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Lady Mechanika Volumes #2
Lady Mechanika, Vol. 2: The Tablet of Destinies
After a young friend shows up unexpectedly on her doorstep, Lady Mechanika finds herself on a globe-spanning trek filled with alchemy mysteries, secret societies, and scientific curiosities, while opposing forces race in search of the Tablet of Destinies, an ancient Sumerian artifact reputed to hold the knowledge of the Gods and the secrets of the Universe. Collects all 6 issues of the second Lady Mechanika mini-series, The Tablet of Destinies, in a special oversized format.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2015
33 people are currently reading
524 people want to read
About the author
Joe Benítez
292 books180 followersJoe Benítez is an American comic book artist who has worked on such titles as "JLA", "Superman/Batman", "Detective Comics", "Supergirl", and "Titans" for DC Comics and "The Darkness" for Image Comics. He also co-created and penciled the sci-fi series "Weapon Zero" and the dark fantasy mini-series "Magdalena: Blood Divine" for Image. In 2005, Joe published his first creator-owned mini-series "Wraithborn" through Wildstorm. In 2009, he stepped in to finish up Michael Turner's run on "Soulfire". Joe is currently working on his steampunk adventure series, "Lady Mechanika".
http://www.joebenitez.com
http://www.joebenitez.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
August 20, 2017
The only reason it wasn't a 5 star for me is for something I didn't like in the beginning of the book.
Lady Mechanika ends up with a visit from little Winifred. She thinks something has happened to her grandfather. He's in Africa trying to find a treasure. Made me think of Indiana Jones for some reason. Then some evil people come on the scene and you know how that goes.
Mechanika and Winifred set out to find her grandfather and these evil people keep kidnapping Winifred and Mechanika keeps having to get her back. It was crazy. They have some help from friends.
On the way to Africa they get blown down by said evil people and end up stuck in the Sahara Desert. Then they meet some people and make new friends. Then Winifred gets kidnapped again and so forth and so on. Things finally work out and we all live happily ever after =D
I will leave you with some art from the book but they are in no order.
Fin
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
Lady Mechanika ends up with a visit from little Winifred. She thinks something has happened to her grandfather. He's in Africa trying to find a treasure. Made me think of Indiana Jones for some reason. Then some evil people come on the scene and you know how that goes.
Mechanika and Winifred set out to find her grandfather and these evil people keep kidnapping Winifred and Mechanika keeps having to get her back. It was crazy. They have some help from friends.
On the way to Africa they get blown down by said evil people and end up stuck in the Sahara Desert. Then they meet some people and make new friends. Then Winifred gets kidnapped again and so forth and so on. Things finally work out and we all live happily ever after =D
I will leave you with some art from the book but they are in no order.
Fin
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
March 15, 2017
Cool, Awesome and Unique!
Lady Mechanika Vol. 2 is super cool. They should make a movie based on this comic.
Secret weapon, ancient language, codes, riddles, rituals of the elites, amazing and dark creatures in the wilderness of Africa. This comic is full of twists and turns. The story is totally unexpected but nonetheless wonderful.
The artwork is incredible. I am a fan of Joe Benitez. He is just amazing. The illustration and the detailing is just out of this world.
I loved reading this comic on my cellphone. The right brightness setting of the phone screen makes illustrations appear luminous.
If you love reading comics and if you are a fan of rich colors and gorgeous detailing then you will definitely fall in love with this comic.
An ARC of this book was provided by Diamond Book Distributors via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2018
I dub thee Lady Mechanika vol. 2: Geheimpolizei
Return to Lady Mechanika
I thought we'd know more about Lady Mechanika's origins, her intriguing past and more about Lewis. Well, looking for her trusty, awesomely sarcastic sidekick was a little like this:
Still haven't found him. Alright, so nothing about her past, but we do get an extremely entertaining volume where Indiana Jones and Harry Potter had a baby just before meeting Black Panther after tea with Nazis and a few Arabs. Oh, And Ed from Fullmetal Alchemist screamed at them too.
My point is, there is nothing really new in Lady Mechanika vol. 2, but it is all so very entertaining
Enough lollygagging. So the premise centres around two men who have stumbled upon an extremely interesting archeological dig in Africa.Yes it's all very specific. Anyone who has seen a crappy superhero or mythological-based action movie knows it will not end well for our archeologists. Melting faces and getting killed by shaman and such. And what they discover is all very much related to transmutation of gold and - guess what else - souls. doesn't sound familiar at all now does it
Soon the "Geheimpolizei"Nazis catch wind of the expedition and are looking for this all-powerful tablet that will give all the answers to an alchemist's wet dreams.
