Action-packed futuristic one-shot (i.e. a graphic novel whose story resolves with a complete ending) about a cybernetic(?) woman who's trying to escape from those who turned her into a killing machine and used her for their own desires. But escaping from violence is never that simple, no matter how far you run. This book is elegantly illustrated with a lot of straight lines and angles that create the feeling of a hard world, both literally and metaphorically. The main character (Cyn) remains a bit of an enigma even through the end of the story, but that's always the challenge with these one-shots; there's only so much space for backstory and character development. The violence is quite explicit, with lots of blood, people's head getting cut off with swords, etc., etc., but it's never gratuitous. It's usually being used to illustrate just how painful it is emotionally for Cyn to get pulled back into that world. A thoughtful story that leaves me with just the right amount of hope.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this eARC for unbiased review.

Cyn would be one of those graphic novels that I would universally recommend. Even if not, everything played out how I wanted it to, it was a great read. The action is beautifully done and choregraphed. The characters are loveable and have meaning. The stakes are high and built wonderfully in such a small number of pages.

The fight and action sequences here are EPIC. Cyn tells a Western-tinged sci-fi story of the redemption of Cyn, a cybernetic enforcer with a blood-soaked past.

I liked breakneck pacing, suspense, and characterization. On the flip side, the story was relatively predictable and not really groundbreaking.

Still, I had a good time with this comic book.

After “Count” (2021) which is “The Count of Monte Cristo” retold, and “Retroactive” (2022) a simple yet thrilling time travel action story, Ibrahim Moustafa returns with “Cyn”, a straightforward tale of a super soldier woman that seeks peace, yet only finds bloodshed.

There is a link between this and “Count”, but you don’t really need to read the previous book to understand the story - it’s a simple revenge tale filled with ultra violent ninja-style “blades versus lasers” battles, a story that’s more like a pilot episode of a series than a fully-formed saga.

Cyn is a typical brooding heroine with a troubled past, who finds a temporary solace and has to fight to protect her new family when the past comes roaring and menaces everything.
Is there a happy ending? Read and find out.

The art is dynamic, but careless, and the story is the same old, same old we’ve already read and seen countless times before. At least it read quickly and kept me entertained until the end. That makes it OK, I guess? Two stars.

Disclaimer: I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. This didn't influence my opinion in any way.

This was awesome. Meris is a cyborg woman with a mysterious past. She’s trying to leave behind a life of violence, only to be haunted by it every step she takes. Along the way, she befriends Ness and his daughters, who give her another chance to choose good.

I loved this. The art was great - beautiful, yet gritty. It worked really well to convey both the brutality of this world, as well as the warmth and kindness Meris encountered. The characters were really fleshed out within a few pages of making their entrance. This allowed for both high-paced and high-stakes action. Right from the bat, I cared about what would happen.

Really intrigued to see where this’ll go! I’ll definitely be picking up whatever comes next (and here’s hoping there’ll be something next).

Right from the very beginning this comic had my full attention. It blends impeccable storytelling with gorgeous and often violent visuals to show a harsh world where in order to protect those you love you will have to be ok with getting your hands dirty.

Cyn is a story about redemption. Choosing the person you want to be instead of being defined by your past. We can change what has been done, but we can choose to take a different path in the now. I was enchanted by this comic and I cared deeply for Cyn, Meris, and the found family of two children and the dogs. Cyn realizes that she’s willing to take any sacrifice to be the one to save them.

Even in the short pages it felt like I lived in it for so much longer. In the end, I even got teary eyed. It is a really special thing to make you care that deeply for a group of characters in such a limited space of time. This is a comic I want to share with my partner and any friends willing to give it a shot. It’s something that I want to go and purchase for myself and display proudly on my bookshelves.

Cyn is full of action and hardship and triumph and it melted my heart. I feel so happy that I got the opportunity to read something like this.

This was an ARC. I finished this in one sitting, and cant wait to see where the story continues. The art is fantastic. A redemption story with flashbacks to the past. I don't want to give to much away, but a book that rescues dogs and synthetics who need a second chance I will always be a huge fan. Flashbacks to the past give a sneak peek of where this story could go and there is a lot of potential. I'm adding this author to my watch list.

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through NetGalley. Content warning for violence.)

In another life, Cyn was a cybernetic enforcer for the Protectorate. Before that, she was the wife of a government official, injured almost beyond hope in an unspecified incident. Now, she just wants to be known as Meris, and live a quiet life free from violence. The universe has other plans for her.

When Ness and his adopted daughters, Del and Phea, find Meris passed out in an alleyway, the former mechanica doesn't hesitate to bring the stranger home with them. Though the materials required to fix Meris's broken solis light conductor are no longer in circulation, he's confident that he can scavenge them. Until then, he welcomes Meris to stay and help out on their homestead - which also serves as an animal sanctuary. Ness encourages Meris to save one life for every one she's taken - 527, and counting - as the penance she seeks.

Like Meris, Ness has done things he's not proud of - and it's Ness's past that threatens to undo Meris's future. Can Meris ever truly leave Cyn behind in a world ruled by brute force?

I didn't expect to love CYN as much as I did (though I did get a good feeling from the cover art, which shows Cyn cradling a dog protectively). Tbh, it was the animal rescue - and the lessons Ness drew from his canines - that really did me in. Ness's story about Rizzy - likely exploited as a fighting dog and then tossed out when no longer useful - was simply lovely, filled with compassion and empathy. After his leg - damaged beyond repair - was amputated, Ness used his skills (and, presumably, his limited funds) to build the pup a cybernetic leg (!). And when it came time to flee to avoid carnage, there was no question: this evacuation includes the nonhuman family members as well. No doggo left behind!

