colorless feel of the world as it is today envisioned by the author and one of the real fae, who appears to Vögelein in the story. Very urban in its execution. There are flashbacks to previous memories of her guardians throughout the story, so readers will learn how Vögelein came to be and understand how she developed. Quite charming. The “scary” fae isn’t all that haunting either – just twisted by humans and his own hatred of what they have done to the world. As all good graphic novels, this one says plenty with the illustrations alone. Recommended.
The drawings are all in black and white (shades of gray), softly muted, but detailed. The lack of color emphasizes the rather colorless feel of the world as it is today envisioned by the author and one of the real fae, who appears to Vögelein in the story. Very urban in its execution. There are flashbacks to previous memories of her guardians throughout the story, so readers will learn how Vögelein came to be and understand how she developed. Quite charming. The “scary” fae isn’t all that haunting either – just twisted by humans and his own hatred of what they have done to the world. As all good graphic novels, this one says plenty with the illustrations alone. Recommended.
January 16, 2022
I really enjoy this little trade paperback, I came across it by accident and haver read it a few times now. It is a charming story. Vogelein is a tiny clockwork faerie made three hundred years ago by a master watchmaker in Germany who is, by some miracle, sentient. As a clockwork, she needs to be carefully wound up every couple of days, so, always she has had a guardian. When her most recent guardian, Jakob dies she is adrift in the world.
I really love the subtle, well blended grey scale in which this Graphic Novel is written and drawn. Both the unique art style and the equally delicate story blend well. I thoroughly enjoy the meld of fantasy and urban legend that goes into Vogelein's journey.
I really love the subtle, well blended grey scale in which this Graphic Novel is written and drawn. Both the unique art style and the equally delicate story blend well. I thoroughly enjoy the meld of fantasy and urban legend that goes into Vogelein's journey.
August 8, 2010
Vogelein Clockwork Faerie
Vogelein is a Young Adult Graphic novel. As a matter of fact, Vogelein-Clockwork Faerie is one of Booklist's top ten Graphic Novels for 2003. It's the first Graphic novel I've ever read. I was quite impressed. Vogelein is a faerie created by a kind man named Heinrich. He lives in Germany. Since her creation, Vogelein has traveled far and wide making many new friends and one particularly angry enemy. He hates "fir" meaning man. Vogelein is very sad. Fortunately, her friends give her ways to cope with the permanent state of her life like "if it won't kill you, it will only make you stronger." The book is well put together with great illustrations, beautiful poems written by Yeats, Waltman and even Martin Luther King. There is a glossary and so much helpful material in this book making your journey with Vogelein more fun. You won't forget Vogelein. As a matter of fact, I hope to meet up with her again in other books by the authors.
Vogelein is a Young Adult Graphic novel. As a matter of fact, Vogelein-Clockwork Faerie is one of Booklist's top ten Graphic Novels for 2003. It's the first Graphic novel I've ever read. I was quite impressed. Vogelein is a faerie created by a kind man named Heinrich. He lives in Germany. Since her creation, Vogelein has traveled far and wide making many new friends and one particularly angry enemy. He hates "fir" meaning man. Vogelein is very sad. Fortunately, her friends give her ways to cope with the permanent state of her life like "if it won't kill you, it will only make you stronger." The book is well put together with great illustrations, beautiful poems written by Yeats, Waltman and even Martin Luther King. There is a glossary and so much helpful material in this book making your journey with Vogelein more fun. You won't forget Vogelein. As a matter of fact, I hope to meet up with her again in other books by the authors.
August 18, 2008
Vogelein (the--surprise!--clockwork faerie) encounters a real faerie, dark and smoky from being trapped in the industrialized world. She's fascinated by a gear braided into his hair and examines it.
"The pain is exquisite, but I must insist that you release my hair. _Now._"
"I-- I'm sorry."
"It's nothing."
I don't know what it means that I found this to be the most charming part of a graphic novel that features a winged girl who is passed down a line of guardians entrusted to keep her wound.
"The pain is exquisite, but I must insist that you release my hair. _Now._"
"I-- I'm sorry."
"It's nothing."
I don't know what it means that I found this to be the most charming part of a graphic novel that features a winged girl who is passed down a line of guardians entrusted to keep her wound.
June 20, 2009
More of a concept than a narrative. Accolades to Irwin for slogging through the creation process, but this was very dissapointing. It reminds me of a bland comic I wrote with a friend when I was a teen.
April 9, 2009
An OK urban fairy tale about a mechanical faerie who needs to find a new Guardian to wind her daily, but I really, really hated the art.