Now how does Lady Mechanika fit in? Well she was just sipping tea, kicking ass and taking names in London when the head of the archeological expedition's granddaughter got kidnapped by Germans. The granddaughter is called Winifred, and she's just one of the best characters in the series thus far.
"ThecrustaceanRosicrucian is supposedly dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment of man through the arts and sciences."
Alright, so now Lady Mechanika is sipping tea and looking for a kianapped girl. She starts by going to a society ofcrustaceans Rosicrucians, who shun her for being female and almost get her kicked out. But she received important, vital information from a man called Jabir.
And so, Lady M. goes on an adventure with Jabir (and an on-and-off Winifred, depending on when she's not being kidnapped)
"The tablet of destinies holds the knowledge of the Gods and the secrets of the universe...he who possesses (it) shall rule the world."
I won't spoil much more about the premise, but here are some great tidbits I found in the comic:
Lady Mechanika befriends a group of Kongo female women (after saving one of their little ones from slavers). These women were the warrior women who protected a specific chieftain who, after death, was replaced by a huge dick of a chieftain. So all these lovely ladies decide to go diaspora style and live alone in the Congo while flitting this way and there in upper Africa.
Little and Lady Mechanika
I absolutely love the relationship between Winifred (Fred) and Lady M. Their banter is fantastic and Fred, although mostly boasting the role of maiden in distress, is such a sweet and brave kid. Lady Mechanika seems to abhor any kind of physical contact, except hugs from little kidsjust wish the damn comic writer would start to reveal why she's like this
"Alchemy is the perfect knowledge of whole nature and art"
The style and action are gorgeous and beautifully inviting as usual. And Lady M's choice of style is still on point.
"Alchemy is about more than just turning lead into gold, lady Mechanika"
This comic is still fun and action packed that is a delight to the senses, but is so lacking in the depth hinted at in the previous volume. We have no hint of Lewis's whereabouts, Lady M's origin or the previous plot which hung by a bit of a thread. However, the subtleties found in this volume are still prevalent and so well done. Kudos to the artist/writer because you are great, dude. I think there's a lot of commentary about what society (especially older societies) did to women, and so I think that the Desert Wraiths and Lady Mechanika provide a lovely but subtle critique of the Victorian era.
akina shows them dae way
Last thing: Akina wanted to show Lady M "t'e way." I'm not kidding. She said that. And all I could think of was:
Ooh! And we finally get a mechanical arm reveal! I won't spoil here. Go read for yourself to see some sexy aluminum.
Conclusion
Lady Mechanika is a hellishly fun, pop-culture and steam fueled comic with just the right balance of action and sappy.
I received this comic from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Return to Lady Mechanika
I thought we'd know more about Lady Mechanika's origins, her intriguing past and more about Lewis. Well, looking for her trusty, awesomely sarcastic sidekick was a little like this:
Still haven't found him. Alright, so nothing about her past, but we do get an extremely entertaining volume where Indiana Jones and Harry Potter had a baby just before meeting Black Panther after tea with Nazis and a few Arabs. Oh, And Ed from Fullmetal Alchemist screamed at them too.
My point is, there is nothing really new in Lady Mechanika vol. 2, but it is all so very entertaining
Enough lollygagging. So the premise centres around two men who have stumbled upon an extremely interesting archeological dig in Africa.
Soon the "Geheimpolizei"
Now how does Lady Mechanika fit in? Well she was just sipping tea, kicking ass and taking names in London when the head of the archeological expedition's granddaughter got kidnapped by Germans. The granddaughter is called Winifred, and she's just one of the best characters in the series thus far.
"The
Alright, so now Lady Mechanika is sipping tea and looking for a kianapped girl. She starts by going to a society of
And so, Lady M. goes on an adventure with Jabir (and an on-and-off Winifred, depending on when she's not being kidnapped)
"The tablet of destinies holds the knowledge of the Gods and the secrets of the universe...he who possesses (it) shall rule the world."
