Fast and furious, this is an exciting read, which holds the amazingness of shonen manga but intricates a Western style and adds a more diverse world.

Cast is at her wit's end. She is beyond determined to enter the upcoming contest to become a striker, the long-honored engineer-warriors, who have saved the world. But her teacher refuses, reminding her that their town is trash and not interested in math or science. Of course, this isn't enough to make her give up, especially since her mother's health and brother's well-being depend on her success. Although she's already convinced she's proven her tinkering and tech skills to her teacher, she takes things one step further and fixes up as well as adapts an old AI hand. Not only will this enable her to do lab work but proves him wrong that a girl with a disability can't handle it. Well, plus she's a girl, and Strikers are never girls.

This is a read to sit down with, get lost in, and reach the end without realizing it. Every moment packs something to drive this one forward, whether intriguing backstory or action pure. It begins with a grabbing seen before introducing Cast and her Striker, and first then, does it head back to tell Cast's tale, before launching forward again. And it works well.

Cast is an interesting character and not because of her diverse aspects. These simply enhance her already strong and focused personality. She's a heroine to root for with a big heart. But then, Ms. Clock, her Striker, is a enigma and fits perfectly to Cast as they battle all sorts of evil, too.

The illustrations are well done, letting the action fly while never growing confusing. Especially the scenes with Ms. Clock offer excitement...and the tech is simply a treat.

It will be fun to see where this series goes from here. I received a DRC through Netgalley and enjoyed the well-done action and plot.

When I saw the description for Clock Striker, Vol1 "Clock Striker, now in graphic novel format, follows Shonen manga’s first Black female lead hero, Cast, in her quest to become a member of the SMITHS, the legendary warrior engineers." I was all in on reading this mange.

IT. DID. NOT. DISAPPOINT!

I literally sat down and read the whole thing in one sitting.

The main character is a genius, black girl with a physical disability ... Yes I was here for ALL of that. that wants to become a SMITH, a legendary warrior engineer. She existed in a world where she was both supported and judged at the same time. She shines with true black girl magic and proved that her mind was stronger than those who doubted her.

This well drawn Volume was filled with new friends, a mystery and a well told back story. I cannot wait for Vol. 2!!!!

Clock Striker Vol. 1 is a stunning manga debut that provides incredible diversity into the medium from the start. The heroine is a strong young, disabled, Black female. Her disability becomes her strength thanks to her abilities and intellect. She is a strong heroine that will be wonderful for young manga fans to read about. This volume starts with action, reveals her origin story, and sets her off on her journey. This hits the best parts of shonen manga, while provided a fresh story. This is Western manga at its finest and will hopefully start a great new series for manga fans to enjoy - as well as a movement among the broader comic community.

I heard about this series several months ago on Twitter and have been interested in reading it since then; the premise, art, and characters all seemed a perfect mix to hold my attention.

This initial assessment was correct! I sat down this morning to read the ARC and didn't stop until the comic was finished. Cast's struggle to be heard in the flashback and the way her teachers dismiss her for factors outside her control are familiar, even if I don't share the exact circumstances myself.

I'm excited to see how and where the Nextkin plot thread develops!

Given the chance I'm looking forward to being able to collect and read this series when it releases, and will be recommending the title to friends.

I just reviewed Clock Striker, Volume 1 by Issaka Galadima; Frederick L. Jones; . #ClockStrikerVolume1 #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]. I've only recently got in to reading mangas I loved the storyline and artwork throughout. I really like the fact the main character is a young black girl with a physical disability who wants to be a Smith to make it a better place for family and people to live. I really enjoyed the development though out this manga with the young girl been put down because of her disability but not letting what's she's been told stop her. I honestly can't wait for the next book to come out to continue on with the story and see what the character do next. I would definitely recommend reading this manga.

Smashing glass ceilings, and gangster faces, an all-female dynamic duo wielding incredible power races against the clock to stop a gang from selling dangerous weaponry.
I am always excited to pick up a new story from Saturday AM publishing since a division of them is locally based in Maine. These volumes are important to include in the middle school library because it shows students that fantastical adventures can be found right at home. Aside from a local connection, I am so excited to see this steampunk adventure hit shelves! The characters are sassy, smart, and unafraid to go against the status quo. An all woman duo is important representation in literature for the little women all over the world growing up and looking for role models. This book will surely become an example of the power of women.