Of course, Cyn and Ness's character arcs are compelling as well - both stories of exploitation and redemption. I feel like I'm missing some essential backstory for Cyn - who I think might have origins in Ibrahim Moustafa's 2021 comic, COUNT - but overall it didn't detract from the narrative.

CYN is one of my first favorites of 2024, and I think Ibrahim Moustafa might be a new insta-read for me. CYN is full of heart and love and hope. Just what we need in these here dark times.

Netgalley Review

Star Rating: ★★★★★

This was a quick read, but a well drawn and well written graphic novel. Good story, interesting plot! Altogether I'm glad that I read it and am excited for more! I've also never read the Count of Monte Cristo and I noticed that this author has a reimagined version of the Count of Monte Cristo which I'm now super excited to try!!

Assassin + found family, what more could I want. Cyn is a short and sweet comic about an assassin cyborg, a mechanic, his kids, and a whole bunch of dogs!
There were so many things to love in this story. I absolutely love the character of Cyn and how sweet and protective she is. The story is fast paced, but still leaves room for character and relationship development as well as some action. Overall, I think the pacing and the character design were some of its strongest points!
(and not to spoil too much but I did cry at the end).
Thank you to NetGalley and Humanoids for providing this ARC!

Oh - I really liked this.

The art is great - the style is so cool, colour’s gorgeous, works so well with the western / sci-fi. I really loved Meris and Ness - plus the essential dog sidekick - the kids were… there… but it’s the idea that counts.

The plot was solid, she did what she came to do, but you know this story beat by beat. However - Moustafa does with a really cool protagonist and setting so - free pass. I hope this is the foundation for more exploration later on!

I almost want to say no notes, but I just wish there was a bit more - backstory, length, more information about the world (not because it didn’t make sense - but because it sounded so interesting but only a very small part was shown)! I’ve noticed the author has a few other works that might be sequels or other stories in this world, so I will be checking those out straight away!

I really hope Meris makes another appearance soon - new family in tow.

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

This had a good mix of action, emotion, and intrigue. It was easy to connect with the main characters. The insights into their pasts were well done- not too much info was thrown at you, and the timing of the reveals kept it interesting. Of course, there's killings and blood and all that, for those that need the warning.

A quick read with great art and an even greater message - who you are is a choice and you can change for better. A...cyborg(?) wants to live a life of peace and comes across a man and his two adopted children. They're living peacefully, until a chance encounter with the man's past changes things. She has to defend him, but is scared that she can't keep them safe while also being a good 'person'.

Ultimately, she learns that she can choose to be whomever she wants and she chooses to be better,

"We all used to be someone. It's who we choose to be now that matters."

I liked the comic. Pretty straightforward redemption story. Cyn who used to be a law enforcer wants to start a new peaceful life. She meets a Mechanica with his daughters and is welcomed into their family.

I enjoyed the artstyle. Especially during action scenes. It's pretty clear who's attacking whom and from which position. It also manages to convey momentum.

I am really curious about the setting. Are all enforcers augmented? Who's in charge? Apparently there's prequel story which is also retelling of Count of Monte Cristo and I want to read it someday.

I really hope Cyn gets happy ending she deserves.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't expect this to be a graphic novel...and not my usual thing but I will say I did greatly enjoy this. Good artwork and story line definitely will go along way. I enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

I really loved reading this.
I am not a comic book reader, not because I subscribe to being elitist and think that only written work can be considered literature, but because I am easily distracted. I am an artist myself. My brain is very tempted to look more at the artwork and lose sight of the book in itself.

But I managed to read Cyn and I loved it. It’s beautiful in terms of story, it’s hopeful, it speaks of kindness and friendship and trust in a world which is too afraid to show these qualities. Kind of like our world lately.

I found many of the lines to be very well written and also delivered at just the right time to ensure great pace and rhythm carries on throughout the story.

In terms of artwork, I think it’s fantastic. I loved how the fight scenes were sequenced on the page to reproduce the fast, dynamic transition that you would get in a film, without losing meaning or getting confused by it. I loved how expressive the faces were and how anatomically accurate Cyn was, not simply a ‘babe’ in a tight suit. She is a lethal weapon and she looks it!

I have recommended this book to my close friends and my instagram followers. It’s fun to read, great to look at and it might even teach you a thing or two about human nature. And it has dogs!

The artwork in this graphic novel is stunning and in addition to that, the story is also wonderful. We follow Cyn/Meris as she is rescued by Ness and his girls and pets. I loved the theme in this one that anyone can be a different person starting from today. It doesn't matter about our past, what matters is who we are now. I will be picking up more from this author. So good!!

Enjoyed this story and loved the artwork. Engaging sci- fi tale with female hero. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

"Cyn"is an engaging SciFi tale with a rough Western feel that presents a troubled yet inspiring protagonist who offers no excuses for the sins of her past while striving to live a better life. This book is a real win for both Humanoids and Ibrahim Moustafa. Hopefully, we will see more stories set in its gritty, yet ultimately hopeful setting soon. Recommended for fans of "Copperfield" and "Firefly" and anyone who has a soft touch for repentant cyborgs.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Humanoids, Inc. ,for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this fantastic graphic novel! The use of color to create scene and mood was amazing. The redemption arc of the main character tugged at my heart. Then there was so much action, and ultra violence. Quite a ride, and I hope we see more in this world