I won't spoil much more about the premise, but here are some great tidbits I found in the comic:
Lady Mechanika befriends a group of Kongo female women (after saving one of their little ones from slavers). These women were the warrior women who protected a specific chieftain who, after death, was replaced by a huge dick of a chieftain. So all these lovely ladies decide to go diaspora style and live alone in the Congo while flitting this way and there in upper Africa.
Little and Lady Mechanika
I absolutely love the relationship between Winifred (Fred) and Lady M. Their banter is fantastic and Fred, although mostly boasting the role of maiden in distress, is such a sweet and brave kid. Lady Mechanika seems to abhor any kind of physical contact, except hugs from little kids
"Alchemy is the perfect knowledge of whole nature and art"
The style and action are gorgeous and beautifully inviting as usual. And Lady M's choice of style is still on point.
"Alchemy is about more than just turning lead into gold, lady Mechanika"
This comic is still fun and action packed that is a delight to the senses, but is so lacking in the depth hinted at in the previous volume. We have no hint of Lewis's whereabouts, Lady M's origin or the previous plot which hung by a bit of a thread. However, the subtleties found in this volume are still prevalent and so well done. Kudos to the artist/writer because you are great, dude. I think there's a lot of commentary about what society (especially older societies) did to women, and so I think that the Desert Wraiths and Lady Mechanika provide a lovely but subtle critique of the Victorian era.
akina shows them dae way
Last thing: Akina wanted to show Lady M "t'e way." I'm not kidding. She said that. And all I could think of was:
Ooh! And we finally get a mechanical arm reveal! I won't spoil here. Go read for yourself to see some sexy aluminum.
Conclusion
Lady Mechanika is a hellishly fun, pop-culture and steam fueled comic with just the right balance of action and sappy.
I received this comic from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
April 6, 2017
Also available on the WondrousBooks blog.
Not as good as the first one.
My general problem with Lady Mechanika, after two volumes, is that it doesn't follow through. In the first volume she was decided on finding her maker. In this volume that story is completely forgotten and something completely different is happening on a different continent.
Not to mention that this is Lady Mechanika and the tablet of destinies, except that Lady Mechanika is not even in the story line with the tablet. So to call it like this would be something like "Aragorn and the One Ring". I mean... uh... they are in the same world?
I firmly believe that this could have been much better, had the story been more condensed and had there been fewer sub-plots.
Much like the first volume, there is a recipe in which there is a male mastermind who has a bunch of generic soldiers and a female assistant, while Lady Mechanika on the other team finds unlikely friends and a mysterious guy who helps her from afar. Maybe if they hadn't followed this already used story, it could have been much better.
I continued liking the art, however. It was very intricate and detailed, and also pleasant to look at. The more female characters come in, the more obvious it is that they are all the same when you remove the colors. But I will choose to disregard that and enjoy the general feel of the book which was pretty good.
Not as good as the first one.
My general problem with Lady Mechanika, after two volumes, is that it doesn't follow through. In the first volume she was decided on finding her maker. In this volume that story is completely forgotten and something completely different is happening on a different continent.
Not to mention that this is Lady Mechanika and the tablet of destinies, except that Lady Mechanika is not even in the story line with the tablet. So to call it like this would be something like "Aragorn and the One Ring". I mean... uh... they are in the same world?
I firmly believe that this could have been much better, had the story been more condensed and had there been fewer sub-plots.
Much like the first volume, there is a recipe in which there is a male mastermind who has a bunch of generic soldiers and a female assistant, while Lady Mechanika on the other team finds unlikely friends and a mysterious guy who helps her from afar. Maybe if they hadn't followed this already used story, it could have been much better.
I continued liking the art, however. It was very intricate and detailed, and also pleasant to look at. The more female characters come in, the more obvious it is that they are all the same when you remove the colors. But I will choose to disregard that and enjoy the general feel of the book which was pretty good.
July 13, 2023
Much better than the previous volume. The addition of Maria Chen to the writing team really helped tone down the amount of exposition and pepped up the dialogue. I didn't notice the American version of "cockneyed" talk nearly as much as the first volume. The story was also much more straight forward and moved ahead at a faster pace.
Received an advance copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Received an advance copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
November 26, 2018
I adore Lady Mechanika’s personality, stories and interactions. She’s a genuine female character that is strong, capable and not afraid (although having robotic arms might help, lol).
And yet this mini series of 6 comics was not near as good as some of the others.
