Agatha Heterodyne and The Beetleburg Clank (Girl Genius) Paperback – Student Calendar, December 3, 2013

I actually first read the two novels that sprang from this graphic novel series (1) Agatha H and the Airship City and (2) Agatha H and the clockwork Princess. I loved those two books, that so much I had to take a gander at the graphic novels. I think I am too old to be able to really "get" graphic novels .... I liked the prose books so much more! The illustrations are dramatic and the novelists really translated what is illustrated and put it into novel length words. The wonderful stories I enjoyed so much are here, and here first. This is a great series with a strong female lead ... one who relies on her brain, not her body, to triumph in her adventures. If more novels are not translated from these books, I am going to have to learn how to immerse myself into the graphic versions, because the story is one that I want more of!

Bought these books for my daughter and husband to read. My eight year old is so excited when a new book arrives, we absolutely must read it that day.

Not just this first collection, but ALL of them! Great read, Humor, lotsa fanciful scientific terms and descriptions drama.. What's not to like., Not to mentions beautiful women and handsome men. i have really enjoyed this graphic novel experience. Foglio Studio is awsome, shveethot..

Phil and Kaja Foglio's Girl Genius is a fast-paced, antic introduction to the adventures of Agatha Heterodyne and her world. Like the first prose novel in this series, this book feels very much like an installment of a series, rather than a complete work in its own right. That's fine, since it's clearly labeled Book One all over the cover.The story clearly introduces the main characters (Agatha, Baron Wolfenbach, and his son, Gilgamesh) through dialogue and action. It sets up a clear, distinct world, where clockwork technology feels right at home alongside nineteenth century society. And the art is expressive and detailed while still telling the story clearly.A hallmark of Phil Foglio's work is his humor, and that's very much to the fore in this story. However, he maintains a balance between the humor and the suspense, and that's what makes this series such a compelling read for me.Highly recommended!

The story and art in this are top rate. I followed it online for a long time, but the pictures in the graphic novel format do it so much more justice. I recently purchased a copy from a different vendor and got one of the original non-color versions with a color story at the back. This one IS IN COLOR! Admittedly, it's largely sepia tone, but the detail it adds is awesome.

This comic is a bit bigger than expected because its American style not Japanese style but that's okay ! the pages are glossy and wrinkle free . Came well protected and pretty fast in excellent condition with tiny 1cm scuffs on the corners from being shelved .. barely noticeable .this was a great price as the books brand new usually range between 22-25$USD . I loved the web-comic now I can enjoy it as a book ! thanks !

Slow starting story but basis for an engaging and fun series. First volume in the first Agatha Heterodyne saga. Recommended. Give it a look! Try to pick up later reprinted editions that evolve into full color panels from a B&W start.

This is the introductory book of a series that my kids (age 7 and 11) haven't been able to get enough of. The humor is first rate, the plots are interesting, and the characters are distinct, interesting, and fun. Some kids may have problems with parts of this - early in the book, a man is blown to bits by his own bomb, and the scene is played for laughs, but my kids, who are bothered by violence (e.g. Uncle Ben's off-camera death in the Spider-Man comic books), weren't bothered by it at all.

Es ist der Prolog seit mittlerweile 17 Jahren laufenden Webcomic-Serie. Die gibt es zwar legal für lau im Internet, sein Geld sind die gedruckten Comics aber alle Mal wert.Der Prolog einer Geschichte hat folgende Aufgaben zu erfüllen: Einige der wichtigsten Figuren vorstellen, die Welt einführen und mit kleinen Andeutungen Lust auf mehr machen.Girl Genius: Agatha Heterodyne and The Bettleburg Clank schafft alle drei Punkte perfekt.Die Gaslamp-Fantasy-Welt mit ihren Steampunk-Robotern und (Jäger-)Monstern ist gut und detailliert illustriert. Die Heterodyne-Boys, als Helden der vergangenen Generation, werden kurz angesprochen. Drei der Hauptfiguren - Agatha Clay, Gilgamesh Wolfenbach und Baron Klaus Wolfenbach - werden wunderbar eingeführt. Auch ein paar Nebenfiguren wie Molloch von Zinzer oder Punch und Judy sind schon zu sehen, ohne zuviel Raum einzunehmen. Es sind alles Charaktere deren Tiefe gut angedeutet wird um sie später weiter auszubauen.Einige kleine und große Geheimnisse werden angedeutet: Der Hauptteil des Prologs ist in Sepia-Farben gehalten, wenn Agatha aber wütend wird, kehren die Farben kurzzeitig in die Welt. Der Riss in der Luft mit dem die ganze Geschichte los geht und erst 14 Bände später aufgeklärt wird.Es lohnt sich noch einmal von vorne zu lesen wenn man die spätere Geschichte kennt, denn so entdeckt man kleine Details die einem bisher nicht aufgefallen sind, aber später wichtig werden.Als Bonus gibt es eine kurze eigenständige Geschichte mit Agatha und Krosp am Ende, in voller Farbenpracht.Girl Genius fängt in diesem Band sehr gut an und wird später immer besser. Klare Empfehlung an alle die dem englischen Wort mächtig sind, denn trotz des Erfolges (3 Hugo Awards) gibt es bisher leider noch keine deutsche Übersetzung. Carlsen/Egmont/altraverse bewegt doch endlich mal eure Hintern und sichert euch die Rechte zu einer der besten Comic-Serien die es gibt.

In excellent condition as noted, everyone must read this series.