My second read of the year was Issaka Galadima and Frederick L. Jones’ Clock Striker. I saw this manga on Netgalley, and I was instantly intrigued by it.

The opening felt very on-brand for the genre, but I also enjoyed the backstory that was provided in the subsequent chapters afterwards. It was appropriately called the “Origin Arc.” And it clearly illustrated the type of character Cast was, as well as serving as a foundation for what led her to the situation in the first chapter. The characters—Cast, her brother, Fender, their mother, and people from their community—were easily endearing.

The following arc felt like another beginning, which turned out just as engrossing as the first. I easily got invested in the story, particularly with the mystery surrounding the current state of the Smiths.

Clock Striker also felt timely, because of the issues and themes. Even though it was under fantastical circumstances—with technology that on one hand was seemingly based on science and engineering, but it also behaved like magic—there was a frank realness to the story. This was particularly illustrated through the first arc of volume one, which hinted toward a link between the Smiths and the decline of a certain industry. The results were a struggling town and crooks targeting the vulnerable.

The visual storytelling was excellent, and I liked the character designs. There was also plenty of action mixed in with a few lighter scenes. Ultimately, however, it ends on a cliffhanger. That being said, I still had a lot of fun reading Clock Striker.

Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (Rockport Publishers/ Quarto Publishing) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

I keep hearing about this manga on Twitter and Tiktok, and you know what? The hype was correct 100%!!

The storyline is amazing (I can't wait for Cast to reach her goal and defeats all her foes on the way, she is so dedicated). The art is amazing. A nice change of pace from your typical shonen manga, like having a girl as the main character, a racially diverse one at that. Goes to show that there needn't be one script for shonen and shojo manga to follow. I will continue to follow this series, and kudos to Frederick L. Jones who has done and is doing an amazing job promoting this on Twitter!

Holy shit, this is SO GOOD!

Our main character is a genius, young black girl with a physical disability that wants to become a SMITH, a legendary warrior engineer. However, Cast proves that her dedication, intelligence and sense of right & wrong will prove others who doubt her wrong.
THIS IS DRAWN SO WELL, and the story's potential, the characters' development, and the mystery at hand show incredible promise for this series! Also, I love the fact that the side characters have storyline mysteries of their own in this volume.
THIS IS ONE TO WATCH AND KEEP WATCHING, FOLKS!

Wonderful to see a black main character in a manga! I have already ordered for my library.
Fast paced, interesting world building, steampunk vibes. Very appealing cover that I know my teen patrons will be drawn to.

tl;dr
With fun characters and clean art, Clock Striker is an ode to the classics of shonen manga while retaining a spirit and vibrance all its own.

Thoughts
High school me would have been ALL about this. Current me is pretty invested, too, if we're being honest. This has all the shonen manga goodness that I love: shadowy organizations, a badass sensei, fighters who shout attacks, super powers, mysterious pasts, and a spunky hero with a heart of gold to hold it all together. And Cast really does hold the story together. Her enthusiasm for learning and her love of helping people are infectious, and I was cheering for her the whole way through. Her teacher Ms. Clock is a delightful enigma, equal parts proper and sinister, with some of the coolest panels in the whole book. Clock Striker's first volume covers a lot of ground, often using interwoven storylines and flashbacks to get to the meat of the plot faster. The fast pace means world building isn't as in depth as it could be, but I suspect we'll get a lot more detail in the future, especially with an incredible end of book stinger (be sure to read past the credits!). Art is equally excellent. Character designs are consistent, with clean line art, strong expressions, and dynamic fight scenes, making this a very easy read. Strong recommend for anyone who likes shonen manga.

Thank you Quarto Publishing Group - Rockport Publishers and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this great book. I really enjoyed this graphic novel with a Black girl main character who is aspiring to become a SMITH — a legendary warrior engineer. Wonderful, fast-moving plot, sci-fi elements, and great characters make this an enjoyable read. It is rated T (13+). I would gladly recommend it to any teen who enjoys fast paced action with elements of sci-fi.