Story
Normally Mechanika books have some of the best story and dialogue found in comics. However this time around the story felt a bit forced and the dialogue in the last book was painful. I’m not sure what happened as it didn’t start out that way and normally his crew writes way better. My 4 star rating is a 3.5 rounded up because the character is so wonderful and I’d definitely still reread this one series in the continuity; but I won’t be grabbing it for a quick read when there are other better mini series featuring Mechanika to grab.
Artwork
As always the art is wonderful! I love the bright colours and look of the Amazonian-like girl near the end and the consistent look of outfits and proportions of people was well done. As with all of Benitez’ work this is a treat for your eyes even if you don’t read the story.
Overall
If this is the weakest story in the recent release of series for Mechanika then it really shows how amazing the other series have been or will be. It’s still a good read, shorter at 6 comics and a nice enclosed story that you can read without needing to know anything else.
That it was missing a little something in the story and writing for me is possibly because my expectation for Benitez work is higher than the average.
For this and more of my reviews please visit my blog at: Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
And yet this mini series of 6 comics was not near as good as some of the others.
Story
Normally Mechanika books have some of the best story and dialogue found in comics. However this time around the story felt a bit forced and the dialogue in the last book was painful. I’m not sure what happened as it didn’t start out that way and normally his crew writes way better. My 4 star rating is a 3.5 rounded up because the character is so wonderful and I’d definitely still reread this one series in the continuity; but I won’t be grabbing it for a quick read when there are other better mini series featuring Mechanika to grab.
Artwork
As always the art is wonderful! I love the bright colours and look of the Amazonian-like girl near the end and the consistent look of outfits and proportions of people was well done. As with all of Benitez’ work this is a treat for your eyes even if you don’t read the story.
Overall
If this is the weakest story in the recent release of series for Mechanika then it really shows how amazing the other series have been or will be. It’s still a good read, shorter at 6 comics and a nice enclosed story that you can read without needing to know anything else.
That it was missing a little something in the story and writing for me is possibly because my expectation for Benitez work is higher than the average.
For this and more of my reviews please visit my blog at: Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
January 7, 2024
After finishing Lady Mechanika Vol 1, I quickly moved on to Vol 2. I was hoping it would be a continuation of her search for her maker, the madman who amputated her limbs and replaced them with metal ones. Sadly, that’s not what we get.
However, it’s a good story on its own.
Mechanika gets a visit from a little girl from her past whose grandfather is missing in Africa. Unfortunately, the little girl is kidnapped as a way to keep her grandfather in line. You see, he’s an archeologist, looking for a lost Akkadian city...in the jungles of Africa...which would be quite a find indeed. Mechanika goes off to rescue the little girl and her grandfather, meeting new enemies and friends along the way. Very reminiscent of Indiana Jones.
The art is fantastic. Just as beautiful and eye-catching as the last one. The world-building has expanded since we have moved out of England. There are a few more Steampunk gadgets in this one, which I like. I wish there were even more. I prefer my Steampunk tales to have a bit more science fiction than what this has. Some elements are distinctly supernatural, which I don’t think of when I think of Steampunk. The mash-up isn’t a bad one...just not expected.
While I was hoping that volume 2 would pick up where volume 1 left off, I was entertained with this installment in the series. Mechanika travels from London to the Sahara to the jungles of the Kongo. She meets slave traders and a new group of villains. She also makes new allies with a tribe of warrior African women. The artwork is gorgeous as always. The plot bounces from Mechanika to the archaeologist, giving a nice balance and sense of suspense to the storytelling. Fred is an adorable and smart sidekick, just as wonderful as her uncle, Archibald Lewis, from the first volume. Akina is an amazing warrior and very much an equal to Mechanika. I’m not sure about the dialogue/dialect that Akina speaks in. It sounded a bit wrong for her background. However, she is a phenomenal partner for Mechanika. I loved the archaeological plot line and enjoyed the alchemy aspects. There is an interesting side character and secret society that I hope gets more page time in the future.
The storyline is pretty entertaining - light and fun. I am hoping that we have more development of Mechanika’s history in the third volume.
However, it’s a good story on its own.
Mechanika gets a visit from a little girl from her past whose grandfather is missing in Africa. Unfortunately, the little girl is kidnapped as a way to keep her grandfather in line. You see, he’s an archeologist, looking for a lost Akkadian city...in the jungles of Africa...which would be quite a find indeed. Mechanika goes off to rescue the little girl and her grandfather, meeting new enemies and friends along the way. Very reminiscent of Indiana Jones.
