Monstro Mechanica #1 Review

The Da Vinci Code

Written by: Paul Allor
Art by: Chris Evenhuis
Colors by: Sjan Weijers
Publisher: Aftershock
Review by: Andrew McAvoy


You simply have to hand it to Aftershock. I mean, the premise of this title is, "a new series starring Leonardo da Vinci, his female apprentice and their wooden robot!" That alone is enough to make this reviewer's heart sing with joy. Let's see if the content lives up to that wonderful description.


Well, I have to say that this book is a delight. I'm not usually keen on books set in the past, and even less so when they utilize historical figures, but I just delighted in this story. Okay, so the set up is based in Florence in 1472. You have the Medici running the show, with the Pope and church as the rival power block in the city. This comic is the story of da Vinci and his female apprentice who work both sides of the power battle in the city to their own advantage.

This seems to be going pretty well for them until one night da Vinci comes under attack from some religious zealots tasked with taking his life. Luckily for him his apprentice is on hand and she's brought a certain someone with her...a wooden robot that she and da Vinci have built and maintained. This helps them out of a bind but before they can question his attackers they have all fallen on their swords to pass from this earthly domain. Well, all except one who Leonardo helps out by pushing him onto the sword.

In the Medici's town though you don't want to draw attention to yourself, and da Vinci's activities, and those of his wooden friend have come to the attention of the head honcho. Quizzed da Vinci gives little away, but he's gonna have to be careful from here on out. Meanwhile his apprentice seems to have her own agenda when it comes to the robot. She's not been following da Vinci's orders to wipe its memory after each outing, and is starting to refer to the robot as 'he' instead of 'it', a slip that da Vinci points out to her a few times in this issue.


Bits and Pieces


I have to say, I wasn't looking forward to this book, but it really did make me happy. The Medici, the Pope's men, Machiavelli, girls dressed as male apprentices, and one side character that is so obviously based on Prince Adam (aka He-Man) in his pink waistcoat and trademark hair style. Somehow when this is all thrown together it works brilliantly! A great debut outing with vibrant art and color rich in blues, grays, pinks and purples. Wonderful to read, wonderful to look at. Great book.

8/10