A sci-fi western? With the found family trope? And a strong female lead??? How could I not be interested.

The art style of this graphic novel was beautiful. The characters were extremely expressive without stepping into grotesque or uncanny territory. While the character designs felt a little lacking to me (Especially with the combined genres having so many opportunities for unique, dynamic costume design), I can't be too mad. I'm a sucker for well drawn clothing folds.


The panels where easy to follow and flowed quite well together. The colours throughout were cohesive and reflected the scenes emotional state well.I would've loved to have seen the moodboard for this story in all its de-saturated blue/high contrast yellow glory.

This comic isn't anything particularly groundbreaking, but it's familiar storyline makes for an easy read and the visuals are a very pretty bonus.

This is a gripping sci-fi graphic novel with excellent artwork and a brilliant storyline that pulls you in.

A injured cybernetic enforcer known as Cyn, flees the battles she has been waging and finds refuge with a former cybernetic medic and his two adopted daughters. They seek to live a peaceful existence, but when violent gangsters arrive at the local town both Cyn and the medic have to fight to protect their peace and freedom. A gripping story of vengeance, redemption and hope.

Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

This was a great graphic novel. It had heart, action, and characters that tugged at your heartstrings. The storyline was simple, yet effective and I think that's what made it so good. It stuck to a formula that works and put its own spin.
We follow Cyn, a bionic woman who ends up.on a planet and doesn't quite know who she is. She gets flashbacks, so she has some idea, buy nothing concrete. She's an older model of machinery and tends to short out in the most random places. She's taken in by a machinist and his adopted daughters, and slowly becomes part of the family.
Of course there isn't a happily ever after, and what follows is tragedy and retribution.
This was such a good story and I highly recommend it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Ibrahim Moustafa’s “Cyn” is a captivating blend of sci-fi and Western influences, a genre-bending tale that grips you from the first page. Set against an interstellar frontier as harsh and unforgiving as its protagonist’s past, this graphic novel delivers redemption, found family, and unyielding determination.

Meris, once the cybernetic enforcer known as Cyn, now seeks peace. Haunted by her past lives, she stumbles into the lives of a former Union medic and his two adopted daughters. As they nurse her back to health, Meris grapples with adapting to a world far removed from her brutal existence.

Here’s why “Cyn” stands out:

Meris is no ordinary cyborg. She’s ruthless when protecting her newfound family but soft when it comes to their well-being. Her journey toward redemption is raw and inspiring.

The bonds forged between Meris and her caretakers are heartwarming. Their interactions add depth to the story, emphasizing the importance of connection in a harsh universe.

Moustafa, a BIPOC creator, brings fresh perspectives to the genre. Meris isn’t sexualized, a VERY refreshing departure from typical female characters in sci-fi.

The Western vibe, combined with sci-fi elements, creates a unique atmosphere. Expect gunfights, secrets, and a relentless pursuit of redemption.

While violence is present, there’s an underlying hope—a testament to Meris’ resilience and the power of chosen family.

In 128 pages, Moustafa crafts a universe where past sins claw at heels, but strength and second chances prevail. “Cyn” is a must-read for fans of character-driven narratives and genre-blending adventures. 🌟📖✨

Hmmm… Well, it was certainly interesting to get to the end of this book and find out that it was a spin-off from a sci-fi revamp of "The Count of Monte Cristo". I can't really see that anyone who loved that, assuming it was as rich and involving as it deserved to be, would like this slender off-shoot. But as a stand-alone it can't be said to be all that bad; it's just that it doesn't offer much that is great or new. Cyn doesn't want to be Cyn any more, as she was employed to kill too many people. She fetches up with an old chap who has adopted the children of the couple who put his life and morals to rights, and together they try and be mended, decent human beings – but he has a past that will come back and haunt him, and the fightin' and killin' just will not go away.