The art is fantastic. Just as beautiful and eye-catching as the last one. The world-building has expanded since we have moved out of England. There are a few more Steampunk gadgets in this one, which I like. I wish there were even more. I prefer my Steampunk tales to have a bit more science fiction than what this has. Some elements are distinctly supernatural, which I don’t think of when I think of Steampunk. The mash-up isn’t a bad one...just not expected.
While I was hoping that volume 2 would pick up where volume 1 left off, I was entertained with this installment in the series. Mechanika travels from London to the Sahara to the jungles of the Kongo. She meets slave traders and a new group of villains. She also makes new allies with a tribe of warrior African women. The artwork is gorgeous as always. The plot bounces from Mechanika to the archaeologist, giving a nice balance and sense of suspense to the storytelling. Fred is an adorable and smart sidekick, just as wonderful as her uncle, Archibald Lewis, from the first volume. Akina is an amazing warrior and very much an equal to Mechanika. I’m not sure about the dialogue/dialect that Akina speaks in. It sounded a bit wrong for her background. However, she is a phenomenal partner for Mechanika. I loved the archaeological plot line and enjoyed the alchemy aspects. There is an interesting side character and secret society that I hope gets more page time in the future.
The storyline is pretty entertaining - light and fun. I am hoping that we have more development of Mechanika’s history in the third volume.
April 9, 2017
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
This second volume was even better than the first! The artwork, as I'd come to expect after the first volume, was still great. It is amazing and really one of the best things about this comic. I liked this story better than the first, even though it is not that original (typical ancient treasure kind of thing). Still it was a pleasure to read. There is still a lot of text on some pages, but I had the feeling it was slightly less this time. Lady Mechanika makes a really nice lead in this steampunk comic.
Looking forward to more!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This second volume was even better than the first! The artwork, as I'd come to expect after the first volume, was still great. It is amazing and really one of the best things about this comic. I liked this story better than the first, even though it is not that original (typical ancient treasure kind of thing). Still it was a pleasure to read. There is still a lot of text on some pages, but I had the feeling it was slightly less this time. Lady Mechanika makes a really nice lead in this steampunk comic.
Looking forward to more!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
June 17, 2017
I loved the first "Lady Mechanika" story, so as soon as I was done, I dove right into the second installment. And now I don't know how to feel.
All the cool stuff I loved from the first book was still here: the glorious outfits, the weird and extravagant machines, the amazing artwork. But there was a weird similarity to the plots of both books: both story-lines feature an evil mastermind with a cruel lady enforcer. The origins of Lady Mechanika's unusual body mods are no longer a concern, which was a bit of a let-down because so much emphasis was put on her need to understand her origins in the first book. I loved all the characters and how they weaved some of the Victorian era's obsession with the occult into the plot (including alchemy and lizard-shape-shifting-Rosicrucians!). Of course, an evil German looking for a supernatural weapon to destroy everything is very Indiana Jones, but it's still fun even if it's cliché.
I still feel like there is an unnecessary amount of cleavage, but I enjoyed "The Tablet of Destiny"! I'll be reading the third adventure soon!
All the cool stuff I loved from the first book was still here: the glorious outfits, the weird and extravagant machines, the amazing artwork. But there was a weird similarity to the plots of both books: both story-lines feature an evil mastermind with a cruel lady enforcer. The origins of Lady Mechanika's unusual body mods are no longer a concern, which was a bit of a let-down because so much emphasis was put on her need to understand her origins in the first book. I loved all the characters and how they weaved some of the Victorian era's obsession with the occult into the plot (including alchemy and lizard-shape-shifting-Rosicrucians!). Of course, an evil German looking for a supernatural weapon to destroy everything is very Indiana Jones, but it's still fun even if it's cliché.
I still feel like there is an unnecessary amount of cleavage, but I enjoyed "The Tablet of Destiny"! I'll be reading the third adventure soon!
March 2, 2017
Lady Mechanika Vol. 2: The Tablet of Destinies by M.M. Chen and Joe Benitez is a terrific graphic novel that should not be missed. It is like reading about a female Indiana Jones/Tomb Raider with a spin all its own. I loved the first volume and this volume is just as good. Love steam punk and this is top of the line there also. Fonts are easy to read, not like some graphic novels. Gorgeous illustrations. wonderful plot, and great characters that shine with personalities of their own. Love this series. Thanks Netgalley for letting me read this book!
