by Gregory Guldensupp � 2004

The Clock Maker

Published by Image Comics

May-September 2004

$2.95 cover price

Jim Krueger, writer and creator

Matt Smith, artist

Zach Howard, artist

Michael Hakblieb, artist

Brett Weldele, painter and colorist

John D. Roberts, letterer & book designer

Guy Davis, clockworks designer

Jim Krueger and Phil Hester, character designer

�Once upon a time�... so begins The Clock Maker, a comic by writer/creator Jim Krueger.  I first noticed issue #2 because the cover had insects with clock faces for heads; I thought it was a time-travel story.  So I grabbed it along with issue #1 and headed home.  When I got home and tried to open issue #1, I discovered that it unfolded and I was now holding a comic that was 13x22" instead of the standard 6.5x11".  That was cool.  Then I read the story.  It got cooler.

The Clock Maker is the tale of a young woman named Astrid Bonn and the secret buried beneath the Swiss Alps.  There is a giant clockworks hidden in caverns below those ice- and snow-capped peaks - and this clockworks keeps the world spinning on its axis.  Oh yeah, the clockworks also controls the opening of a door to Heaven.

A mysterious being inside the clockworks hunts and kills Astrid�s estranged father and brother.  Astrid travels from America, where she has been living since she was nine, to help her mother arrange for the burials.  Upon her arrival, Astrid discovers that her mother is senile and that she (Astrid) is the next Clock Maker.

In issue #2, a man gives water to some partially-seen beast, telling it to be more careful, implying that the clockworks has a hidden purpose that "Hans" doesn�t know about.  Hans, the man who started building the clockworks hundreds of years ago, is about to end his tenure and enter Heaven when the door opens.  Hans explains to Astrid the details of her inheritance and her new responsibilities.  Thus ends issue #2.

The colors in this book are all muted tones; the art is soft and diffuse on many of the pages, adding a magical quality of the book.  It's a great, wonderful comic, sure to reward those who read the rest of the series.

Speaking of which, The Clock Maker was originally planned as a 12-issue limited series, but Image pulled the plug on the large format after issue #4.  Now they've decided to release the entire story in a more standard 64-page format, in three "Acts" that contain four issues each.   Each Act will cost $6.95.

This series has the beginnings of greatness.  I encourage you to buy this book - both for its story and its art.

The Clock Maker is available right now in comic stores everywhere.

Gregory Guldensupp is a long time reader of comics and other escapist literature.  He is a self-proclaimed geek of all trades and master of one - D&D.  When he is not working, prepping for his D&D game, reading, or eating; he�s sleeping.  Please feel free to contact him and express your likes or dislikes of his likes and dislikes.  He is single and enjoys fondue and long walks in the woods.

Links

Image Comics Official Website

Jim Krueger Official Website

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