Comic Book Review: Hinges Book 1: Clockwork City, by Meredith McClaren

 

Title: Hinges Book 1: Clockwork City

Author: Meredith McClaren

Publisher: Image Comics

Date of Publication: March 10th, 2015

Number of Pages: 112

*I've received an ARC of the book via Netgalley. Thank you to the publisher.

Summary

HINGES is a fantasy webcomic, turned graphic novel, about a doll named Orio and her troubling companion Bauble. New to the city of Cobble, Orio must depend on help where ever she can find it, but her assigned familiar Bauble has other interests. And as the two explore the walls of their city, they find that they are not the only new arrivals. In a place that runs like clockwork, it only takes a little disruption to upend a city.

Review

I was very excited to read Hinges Book 1: Clockwork City, as the premise sounded very interesting and imaginative. While I still think the same, I’m not sure that it delivered what I was expecting.

First things first, Hinges Book 1: Clockwork City is about Orio, a doll who wakes up in the city to Cobble. Right before she is released outside, she is asked to choose an Odd, which in essence will be her familiar. Bauble, the familiar she ends up selecting, is cat-like and very very mysterious.

And that is all I can tell you about the story of this comic book. One of the biggest disappointments while reading this book was how little we had going on. I strongly believe that the story would benefit from additional dialogue that would explain the world a little bit more, as well as show us Orio’s character.

What saved Hinges Book 1: Clockwork City for me was the art style. I loved the character design and how the panels were constructed. However, I do have to mention that toward the end we have a scene, where I couldn’t really tell what was going on.

In conclusion, Hinges Book 1: Clockwork City fell short for me. Even though it has an intriguing premise, the execution didn’t do it justice. For this reason, I won’t be continuing with the series.