Awesome graphic novel! I was captured from the first few pages and it was a really interesting story arch with a satisfying end. Can 100p recommend.

I really enjoyed the art style, and the story was interesting too. I have to say, it had similarities with Rebel Moon, in the idea of someone escaping their past life, and trying to live differently, but failing. That doesn't stop it being a good read though.

For this reviewer who is relatively new to graphic novels, Cyn is an eye-opener. Like Australian author Mirranda Burton's Underground (2021, winner of the 2022 Readings Young Adult Book Prize), it is a great starting point to understanding graphic novels as long-form works of sequential art.

Indeed, the definition of “graphic novel” and how it can be differentiated from “comic book” is still being debated. Yet, most scholars and industry professionals seem to agree that graphic novels tell complete, standalone and longer stories using illustrations, compared to comic books that are often shorter and serialised.

Created by American illustrator and comic book writer/artist Ibrahim Moustafa, Cyn tells the story of Meris, who is haunted by her past lives as a human and as the cybernetic government enforcer known as Cyn. As much as she desires a peaceful and anonymous existence with her new found family, she cannot escape the dark, violent life that she was forced to lead.

But Meris is not the only one with a secret past. This is why she is determined to put her skills to meaningful use and protect her loved ones from the relentless pursuit of a brutal and ruthless organisation. In the words of a major character in the book: “We all used to be someone. It is who we choose to be now that matters most.”

Unsurprisingly, some reviewers are dismayed by the lack of originality in the plot. But the strength of this slim volume lies in its confident reliance on high-impact and tension-filled imagery, packing quite a punch in its illustration of raging conflicts and strong emotions. The dramatic framing, full of mid-action shots and close-ups of facial expressions, further enhances the power of visual storytelling.

Perhaps also unsurprisingly, there are a lot of ultra-violent ninja-style close-quarter battles, and the generous use of darker colours throughout the book makes the spilling, spraying, splattering and splashing of bright red blood particularly eye-catching. Sometimes Meris, with her twin blades, blazing eyes and lightning speed, reminds this reviewer of a vampire. But there is such tenderness on her face when she is in the company of her loved ones, it makes your heart ache.

Cyn is a satisfying read. It makes this reviewer want to explore Moustafa's other works, such as Count (2021, a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo which explains the origins of Cyn) and RetroActive (2022, a time-travel action-adventure story). The two-time Elsner-nominated artist also illustrated American author Christopher Sebela's High Crimes (2019), a “high-altitude noir” set at the summit of Mount Everest.

Note: This review is based on an eARC (advanced reader copy) of the book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. Thanks to the digital format, the graphic novel reads like a webtoon, with the illustrations displayed in one long, vertical scrolling strip, an “infinite canvas” incorporating multiple pages that is easy to read on a smartphone or computer. It is a pleasure to be able to zoom in and observe the details of the full-colour images.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to review this book in exchange for an honest review. While the story is pretty simplistic, It’s beautifully illustrated, and action packed. Nice graphic novel about finding family,

I enjoyed this book a lot. The story was interesting and left me wanting to read more about the characters.

This is not normally a type of book I gravitate towards, however, I decided to give it a try! I would totally read more like this. I give it a 3.5 stars, as it was interesting and enjoyable. I loved the characters and the art. The dogs, kids and main characters were a highlight. I also appreciate the art in the action scenes! Wow for talented! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc to experience in exchange for my review.

It is a sequel to Count, a dystopian sci-fi adaptation of Count of Monte Cristo. The main character is Cyn, formerly known as Meris, but forcibly operated surgically to a cybernetic killer. After the events of Count, she fled to the outer rim to leave her past behind, but it catches up with her. However, in the process, she finds friends she is willing to fight for, to become the person she chooses to be. This is repeatedly stated in the graphic novel, so this is the author's message.

Although Cyn is not an original story, it's not an adaptation anymore. You can understand it without reading Count, but if you read that too, the dropped references are clearer. The characters are likeable, there are several children and dogs, a friendly black doctor/mechanic, and the oppressors are all white. Meris does a good job of cutting the evil men up. This part was quite clichéd and low. I would prefer more unique roles or at least characters without ethnicity-games.

I liked however the environment (a western-like wasteland) and the creative variety of the fight scenes. The visual world is beautiful and vivid, but unfortunately I can hardly think of anything outstanding. The action is more of a pleasant familiarity, in which the villains get their just deserts.

