I don't know how it's possible, but somehow Anderson has sucked even more drama out of Clockwork Angels. I'm not a Rush aficionado, so I have no idea whether the source material is a song or album, but if it's a song, it's got to be a really boring one.

This issue has the small town protagonist kid joining a circus and falling in love with the lovely tight rope walker. She doesn't return his affections because he's a weak character. This situation does not change throughout and it's not like the kid gets any better at the circus stuff. Instead, Anderson has revelations about the Clockmaker (or the Wizard of Oz) and finally gets around to showing the titular angels.

Sadly, even though Robles's art is gorgeous, the scene with the angels is really boring. There's no flare, there's no visual emphasis, it's just another scene.

Another boring one.

C 

CREDITS

Writers, Neil Peart and Kevin J. Anderson; artist, Nick Robles; letterer, Ed Dukeshire; editors, Jasmine Amiri and Ian Brill; publisher, Boom! Studios.

Again, there’s nothing so much wrong with Clockwork Angels as there’s nothing particularly right about it. Gorgeous art from Robles–sort of a gentle steampunk. There’s nothing dangerous but there’s lots of pretty technology and architecture. There’s no mood.

The problem’s the protagonist. If there was an era where a writer could get away with a generic white kid who’s just too much of a dreamer for his small hometown, Anderson is writing this comic about two eras removed from that one. If there ever was such an era.

This issue features the lead coming across a circus and a girl at said circus. Both will apparently be more important as things move along. Robles renders both precisely and beautifully, with the trapeze walking girl flying at one point. Looks magical, except it’s missing soul.

The comic’s about the protagonist’s wonderment and Anderson’s script is shockingly absent any of it.

B- 

CREDITS

Writers, Neil Peart and Kevin J. Anderson; artist, Nick Robles; letterer, Ed Dukeshire; editors, Jasmine Amiri and Ian Brill; publisher, Boom! Studios.

Ah, a young man, unhappy with the life predetermined for him, sets out on his own to find adventure but instead makes discovers to shake the foundation of his understanding. Never been done before.

Oh, wait, it has been done before. And it seems like Kevin J. Anderson knows it’s been done before and instead of trying to seem original, tries for charm with Clockwork Angels. On that level, he succeeds.

The art, from Nick Robles, is painted. Robles is decent with figures–most of the dialogue is in dark settings, so painted doesn’t hurt too much–but he does really well with the scenery. Angels takes place in a mechanized steampunk-type reality, only without the grim. It’s idyllic.

This first issue establishes the protagonist, establishes the antagonist, but it’s clearly from the protagonist’s point of view. Except Anderson also gets in a third, nearly omniscient presence.

It’s fine; unoriginal but fine.

B 

CREDITS

Writers, Neil Peart and Kevin J. Anderson; artist, Nick Robles; letterer, Ed Dukeshire; editors, Jasmine Amiri and Ian Brill; publisher, Boom! Studios.