Issaka Galadima

Apprentice STRIKER Cast faces her biggest challenge yet—and she won’t give up until she’s used all of her smarts and all of her might!In a thrilling new adventure, Clock Striker, Volume 3 explores Cast’s obstacles to saving not only her friend Klaus but an entire town that’s under the rule of a despotic king. Cast finds herself face to face with a roomful of Klaus lookalikes and the terribly cruel Loki, a member of a gang of cyborg desperados, the Demon Bandits. While the townspeople of Alter have embraced Cast, their lives are endangered by a disaster that threatens to destroy their entire kingdom. With Cast’s mentor, the powerful SMITH Ms. Clock, held captive by the secretive king, Cast must make the most of her intelligence and toughness to beat the odds. Can she do it?The first shonen manga to feature a black female hero, Saturday AM’s steampunk action-adventure series Clock Striker has received glowing accolades from fans and industry professionals alike. Clock Striker is rated T for Teen, recommended for ages 13 and up.Saturday AM, the world’s most diverse manga-inspired comics, are now presented in a new format! Introducing Saturday AM TANKS, the new graphic novel format similar to Japanese Tankobons where we collect the global heroes and artists of Saturday AM. These handsome volumes have select color pages, revised artwork, and innovative post-credit scenes that help bring new life to our popular BIPOC, LGBTQ, and/or culturally diverse characters.Join in even more adventures with the other action-packed Saturday AM TANKS series: Apple Black, Gunhild, Hammer, Henshin!, The Massively Multiplayer World of Ghosts, Oblivion Rouge, Orisha, Saigami, Soul Beat, Titan King, Underground, and Yellow Stringer.

Clock Striker, Volume 2, is the exciting follow-up to the acclaimed first volume, featuring shonen manga’s first Black female lead character! *2024 School Library Journal Best Manga of the Year**2025 CBC Librarians Favorites Winner*Combining sci-fi, steampunk, action-adventure, and insightful humor, this new volume explores teenage hero Cast’s desire to (once again) save her friend Klaus while dealing with an entire town that confounds her with its unique sharing culture. Something is off—and Cast and her mentor, Ms. Philomena Clock, engineer-warriors called SMITHS, are determined to find out what it is before it’s too late.Klaus is a runaway prince who has been captured by cybernetic outlaws, the Demon Bandits. Cast has almost never ventured past her hometown, so the demanding trek, including rough terrain and the strange kingdom of Alter, will test her beyond anything she has encountered before.With a rival SMITH and STRIKER on their tails, as well as the mysterious King of Alter—who seems to have a powerful kingdom despite rejecting cutting-edge technology—can our female dynamic duo save the day?Clock Striker is rated T for Teen, recommended for ages 13 and up.Saturday AM, the world’s most diverse manga-inspired comics, are now presented in a new format! Introducing Saturday AM TANKS, the new graphic novel format similar to Japanese Tankobons where we collect the global heroes and artists of Saturday AM. These handsome volumes have select color pages, revised artwork, and innovative post-credit scenes that help bring new life to our popular BIPOC, LGBTQ, and/or culturally diverse characters.Join in even more adventures with the other action-packed Saturday AM TANKS series:Apple Black, Gunhild, Hammer, Henshin!, The Massively Multiplayer World of Ghosts, Oblivion Rouge, Orisha, Saigami, Soul Beat, Titan King, Underground, and Yellow Stringer.Awards for Clock Striker 1: "I'm Gonna Be a SMITH!"*2024 YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teens**2023 Texas Library Association Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List Winner - Starred Selection**2023 Virginia Library Association Graphic Novel Diversity Award Honor Book**2022 Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics Finalist*Praise for Clock Striker 1: "I'm Gonna Be a SMITH!"“ . . . evokes the energy and exhilaration of classic shonen manga . . . promises deeper lore and mysteries in subsequent volumes”—Publishers Weekly“Readers will eagerly anticipate more entries. A fantastic, refreshing series opener.”—Kirkus ReviewsA “fast-paced story of self-discovery and altruism.”—Sara Smith, Booklist“This action-packed graphic novel adventure featuring tenacious female leads will leave shonen manga fans counting down to future volumes”—Amanda Melilli, School Library Journal