Thanks to Netgalley, I read an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was lucky enough to read Cyn by Ibrahim Moustafa this week, and I loved it. This was such a fun and fantastic story, and I need more!

Cyn is a science fiction western, and it leans hard into it. The story features a revenge tale by the eponymous character when she comes into the care of Meris and two young orphan girls.

It may not be for everyone, but I did like that we were dropped right into Cyn’s world, leaving her blood-soaked life behind and venturing into the unknown.

The art from Moustafa and the colors from Brad Simpson were terrific. This is a gorgeous book, and that absolutely elevated the story for me. The fight scenes were expertly crafted and made you feel every attack.

There is a fantastic line that Meris delivered to Cyn in her moment of doubt about who she used to be:

“We all used to be someone. It is who we choose to be now that matters most.”

That’s a lesson that we ask should take to heart. It reminds of a line from Luke Skywalker the Battlefront II campaign. When asked by Del Meeko what choices one has, Luke tells him “A choice to be better.” Keep stretching to be better.

I really liked this book. This was great. I’m actively seeking out the other book tied to this called Count. This is a cool universe. You should 100% check out this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Humanoids for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I really loved this. I think the art and written word work together to create such an amazing story. I loved reading and and exploring the world that was created

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this advance reader copy.

The art style is gorgeous, flat out. The story was riveting and I was engaged, despite its shorter length. I was hesitant to read this one, but I always love the idea of a main character whose identity is crucial to them so this did not disappoint.

I feel like I am missing a lot when reading this. Like literal pages missing.
The text isn’t always understandable for me either. Sometimes the illustrations help make it clear.

While I like the idea, the execution is not there for me.

I really enjoyed the art style of this story, and overall it was a fun, easy read. I would have liked to have known more about Meris/Cyn's character, but I guess I'll have to keep reading more to find out! The pacing did seem a bit quick at the beginning, and I think I would have liked to have seen more about Meris/Cyn and their time with Ness leading up to the more main events, but other than that, I think it was well done, and enjoyable.

Posted on Goodreads:

4.25/5⭐️
Cyn follows a former human who became a cybernetic enforcer for the government. She’s now fleeing from that life and attempting to leave the violence behind as she begins a new life as Meris. Even though her body refuses to die, she is malfunctioning and a man named Ness helps fix her and helps give her that second chance she craves. But that second chance looks like it will come at a cost since her past refuses to let go.

I thoroughly enjoyed this graphic novel. I felt it was a solid story. Good FMC with good development. Ness as a side character was decent but I felt he needed something more. Can’t put my finger on what exactly. Bad guys were bad guying but a little too cliche. Didn’t care much about them. But I did care about Cyn and that’s all that matters. She’s a baddie.

The fight/battle scenes were so damn good I looked them over several times because I really enjoyed the details.

Thank you netgalley, humanoids and Ibrahim Moustafa for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.

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.

I really enjoyed this revenge/rebirth story. I was not familiar with the first book (a reimagining of Count of Monte Cristo) but you don't need to read the first one to enjoy this story. I thought the art was lovely. The story reminded me of a Yojimbo/Clint Eastwood vibe. It is sparse on dialogue but powerful in action. While hyper violent, I never found it to be too much. I will definitely get this for my high school library.

Summary:

Meris is both human and cybernetic. Most people look at her and see one or the other – usually the cybernetic half. But all she wants is to find a quiet life for herself, away from all the violence and drama that comes with being an enforcer.

She got a chance at that life thanks to an ex-Union medic who rescued her. Now, she'll return the favor by protecting him and his girls. It's the least she can do as they introduce her to a life of happiness and calm.

Review:

Cyn is perfect for readers who enjoy a blend of science fiction and Western storytelling styles. It's fast-paced, dramatic, and full of heart. And I'm just going to say it now – the dogs are fine (Yes, I spent most of the graphic novel worried about the dogs, don't judge me).

This story starts in the middle – with Meris already on the outs with her enforcer life. I enjoy that little twist – no need to spend hours digging through her past to understand why she'd want to run away from it.

Likewise, I enjoyed the counterpart to her darker life – the quiet life of running a little rescue. Yes, the rescue element gave me a lot of anxiety, but I have to admit it was a nice touch. Things don't stay nice and peaceful, but it is a well-crafted tale that kept me reading.

Highlights:
Science Fiction Meets Western
Dog Rescue
Cybernetics

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.