January 7, 2021
Every time I reread Vögelein, I am amazed at the beauty and loving detail of Jane Irwin's illustrations. She renders beautiful clothing and hair, but she also pays loving attention to seamier, less glamorous elements like crumbling brickwork, graffiti tags, cans of beans and wrinkled, age-spotted hands, etc. I love how she depicts decay and grime, because they provide a contrast to the ethereal beauty and human tenderness of the rest of her story.
The titular Vögelein is a clockwork automaton, a tiny doll crafted by a German master-watchmaker in the 17th century, who by some happy accident gained sentience when she was first wound up. She has remained in operation for over 300 years by the time our story begins, needing only to be wound once every 36 hours by another sentient being who can reach the tiny keyhole in the middle of her back. When her current guardian dies unexpectedly in his sleep, she has only a few hours to find someone to wind her delicate mainspring or she will begin to wind down, losing all her memories and becoming a lifeless automaton. In the course of her frantic search she encounters a *real* fairy, a bitter Duskie who instantly resents this tiny interloper who dares remind him of the lost beauty of his long-vanished people.
I love all the little details that Irwin hides in her backgrounds, and the way she uses real-life models to lend a sense of realism and solidity to her characters. Vögelein is a story of discovering the true strength buried deep within yourself, of using wit and tenacity and heart to overcome everything that life throws at you, of remembering the good parts of the past without letting their loss poison the present and future.
The titular Vögelein is a clockwork automaton, a tiny doll crafted by a German master-watchmaker in the 17th century, who by some happy accident gained sentience when she was first wound up. She has remained in operation for over 300 years by the time our story begins, needing only to be wound once every 36 hours by another sentient being who can reach the tiny keyhole in the middle of her back. When her current guardian dies unexpectedly in his sleep, she has only a few hours to find someone to wind her delicate mainspring or she will begin to wind down, losing all her memories and becoming a lifeless automaton. In the course of her frantic search she encounters a *real* fairy, a bitter Duskie who instantly resents this tiny interloper who dares remind him of the lost beauty of his long-vanished people.
I love all the little details that Irwin hides in her backgrounds, and the way she uses real-life models to lend a sense of realism and solidity to her characters. Vögelein is a story of discovering the true strength buried deep within yourself, of using wit and tenacity and heart to overcome everything that life throws at you, of remembering the good parts of the past without letting their loss poison the present and future.
September 4, 2019
This was surprisingly highly enjoyable, mixing various European folklore to create a unique story reminiscent of Thumbelina. The art is made up of paintings, and, although it is quite a shame they're all in black and white, it still holds up nicely and pleases visually. The themes this story explores are touched upon in ways that, while not as deep as I'd like them to be, are adequate considering the relatively short length of the volume. I think this would work great as an extended series of GN's. Anyhow, it's a nice read for fans of folklore and mythology.
July 15, 2017
Vogelein is an automaton that looks like a faery.
When Jakob, Vogelein's Guardian dies unexpectedly,
she is forced to search for a new one before she winds down.
The black and white illustrations are not very "commercial" and
lack a certain sharpness.
When Jakob, Vogelein's Guardian dies unexpectedly,
she is forced to search for a new one before she winds down.
The black and white illustrations are not very "commercial" and
lack a certain sharpness.
July 1, 2019
Enjoyed this one. I especially like the more prominent story of a faerie (or machine in some respects, sort of like AI) wanting autonomy and realizing her previous partners didn't really honor that about her as someone with emotions and interests.
March 27, 2020
An interesting little story that gets pretty deep at times. It does seem that your just plopped in the middle and that there is more to the story but there enough here to enjoy and who knows maybe you'll meet a little clockwork fairy to tell you the rest of the story!
March 30, 2014
This graphic novel follows the story of Vogelein a clockwork faerie who must be rewound once a day or lose all her memories and mechanical abilities. After her original german creator dies, she is passed along a series of guardians who are entrusted to rewind her. The story begins in America when her latest guardian dies before setting her up with a new one. She wanders around the city desperately trying to find someone to rewind her while befriending an assortment of creatures. Fed up with her dependance and questioning her liveliness she comes across a real faerie corrupted by human pollution who is twisted, spiteful, and evil.
The plot of this story was very interesting as it started in the middle of her life, and then flashed back to her past and creation in Germany. While the black and white graphics lacked detail and depth, I was still drawn in by the story. I liked how each box wasn't a standard shape or size, and how they shifted form with the varying intenseness of the scene. This book was broken into sections each beginning with an intriguing quote or poem. Overall the book captivated me but I would have enjoyed more detail or better developed characters.
I would recommend this book to younger children and pre-teens. Though the main character is a faerie, I do not think that this book is solely for girls, because there are many other characters. The story is actually very interesting and it has many German references that may interest some readers. This graphic novel is universally appealing, and while it may not be a sensation, anyone open enough should find it pleasing.
