There are certain words and phrases that will always sell me on a story, no matter what it’s about. One of them is Nikola Tesla. So, when I saw that Tesla was to be a major character in this comic, I was eager to review it. The fact that it comes from Madeleine Holly-Rosing, creative mind behind the wildly entertaining Boston Metaphysical Society series, was just icing on the cake.

Set in the aftermath of the previous Boston Metaphysical Society adventure, this one is largely standalone, so even if you haven’t read the original, you can still appreciate this one. If you have read the main comic, however, you may remember that Tesla made an appearance there, as well—and that he didn’t leave our heroes on the best of terms.

Now, in the wake of a huge amount of destruction that he himself caused, Tesla seeks asylum with Granville Woods, the BMS’s resident scientist/inventor. Initially mistrustful of one another, the two are forced to work together when an army of mechanical people threatens to take over the city, and stopping them requires the efforts of two geniuses.

What you may not realize is that, in addition to Tesla, Granville Woods is also a real person: an inventor of color from the 19th century whose genius rivaled both Tesla and Edison. In the introduction, Holly-Rosing admits that the main reason she wanted to tell this story was to get these two amazing minds together in the same room. The results do not disappoint.

There are some other fascinating characters in this comic, as well. Our villains’, Emily and Travis Morgan, combined evil genius proves to be a formidable match for both of our protagonists. Emily handles the science and technology, while Travis handles the business, but their minds are so in sync that they constantly finish one another’s sentences, which creates an effect that’s creepy and evil.

This comic is a lot of fun and very entertaining from beginning to end. This alternative version of 19th century Boston, full of ghosts and Steampunk, is brought vividly to life by both Holly-Rosing’s writing and the artwork by Gwynn Tavares. The world of the Boston Metaphysical Society is a fascinating one, and Scourge of the Mechanical Men gives us another opportunity to explore that world in depth. It’s an opportunity you won’t want to miss.

Creative Team: Madeleine Holly-Rosing (writer, creator), Gwynn Tavares (cover, art, inking, coloring), and Troy Peteri (lettering)
Publisher:  Madeleine Holly-Rosing
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