Synopsis
Cast dreams of being a Smith. But those legendary warrior engineers haven’t been seen in years and were never known for having female members. Besides, although Cast is handy with her tools, no one in her small town ever realizes their dreams. Then one day she meets Ms. Philomena Clock, a surviving SMITH member who takes her on as her apprentice, or Striker.
Now Cast is thrust into one deadly adventure after another, facing off against cybernetic desperadoes and technology thieves. Her only tools are her mind and her remodeled robotics-lab prosthetic hand, which offers unfathomable offensive power in the form of scientific experiments. Need lightning? Cast can generate it from her hand! Meanwhile, Ms. Philomena Clock seeks to uncover the mystery behind what happened to the SMITHS; a mystery that may also explain a hidden power within Cast herself.
The Characters
I was originally drawn to this manga and Saturday AM in general by the protagonist, Cast. My first impression of her as a Black female protagonist was that she looked earnest and powerful on the cover. As I read the manga, this impression proved to be correct.
From the moment Cast is introduced in the first chapter, her prowess as a fighter and an inventor is on full display. We first see her dismantling a relic as part of her training as a Striker, an apprentice to warrior-engineers known as Smiths. When Cast is interrupted by bad guys, she and her Smith, Philomena Clock, soon make quick work of them. Cast fights with a robot prosthetic arm with various enhancements such as an adhesive gun. The origin arc following the first chapter reveals that Cast made the robot arm herself, with encouragement from Philomena when they first met.
Out of all the antagonists in this volume, Tucker stands out the most. He is especially cruel to Cast and other characters, feeling like the fictional embodiment of powerful white men who exploit marginalized groups for profit.
The Artwork
Issaka Galadima’s art reminds me of shonen manga like Fullmetal Alchemist or Naruto. The action sequences are especially dynamic, with bold, black and white lettering for sound effects that enhance a character’s movements, such as the “BAM” of a punch or the “WOOSH” of speed.
I also like the character designs a lot. Cast, in particular, stood out to me for how well her hair is drawn. As a Black person who loves comic books, I can’t count how many times I’ve seen artists draw a Black character’s hair in a way that looks off-putting, often with the same basic hairstyles like a fade or an afro. Cast’s Black hair looks like something I’d see on my family members, whether elegant braids or a practical braided ponytail.
The Worldbuilding
The characters and artwork are enriched by worldbuilding, which is strongly influenced by the steampunk genre. For those not familiar, steampunk is a genre that combines historical fiction with technology powered by steam. While most steampunk is set in 19th-century England, Clockstriker is set in an original world beset by a conflict involving ancient technology known as relics, as well as Smiths and Strikers.
Cast and Philomena Clock journey together in order to discover the mystery behind the relics. At first glance, it seems that Clock’s primary motivation is to find the relics and show Cast how to dismantle them. But there are hints of something bigger afoot, especially when certain characters voice their opinion of Philomena Clock.
The relics conflict may also have had an impact on Cast’s rundown hometown. Her school does not have access to the tech education that other cities have, and her family barely manages to scrape by economically. It’s no wonder that some people see relics as a cause for war even at the cost of other people’s livelihoods.
The Verdict
Clock Striker Vol. 1 is an engrossing read, with fantastic worldbuilding, eye-catching artwork, and intriguing characters. I will definitely be checking out the other books in the series as they come out, and would recommend it to anyone who likes shonen manga and steampunk stories.
Purchase Clock Striker Vol. 1 on Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Bookshop
If you liked Clock Striker Vol. 1, you might also like:
- Fullmetal Alchemist
- Nausicaa of The Valley of The Wind
Credits
Writer: Frederick L. Jones
Artist: Issaka Galadima
Editors: Frederick L. Jones and Austin Harvey
Design: Joshua Thomas and Mitch Proctor
Published by Saturday AM
A special thanks to Saturday AM for providing us with a copy to review. Receiving access to this book has in no way altered the opinions expressed in this article.
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