The plot of this story was very interesting as it started in the middle of her life, and then flashed back to her past and creation in Germany. While the black and white graphics lacked detail and depth, I was still drawn in by the story. I liked how each box wasn't a standard shape or size, and how they shifted form with the varying intenseness of the scene. This book was broken into sections each beginning with an intriguing quote or poem. Overall the book captivated me but I would have enjoyed more detail or better developed characters.
I would recommend this book to younger children and pre-teens. Though the main character is a faerie, I do not think that this book is solely for girls, because there are many other characters. The story is actually very interesting and it has many German references that may interest some readers. This graphic novel is universally appealing, and while it may not be a sensation, anyone open enough should find it pleasing.
January 27, 2013
I picked this up on a bit of a whim at the library. I mean clockwork + faerie + graphic novel = yay, right?
Meh.
First, the art. The art' a bit sketchy. I mean, you can kind of tell that from the cover, but I thought maybe the cover and the inside art weren't by the same person - as that does happen sometimes. (I guess I should've, oh, I dunno - opened the book?)
I will say that the buildings and towns and stuff were fine - it was people the author/artist seemed to have trouble with. Dimensions, build, depth, movement... facial inconsistencies... the artist just isn't very good with people.
Also, it kinda bugged me that the font was typed into the bubbles but I got over that after the first few pages.
Now, to the story. It was kinda cute in a way - but way heavy on expositionary dialogue and reminiscences. Basically, as the name implies, Vögelein is a clockwork faerie. She needs to be wound every day, or she'll die. Her Guardian dies in the beginning, after having failed to set up a new situation for her, and she runs off trying to find someone to help her, meeting some good, bad and ugly along the way.
She finds a sort of independence, after chatting with one of the good guys who's gonna set up some network and trustworthy people, or something, and then it sort of just ends - after one more memory.
I gather there's another book, but just the one. Maybe I'll pick it up if I see it at the library, but I'm not really fussed. I mean, it has a nice little message and all, but the story-telling ability just isn't there. Maybe 2.5.
Meh.
First, the art. The art' a bit sketchy. I mean, you can kind of tell that from the cover, but I thought maybe the cover and the inside art weren't by the same person - as that does happen sometimes. (I guess I should've, oh, I dunno - opened the book?)
I will say that the buildings and towns and stuff were fine - it was people the author/artist seemed to have trouble with. Dimensions, build, depth, movement... facial inconsistencies... the artist just isn't very good with people.
Also, it kinda bugged me that the font was typed into the bubbles but I got over that after the first few pages.
Now, to the story. It was kinda cute in a way - but way heavy on expositionary dialogue and reminiscences. Basically, as the name implies, Vögelein is a clockwork faerie. She needs to be wound every day, or she'll die. Her Guardian dies in the beginning, after having failed to set up a new situation for her, and she runs off trying to find someone to help her, meeting some good, bad and ugly along the way.
She finds a sort of independence, after chatting with one of the good guys who's gonna set up some network and trustworthy people, or something, and then it sort of just ends - after one more memory.
I gather there's another book, but just the one. Maybe I'll pick it up if I see it at the library, but I'm not really fussed. I mean, it has a nice little message and all, but the story-telling ability just isn't there. Maybe 2.5.
August 23, 2010
SUMMARY: Vögelein is a mechanical faerie, created by a master watch repairman. When she learns how to control her movements and speak, she even surpasses her creator's expectations. The tale begins with the death of Vögelein's most recent guardian, Jakob. This event causes Vögelein to seek out someone new to help her, though she doesn't know who to turn to, or who she can trust. Without a guardian to wind her, this clockwork faerie will power down, losing all of her memories. So she wanders the city, looking for a guardian while avoiding the evil faerie who has been watching her.
EVALUATION: The drawings are exquisitely detailed, and presented in equally intricate shades of black and white. Each chapter is separated by a poem or two, which further helps in setting the mood. I bonded with Vögelein early on, and was eager to witness how she fared. The expressions on the character's faces are very well done, and further aid in bringing the reader close to Vögelein.
WHY I WOULD INCLUDE IT: This is an emotional tale of love, trust, friendship, and feeling powerless to control your own destiny. These are emotions and situations that all of us experience, though tweens are at a particular time in their lives when these things are extra important. Though it may be better suited for girls than for boys, I think if they gave it a try, both sexes would enjoy it.
EVALUATION: The drawings are exquisitely detailed, and presented in equally intricate shades of black and white. Each chapter is separated by a poem or two, which further helps in setting the mood. I bonded with Vögelein early on, and was eager to witness how she fared. The expressions on the character's faces are very well done, and further aid in bringing the reader close to Vögelein.