Cast dreams of being a SMITH, and though she's rather handy with her tools, no one in her small town ever realizes their dreams. Besides, the legendary warrior engineers haven't been seen in years and were never known for having female members. Fortunately, Cast meets one surviving member named Ms. Philomena Clock, who agrees to take her on as her apprentice, or striker.Suddenly Cast is thrust into one deadly adventure after another. Cybernetic desperadoes. From cybernetic desperadoes to technology thieves and more, Cast has to use her mind and her remodeled robotics-lab prosthetic hand, which offers unfathomable offensive power in the form of scientific experiments. Need lightning? Cast can generate it from her hand Cast's mentor seeks to uncover an ominous mystery that explains what happened to the SMITHS and shines a light on a hidden power that may be within Cast herself.Can Cast become a new member of the SMITHS? More importantly, can Cast survive the process to become a SMITH?

The Demon Bandits have infiltrated Cast's train ride. Lucky for Cast, a simple mistake unveils something unexpected about the evil gang. Despite doubts of Ms. Clock's true intentions, Cast attempts to save the passengers. Will her plan succeed? Through a series of life-threatening adventures, Cast uses her gift for remodeling old hardware to protect herself and those she cares for.

Cast continues her training and looks to help solve her family's problems. Cast's goal to help those with disabilities fuels her determination to become a SMITH. She seeks out the help of Ms. Philomena Clock to win the SMITH competition and create a prosthetic hand with amazing capabilities. Can she prove that technology is best used to help society and build things rather than to destroy?

The country's most dangerous gang, The Demon Bandits, are on the hunt to find Ms. Clock. Cast has officially become Ms. Clock's striker, and the two find themselves investigating a haunted cave in the farmlands. Will they discover what lies deep underground? And will Cast grow closer to becoming a SMITH? Fortunately, her greatest invention, the mobile lab prosthetic, provides her unfathomable offensive power by creating scientific experiences in the palm of her hand

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.*2024 YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teens**2023 Texas Library Association Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List Winner - Starred Selection**2023 Virginia Library Association Graphic Novel Diversity Award Honor Book**2022 Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics Finalist*Cast dreams of being a SMITH, and though she’s rather handy with her tools, no one in her small town ever realizes their dreams. Besides, these legendary warrior engineers haven’t been seen in years and were never known for having female members. Fortunately, Cast meets one surviving member named Ms. Philomena Clock, who agrees to take her on as her apprentice, or striker.Now Cast is thrust into one deadly adventure after another! From cybernetic desperadoes to technology thieves and more, Cast has to use her mind and her remodeled robotics-lab prosthetic hand, which offers unfathomable offensive power in the form of scientific experiments. Need lightning? Cast can generate it from her hand! Cast’s mentor seeks to uncover an ominous mystery that explains what happened to the SMITHS and shines a light on a hidden power that may be within Cast herself.Can Cast become a new member of the SMITHS? More importantly, can Cast survive the process to become a SMITH?Clock Striker is rated T for Teen, recommended for ages 13 and up.Saturday AM, the world’s most diverse manga-inspired comics, are now presented in a new format! Introducing Saturday AM TANKS, the new graphic novel format similar to Japanese Tankobons where we collect the global heroes and artists of Saturday AM. These handsome volumes have select color pages, revised artwork, and innovative post-credit scenes that help bring new life to our popular BIPOC, LGBTQ, and/or culturally diverse characters.Join in even more adventures with the other action-packed Saturday AM TANKS series:Apple Black, Gunhild, Hammer, Henshin!, The Massively Multiplayer World of Ghosts, Oblivion Rouge, Saigami, Soul Beat, Titan King, Underground, and Yellow Stringer.