December 27, 2019
Love all the steampunk detailed art work!
March 2, 2017
Lady Mechanika is approached by a little girl who "contracts" her to go after her daddy which has disappeared. While doing so, someone kidnaps the little girl, and Lady Mechanika decides to go after the girl. In doing so, she gets to meet new allies and we get to meet alchemists and new adventures and astonishing visual art.
In this volume, the bad guys (gasp! germans! how original! not...) has the good guys working for them in order to obtain something called the "tablet of destinies". Manwhile, Lady Mechanika has manged to free the niece of one of the guys, and its on her way to free them. She meets some good guys and some good gals who reminded me a lot of Mad Max kinda people.
For my taste this volume relies more on the art, which is astonishingly good; than in the script, which is very similar to the one of the first volume: bad guys get the good guys, lady Mechanika meets some good guys which help her save the day, the end.
Even with all the great art and lizards and heroics this volume sadly kept failing at graving my interest... :-/
In this volume, the bad guys (gasp! germans! how original! not...) has the good guys working for them in order to obtain something called the "tablet of destinies". Manwhile, Lady Mechanika has manged to free the niece of one of the guys, and its on her way to free them. She meets some good guys and some good gals who reminded me a lot of Mad Max kinda people.
For my taste this volume relies more on the art, which is astonishingly good; than in the script, which is very similar to the one of the first volume: bad guys get the good guys, lady Mechanika meets some good guys which help her save the day, the end.
Even with all the great art and lizards and heroics this volume sadly kept failing at graving my interest... :-/
May 28, 2023
The artwork is better now, and the story is still simple and apparently episodic. It is a good, light popcorn read, exactly what I need right now.
December 1, 2021
Lovely artwork with a heavily steampunk-ed theme for the admires of the genre, reminiscent of old times adventures and explorations with plenty of action.
February 7, 2017
Exquisite graphics, gripping story and a few nice twists in the plot. Overall, a top-notch steampunk graphic novel. Highly recommended.
February 13, 2017
Superb graphics with carefully rendered details, great and interesting story - I liked it even better than the first Mechanika storyline.
February 29, 2016
I'm giving this issue a 3.5*s as it was really enjoyable still but I didn't feel like we made quite as much progress with the story as a whole and so I am hoping that the next few issues we shall get more into the overall adventure!
March 28, 2017
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
More of the same as volume 1: steampunk, evil bad guys, and twists. While the plot wasn't anything overly original, it was fairly well done, and beautifully drawn. As long as Benitez is involved in this series, I'll keep reading.
More of the same as volume 1: steampunk, evil bad guys, and twists. While the plot wasn't anything overly original, it was fairly well done, and beautifully drawn. As long as Benitez is involved in this series, I'll keep reading.
August 23, 2018
The artist does a marvelous job on the steampunk feel of this comic. I admire complexity in artwork as much as I enjoy an entertaining story and here the two complement each other well.
An old archeologist named Henry Thomsen and his German assistant Strassman travel to Africa in search of a powerful artefact called the Tablet of Destinies. Thomsen's granddaughter Winifred is worried when she stops receving his letters, so she asks her friend Lady Mechanika for help. Winifred is kidnapped by men speaking German, so Lady Mechanika begins an adventure that spans two continents in order to free her and her grandfather.
A man named Fleisch is threatening Thomsen into revealing his findings to keep Winifred alive. He is interested in the Tablet and its destructive secret.
An old archeologist named Henry Thomsen and his German assistant Strassman travel to Africa in search of a powerful artefact called the Tablet of Destinies. Thomsen's granddaughter Winifred is worried when she stops receving his letters, so she asks her friend Lady Mechanika for help. Winifred is kidnapped by men speaking German, so Lady Mechanika begins an adventure that spans two continents in order to free her and her grandfather.
A man named Fleisch is threatening Thomsen into revealing his findings to keep Winifred alive. He is interested in the Tablet and its destructive secret.
July 8, 2023
Lady Mechanika Vol. 2 The Tablet of Destiny collects issues 1-6 of the comic book series written by M. M. Chen with art by Joe Benitez and Martin Montiel.
When an archeological expedition is taken over by a terrorist organization in the hope of unearthing an ancient weapon and a close friend’s granddaughter is taken hostage, Lady Mechanika will stop at nothing to save her loved ones.