WHY I WOULD INCLUDE IT: This is an emotional tale of love, trust, friendship, and feeling powerless to control your own destiny. These are emotions and situations that all of us experience, though tweens are at a particular time in their lives when these things are extra important. Though it may be better suited for girls than for boys, I think if they gave it a try, both sexes would enjoy it.
August 15, 2016
Funny story: Had this author (Jane Irwin) out to the library TEN YEARS AGO this summer. She brought her co-creator Jeff Berndt, did a fab minicomic workshop that ran past closing time and then stayed with me while I cleaned up after-hours because the senior center we'd commandeered to handle the crowd was in the middle of nowhere and she was like "I'm not leaving you here--if anything happened to you, no one would hear you scream." She gave me both volumes of Vogelein, signed to me as a thank you gift...and then I put them on my work shelf and forgot about them. Did I mention this was ten years ago?
Anyway--I finally found these and read them this weekend, and they're such a treat. A fairy tale with a steampunky main character and endnotes that in and of themselves are more than worth the price of admission. The world-building here is stellar and the artwork is gorgeous.
Anyway--I finally found these and read them this weekend, and they're such a treat. A fairy tale with a steampunky main character and endnotes that in and of themselves are more than worth the price of admission. The world-building here is stellar and the artwork is gorgeous.
December 5, 2012
This was a nice little independent comic book, it contained the first five issues about a clockwork fairy whose keeper had died and she had to find someone else to wind her up so she wouldn't die. It was an interesting and sweet story. It was part fairy tale and part modern day, with flashbacks to the 17th century when the fairy had been made. I bought it because it was very cheap, but I ended up liking it much more than I thought I would. I must admit I didn't think the art was that great, except for the evil fairy who looked quite cool. But I definitely enjoyed it enough to get the secound volume in the series.
December 11, 2012
I cannot believe, for the life of me, how quiet the publicity is for this book! It's been a long time since I came across a story so meaningful, intelligent, and beautifully told. The amount of research alone (regarding Renaissance history, watchmaking, and fairy lore) is astounding. Vogelein herself is a stunningly unique character--a fairy who is also a machine. The supporting characters--all realistic and deeply nuanced--made me run out and get the second volume immediately. It doesn't look like the author plans any more in this series, but oh, how I wish she would!
September 3, 2007
An oddly sweet and sad graphic novel about a clockwork fairy and her search for independence in a bleak present. The story curls up on itself and ends in her past. When I noticed how many years it took the artists to complete the work, I felt strange having read it in under an hour. (October 15, 2005)
November 8, 2015
The country faerie meets the town faeire...Vogelein is a clockwork, and must have assistance from a person to wind up her innards. This is the saga of her hundreds-years search for a master, a home, peace.
The cynical, violent town faerie should not be part of the equation, but I'll bet he will be. He's too good a bad guy to drop.
The cynical, violent town faerie should not be part of the equation, but I'll bet he will be. He's too good a bad guy to drop.
December 24, 2007
Great book in graphic novel format. I used this one for a Family Literacy Book Club pick. Adults and teens alike enjoyed it. The artwork is fabulous and the story is beautiful and touching. A great, quick read!
July 15, 2011
This was just lovely. Diverse cast, smooth writing -- the art didn't always entrance me, but when it did, especially with one character, Midhir, it did so completely. I love the concept, and how personal and intimate are the adventures Vogelein has; I also love the end notes.
August 2, 2007
Well done art -- very detailed, with expressive faces and intricate machine parts. The story is heartfelt -- a toy that has been alive for over 300 years. I hope that more compilations get printed.
September 2, 2007
As graphic novels go, this wasn't bad. Good plot, characters.
March 28, 2008
Vogelein is beautiful, art and writing combine to form an excellent story of this delicate Clockwork Faerie.
The second volume just came out, so make sure to pick up Old Ghosts too!
The second volume just came out, so make sure to pick up Old Ghosts too!
May 22, 2008
There was no clear resolution or climax. Irwin's transition from present-day to memories from the past is at times confusing.
The artwork is stellar.
The artwork is stellar.
Read
August 17, 2008When Vogelein's guardian dies, the three-hundred year old clockwork fairy must find someone to wind her or else she will die. Graphic novel.
June 5, 2009
wished it was in color...but left me wanting to read the next one
June 7, 2009
Cute, fun and interesting. Gorgeous drawings. I have the second volume too, and can't wait to read it.
August 9, 2010
Read this one years ago. I remember liking it but that is about it.
November 27, 2010
Beautiful artwork, compelling stories... a charming read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews