LADY MECHANIKA: the TABLET of DESTINIES #5 (of 6)
“” (23 pages) [centrefold ad]
Created by: Joe Benitez
Story by: M.M. Chen
Art by: Joe Benitez & Martin Montiel
Colors by: Mike Garcia
Letters by: Michael Heisler
Covers by: Joe Benitez, Martin Montiel & Mike Garcia; Joe Benitez & Peter Steigerwald; Joe Benitez & Sabine Rich; Dawn McTeigue & Ula Mos
Publisher: Benitez Productions
Cover Price: $3.99
Lady-laden issue!! Personally, I’m extremely appreciative of this J Once again, I jump into the thick of things. This is the penultimate issue. Admittedly, I have not read the other four but the characters and plot are easy enough to comprehend.
Women are the superior race even in this Steampunk setting at the end of the century. Lady Mechanika and her protégée Winifred (commonly called Fred) make fast friends with Akina and her Desert Wraiths. There is no need for the typical brawls due to misunderstanding then solving the differences. Akina and her tribe of sisters have no respect for the male species. They exhibit large amounts of mistrust. I don’t blame them one bit!
That being said, women can be just as viperous. There was an enemy within Mechanika’s crew. She sets off a noise-emitting device that brings a rhino charging through the jungle. Akina attempts to pacify the beast but Lady manages to subdue the colossal beast due to her enhanced body. While they’re distracted, Fred is snatched.
The shoe is on the other foot. Lady Mechanika is viewed with awe by Akina when the metal prosthesis is exposed through her clothing. Akina unquestionably accepts her. The same cannot be said when she is brought before ǪLorisa, the Queen of the ǪBabirin. She is immediately cast aside and is left to her own devices [natch!] to retrieve Fred. Luckily, Akina knows a good soul when she sees one. The two will adventure together.
There is one scene relating to the titular object. Professor Thomsen and his colleague Mr. Strassman analyze the writings on the Tablet. Strassman determines the alchemical origin and elucidates the elderly scholar on the findings. The token villain, Lord Blackpool, orders his goons to pry open the priceless artifact. Within are sophisticated armaments. The Professor is ordered to activate them. He flatly refuses. He is safe from being killed but the same cannot be said for Winifred, his granddaughter!!! They are reunited but Fred may see her throat slit!!
I’m aware of Joe Benitez’ innovative and popular creation. Despite not having purchased any of his work, I enjoy the hyper-realistic style. The character made her first appearance five years ago and fan reaction is so well-received that the first three issues of the first volume led to instant sell-outs. Mr. Benitez is at the helm of his own publishing company now, free of any red tape. I never cared for steampunk but I appreciate the aesthetics and admire the mash-up concept. It’s such a versatile genre that it can connect to any other established literary type.
Who is M.M. Chen? The mystery has me in a tizzy. It isn’t that important to determine the gender but I am curious!!! Generally, women writers employ initials. At any rate, the story flows at a leisurely pace. The female bonding is unforced. Not only is it natural but purely logical. I find this setting to be a combination of Raiders of the Lost Ark meets Tomb Raider with slight variations. Lady Mechanika isn’t quite as unique anymore since Helferin Kralle, Fred’s kidnapper, has some improvements of her own. I applaud M.M. Chen for creating the language of the Desert Wraiths. Let’s see if the Rosetta Stone can decipher that one!!
Martin Montiel gives an assist to Mr. Benitez’ pencils. The women are undoubtedly curvaceous without any sexualisation. The flock of birds is meticulously miniscule but painstakingly accurate. The two-page spread of the rhino gave me a minor anxiety attack!
Mike Garcia accentuates the fiery red of Mechanika’s eyes. Her goggles are not of the same colour. Her eyes are what make them glow. The aridness of the desert, the lushness of the jungle, the semi-darkness of the cavern: all depictions are emphatic.
I do not know whom to acknowledge for the gear-filled borders in some of the panels. I didn’t notice the first time around. So ornate!
Michael Heisler keeps busy with the dialogue, the narration boxes, and the sound effects. The bubbles are spacious allowing for easy reading. The onomatopœia are not ridiculously made-up but authentic.
I purchased the one-dollar re-introduction/re-print issue (#0) a few months ago but didn’t open it. I’ve been eying Mr. Benitez’ ‘baby’ for some time. I decided to finally have a closer look. I’m more open to steampunk. [Update: I went to some local comic shops and read the other four parts!] A cogwheel has a varying amount of teeth. Acknowledging the mechanical aspect of it all, I give this issue 9 out of 10.
