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Steampunk: Manimatron |  | Author: Joe Kelly
Publisher: Wildstorm
Category: Book
Buy New: $24.89
as of 8/1/2010 02:11 MDT details
New (13) Used (15) from $6.50
Seller: Smart Choice USA
Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 628159
Media: Paperback
Pages: 160
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 10 x 6.5 x 0.4
ISBN: 1563897628
Dewey Decimal Number: 741.5973
EAN: 9781563897627
ASIN: 1563897628
Publication Date: March 1, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 6
 DENSE May 4, 2010
T. Jackson
I've had this trade paperback in my collection for a number of years now and thought it was probably past time that I cracked it open and gave it a go. I've been a fan of artist Chris Bacahlo's work since his run on `Generation X' in the 1990s and this volume collects the beginning of an original series he created with writer Joe Kelly, set in a futuristic, science-fiction inspired steampunk version of London. I found it really heavy going and impenetrable to start with: the art is incredibly dense, each page being crammed full of detail and minutiae and the action is not always very clear (historically one of Bachalo's major weaknesses as a story-teller in my view). That said the narrative becomes more cogent with each successive chapter and I found myself quite enjoying things from about the fourth issue (there are five collected here plus a prologue - `Catechism' - and what appears to be a rough teaser - `Idiosincratica'). I've got the second and final volume of this series too and I'll continue my reading there once I've taken a bit of a breather.
 Too much punk, not enough steam June 10, 2009
Marshall Vaughan (Austin Texas)
I found myself disliking this comic, which is unfortunate because it was highly recommended by others as, well, 'steampunk'. I like steampunk, but I really don't like this.
This is like steampunk written by Gwar, but not nearly as tongue-in-cheek. Drama and style abound, but I cannot agree that the plot is complex. It was very disappointing.
The art and layout is highly detailed, highly colorful/inky, and reminds me quite a lot of World of Warcraft or MageKnight (miniatures). Character design is over-the-top. Unfortunately I felt like the whole thing was trying too hard to be different without first developing substance.
To be honest, by the midway point I was just hoping for:
A) An explanation without all the exposition
B) The death of most of the characters
The only positive thing I can say is that it is dripping with its own unique style, and I respect that artistic effort enough not to give it one star.
 One of the Best November 9, 2007
S. Robert Katz (East Lansing, MI USA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
frankly i was surprised that this series is rated so far at five stars from every reviewer. when it was being published, it was one of the most divisive comics i can remember. everyone either loved it or hated it, and considering that it was cancelled before the story was done, i would imagine the latter outweighed the former. anyhow, i would have bought ten copies of the series myself if it would have meant the series would continue to its natural end, and i suspect most of its fans felt the same way, because this comic really was something special.
the story is great, with a protagonist you really root for, and more importantly, feel for. the premise is intriguing and engaging. and the artwork and design are astonishing.
this book's greatest strength was also its greatest weakness. a lot of people were frustrated with how complicated the book is, both in story and art. nothing is really handed to the reader at all, certainly not early on. the slowly unravelling backstory and the chaotic artwork really emphasizes the environment. the reader has to work a bit, but that's part of the fun. also, being a graphic artist myself, perhaps i have an unfair edge when it comes to deciphering and navigating chris bachalo's panels, but i didn't find it to be much work at all.
to be fair, i think only people who really cared about this book would be bothered to write a review, so you probably won't hear from the camp that found this book impenetrable, but given the sheer quality of work, i always generally dismissed those people as lazy. these people cared about what they created and it shows.
the writing is layered and thoughtful. the art is energetic, with an incredible sense of environment. this book is infinitely better than most of the generic superhero comics floating around out there with nothing to say.
A fantasy, science-fiction, gothic, adventure told like no o June 4, 2003
Ian M. Chachere (San diego)
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
The world of Steampunk is an intoxicating realm of good and and evil redone in a fine new fashion. From artwork to story Steampunk reigns as one of the most under appreciated works in the comic world, with twists and turns, hereos and villians unlike anything you've seen or would expect. This work makes a great addition to any fans collection, an outstanding read and experience.
The Heavy Novel of Comics, but Worth It! March 9, 2003
Samuel Musen (Worcester, MA United States)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
The artwork in this book has only one word to describe it: Stunning. Each page is rendered masterfully by the visionary that is Chris Bachalo. The story is amazing, but it is not as easy to read as your typical book. It takes time and thought to make sense of story because there is so much on each page. While this may hinder the simple reader's enjoyment, it makes the plot so much deeper and fuels a growing respect for the creators who deserve so much more respect in the industry than they currently receive.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 6
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