This volume is leaps and bounds better than the first volume giving Lady Mechanika more character depth and characters to care for. The wordy dialogue is trimmed way back with much tighter story telling and pacing. The art continues to be strong throughout and even though every woman’s chest defies both physics and anatomy. Definitely looking forward to continuing the series!
When an archeological expedition is taken over by a terrorist organization in the hope of unearthing an ancient weapon and a close friend’s granddaughter is taken hostage, Lady Mechanika will stop at nothing to save her loved ones.
This volume is leaps and bounds better than the first volume giving Lady Mechanika more character depth and characters to care for. The wordy dialogue is trimmed way back with much tighter story telling and pacing. The art continues to be strong throughout and even though every woman’s chest defies both physics and anatomy. Definitely looking forward to continuing the series!
September 15, 2025
A very enjoyable sequel, very much in the vein of Raiders of the Lost Ark, with airships, African Amazons, and a spoiler in the form of a Nazi.
There are a few plot devices—puzzles that are solved too easily, Winifred being far too clever when necessary—but I suppose that's part of the charm.
Don't expect a complicated plot, but rather a resolutely steampunk adventure that's quite talkative and yet never boring.
Martin Montiel works on Benitez's layouts and does a decent job, except for one crucial point: his inking is absolutely disgusting and an insult to this noble profession. It's a shame because the man is not without talent.
There are a few plot devices—puzzles that are solved too easily, Winifred being far too clever when necessary—but I suppose that's part of the charm.
Don't expect a complicated plot, but rather a resolutely steampunk adventure that's quite talkative and yet never boring.
Martin Montiel works on Benitez's layouts and does a decent job, except for one crucial point: his inking is absolutely disgusting and an insult to this noble profession. It's a shame because the man is not without talent.
August 22, 2017
If you are a steampunk fan then you need to check out this comic series. Beautiful visual medium for steampunk. The above average writing also help to make these a joy to read. Very recommended
April 7, 2017
Lady Mechanika Vol 2: The Tablet of Destinies by Joe Benitez is another tour de force of strong storytelling and beautiful artwork that is sure to bring even more fans to this steampunk, adventurous and mystery solving title.
When an unexpected visitor shows up on her door, Lady Mechanika embarks on an adventure that spans the globe. Secret societies and mad scientists stand in her path and soon Lady Mechanika must decide between the life of her young friend and saving the world.
This second volume which collects The Tablet of Destinies run, books #1 - #6 continues the adventures of Lady Mechanika and this may very well be one of the most beautifully drawn and inked books in the comic book world right now. The intricate detailing from the artists shows a definite respect for the genre. But this book does not rely on artwork alone and tells a well crafted tale as well. I enjoyed the more adventurous aspects of the story this time around where Mechanika almost took on a Tomb Raider persona. But don't mislead ourselves, the time period and setting are well in hand here as Mechanika works her way through the supernatural as well as dangers of powerful societies searching for absolute power.
Another terrific book by Benitez!
When an unexpected visitor shows up on her door, Lady Mechanika embarks on an adventure that spans the globe. Secret societies and mad scientists stand in her path and soon Lady Mechanika must decide between the life of her young friend and saving the world.
This second volume which collects The Tablet of Destinies run, books #1 - #6 continues the adventures of Lady Mechanika and this may very well be one of the most beautifully drawn and inked books in the comic book world right now. The intricate detailing from the artists shows a definite respect for the genre. But this book does not rely on artwork alone and tells a well crafted tale as well. I enjoyed the more adventurous aspects of the story this time around where Mechanika almost took on a Tomb Raider persona. But don't mislead ourselves, the time period and setting are well in hand here as Mechanika works her way through the supernatural as well as dangers of powerful societies searching for absolute power.
Another terrific book by Benitez!
May 23, 2017
Pros: gorgeous artwork, fast paced story, lots of women
Cons:
Lady Mechanika returns to London in time to witness the kidnapping of Lewis’ niece. Seems the girl’s grandfather is part of an African expedition uncovering a long lost underground city. And within that city is the tablet of destinies, rumoured to be a powerful weapon.
Once again the artwork is incredible. It’s lush and detailed.
The story’s fast paced, going from one crisis or revelation to another. I enjoyed that this book had several diverse locations, and peoples.
Lady Mechanika’s a fantastic protagonist. I’m impressed with the number of women the series has introduced, and the great costumes they wear (some sexy, others practical).
I’m loving this series.
