It’s not very often that I get to review a graphic novel, so when a friend let me borrow this, I was really excited to tell you all about it.

Aetheric Mechanics takes place in an alternate Earth in which Britain is at war with a place called Ruritania, whose powerful technology is quickly turning the tide of the war in their favor. Doctor Richard Watcham returns from the war front and, upon reuniting with Sax Raker, an old friend and renowned amateur detective, he embarks on an investigation of bizarre origins.

I’m not familiar with Warren Ellis’ work, but if Aetheric Mechanics is any indication of his talent in coming up with weird stories, then I suspect I’ll enjoy just about anything he writes. There’s a lot going on here, and the brief instances that explain the current situation (the war with Ruritania, etc.) add some depth to the world Mr. Ellis is working with. Aetheric Mechanics is also generally visually gorgeous, with an exceptional amount of detail throughout the piece. Add to that a strange, steampunk-ish murder mystery and there’s plenty here to keep you entertained.

The dialogue is particularly strong here, unlike a lot of comics/graphic novels that try to write in a pseudo-Victorian/WW2-analogous era (assuming, of course, that I got the representative periods correct). Raker, for instance, has a distinct voice that will remind some, for reasons that become obvious when you read the story, of other detective types we've come to know. The other characters, while not as distinct as far as attention grabbing is concerned, hold their own in a world that will immediately spark some of the "gosh wow" desperately needed in quasi-SF tales.

The only problems I had with Aetheric Mechanics are probably normal things found within the comic/graphic novel industry. The story was, in my opinion, rushed, and I would have liked to see the story expanded over two or three volumes to give the twist ending greater impact. The result was that the relationships between characters were either left to reader assumption or not developed at all. Also, the lack of color and the pencil/ink combination removed some of the depth that needed to be there in certain panels (particularly the action-packed ones). Neither of these complaints ruined the experience for me, though.

Overall, I liked Aetheric Mechanics, despite its flaws. It’s not perfect, and I hope that Mr. Ellis and his artists continue writing in this world (the ending leaves a lot to be told). I think this is one of those graphic novels that can’t be left without sequels; it’s too big to be alone. If you’re a steampunk/detective mystery fan, then you should definitely check this one out. ( )

Ellis tells a tidy little story here, reminiscent of the work he used to do on Planetary, but without the attraction of continuing characters. Pagliarani's black-and-white art is full of detail, with a limited variation in line weight, which makes it slow to take in; but it suits the mood and subject-matter of the piece, set in a "1907 London" of antigravity airships, videolinks, and war with Ruritania. Ellis' usual talent for dialogue is evident in the Edwardian banter. Ostensibly a murder mystery, the story eventually becomes something else.

An interesting story of a not-quite Doctor Watson returning to the rooms he shares with not-quite Sherlock Holmes in a not-quite Edwardian not-quite London. The fact that these aren't the familiar characters in a familiar setting becomes important later, but Ellis is able to show his versions of these characters. This results in them being a bit more acerbic and witty than most, but also shows an appreciation for the original characters they are drawn from.

The simple black and white art is perfectly matched to the story and the Edwardian Scientific Romance setting. ( )

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