Cons:
Lady Mechanika returns to London in time to witness the kidnapping of Lewis’ niece. Seems the girl’s grandfather is part of an African expedition uncovering a long lost underground city. And within that city is the tablet of destinies, rumoured to be a powerful weapon.
Once again the artwork is incredible. It’s lush and detailed.
The story’s fast paced, going from one crisis or revelation to another. I enjoyed that this book had several diverse locations, and peoples.
Lady Mechanika’s a fantastic protagonist. I’m impressed with the number of women the series has introduced, and the great costumes they wear (some sexy, others practical).
I’m loving this series.
February 26, 2017
I'm turning into a fan of Lady Mechanika....
This was at least as good as the first volume.
The storyline has been done before (numerous times), but it didn't feel stale at all. I liked the little winks to Indiana Jones and The Rocketeer.
I also like the fact that the 'damsel in distress' isn't a helpless creature in these stories, illustrated by Fred in this volume, who does the very best she can to escape her captors...
I received a copy trhough NetGalley in return for an honest review.
This was at least as good as the first volume.
The storyline has been done before (numerous times), but it didn't feel stale at all. I liked the little winks to Indiana Jones and The Rocketeer.
I also like the fact that the 'damsel in distress' isn't a helpless creature in these stories, illustrated by Fred in this volume, who does the very best she can to escape her captors...
I received a copy trhough NetGalley in return for an honest review.
June 6, 2019
Even better than the first one. Fantastic artwork and great characters.
The plot is a fun trek across the desert, children in harm’s way, Indiana Jones archeology, ancient cultures, and the aliens from V! Fun.
Mechanika is so bad ass. The fight scenes were great. The secret societies stuff is fun; it felt like reading the DaVinci code a little bit.
The plot is a fun trek across the desert, children in harm’s way, Indiana Jones archeology, ancient cultures, and the aliens from V! Fun.
Mechanika is so bad ass. The fight scenes were great. The secret societies stuff is fun; it felt like reading the DaVinci code a little bit.
July 15, 2018
This was a really wonderful and lovely series that I wish I could've read the first one for. The story has a great adventurer thrill feel to it that I enjoyed, and it being in a Victorian steampunk setting brought to life endless possibilities and ideas that could be used throughout the story. It was nice having a female lead for once and follow her on her epic adventures. The art style was unique, and the visuals even gave me some ideas for my own stories. I can't wait to try and get my hands on the other books!
February 10, 2017
I got this through Edelweiss for review. I had previously read the first TP graphic novel of Lady Mechanika series and really loved it. This second installment is beautifully drawn and full of fast-paced adventure and action. I found it thoroughly entertaining to read and loved the amazingly detailed illustrations throughout.
In this book our favorite heroine ends up journeying to Africa to help out the Professor and his granddaughter. I loved the tomb-raiding elements to this story; there was so much fun adventure.
There are many excellent steampunk elements throughout the story as well. Additionally we meet some wonderfully strong new female characters.
The illustration throughout is absolutely amazing. The borders around the frames have some exquisite steampunk detailing to them. Each frame is full of amazing detail and beautiful color; I love the intricacy of it all. I am just in love with the illustration in this graphic novel series.
Overall this book was even more amazing than the first one. I really loved all of the adventure and steampunk elements throughout. The illustration is beautiful and fantastically detailed. I would definitely recommend this graphic novel series to those who enjoy steampunk adventure.
In this book our favorite heroine ends up journeying to Africa to help out the Professor and his granddaughter. I loved the tomb-raiding elements to this story; there was so much fun adventure.
There are many excellent steampunk elements throughout the story as well. Additionally we meet some wonderfully strong new female characters.
The illustration throughout is absolutely amazing. The borders around the frames have some exquisite steampunk detailing to them. Each frame is full of amazing detail and beautiful color; I love the intricacy of it all. I am just in love with the illustration in this graphic novel series.
Overall this book was even more amazing than the first one. I really loved all of the adventure and steampunk elements throughout. The illustration is beautiful and fantastically detailed. I would definitely recommend this graphic novel series to those who enjoy steampunk adventure.
August 7, 2018
Uchvatny vizual, porad se na to krasne diva. Ale v pribehu to rezignovalo na prvni dil, skoncilo hledani Mechaniky ohledne jejiho puvodu a dejove je to epizoda serialove tuctovky. Tak uvidime jak dal.
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