And that's about it, really – talk of how we can try and be better, moral, kinder people, and lots of fightin' and killin'. It feels like a space western, deliberately, with semi-podracer things called steeds. The world-building, so that we know the relevant history of the place and exactly where this is the arse-end of, is practically non-existent. Children and dogs alike are in the man's family just to try and tug on our heart-strings; only he and Cyn are allowed any kind of agency in this piece whatsoever, with the one-dimensional baddies. The whole, about the length of a four-issue comic, has the feel of 'well, this is too much for them to wrap up in one book' only for it to do just that. It is entertaining, but very light with it, and I don't know if three and a half stars is not half a gong too many.

Meris is trying to leave her past behind as a cybernetic enforcer when she meets up with Ness, a former Union medic who has fled his own violent past and adopted two daughters from folks who had helped him in the past. But the past finds them both when a criminal gang sweeps through their region. So what will Meris do to protect those she cares for? Read Cyn and find out!

Thanks Netgalley and Humanoids Inc. for the chance to read this title!

An incredible and touching story of humanity in a world where being human isn't a given. When a being that is “more” is given a choice of how they want to live, how they want to support themselves and the people they care about. It is a story of perseverance of the soul in the face of tragedy and it is amazing.

A story of redemption and family. I would highly recommend to fans of the Western Canon and Star Wars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Humanoids, Inc. for access to a digital copy to review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Humanoids, Inc. for providing me with an eARC of Cyn in exchange for my honest review!

While this Western-inspired sci-fi graphic novel isn't really doing anything new with the tropes it deploys, I still get a solidly entertaining time out of it. I appreciate following along with Meris and the found family she builds up, and it helps that the illustrations are gripping enough on my eye in order to visually convey this whole other world of technological advancements and gritty survival. What does hold this tale back from reaching its full potential is its cliched nature. It sticks with a very formulaic path in regard to science-fiction and Westerns, and I wish it could have summoned up more creativity. I don't care much for the blandly evil villain, either. But still, this was a fun read, one that gains a boost from some decently brutal fight scenes.

Overall, I'm officially rating Cyn 3.25 out of 5 stars, which I'm rounding down to 3 stars.

I love a good comic book. But good art alone does not suffice. I had a few ARCs this year from extremely established creators, who fell flat on story and characters.

Not so Cyn. Ibrahim Moustafa created a story which allowed me to instantly connect to the world as well as the characters -- and not just because of the rescue puppies Meris and her friend are taking care of, although that is extremely cute and relatable.

Meris has to face the question of whether she can (and wants to) live with her past. A question that is severely complicated by the fact that her body refuses to give up, despite parts of her giving out. When her new found family does everything they can to repair her, I was glued to the page, hoping she can heal in all other ways as well.

It was a wonderful story and I am so glad I got to read it.

The only complaint I had was that I finished the comic quickly and felt that I wanted to know more. I understand that a following story will cover someone from Meris's past. If that comic is anything like this one, I cannot wait.

I am partial to a graphic novel or comic, and I loved the cover of this as well as the blurb, so was stoked when I got the chance to review it.

Straight away I loved it, an easy read, good pace and one of my fave tropes – found family.

We have trauma, abuse, redemption, second chances and all that good stuff.

None of it was ground breaking exactly, but it was fresh and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing.

I also really enjoyed that the story didn’t revolve around finding true love or romance.

Plus we love saving the animals!

And I really enjoyed the art style too.

I thoroughly enjoyed "Cyn" by Ibrahim Moustafa. Despite its familiar storyline, this graphic novel manages to stand out through its compelling characters, engaging art style, and, of course, the inclusion of adorable animal companions.

The story follows Meris, who is fleeing her bloody past as the masked government enforcer known as Cyn. She is discovered unconscious by a former Union medic and his two adopted daughters. As they nurse her back to health, Meris struggles to adapt to a world far from the brutal life she was forced to lead. However, two things become clear: her past isn't ready to let her go, and she isn't the only one whose dark, secret history threatens to destroy their present.

What makes "Cyn" so enjoyable is the way it connects with the reader on an emotional level. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to become invested in their stories. The former Union medic and his daughters bring a sense of warmth and family that contrasts beautifully with Meris's tumultuous past. The inclusion of rescuing dogs as well as people adds another layer of charm to the story—I’m a sucker for animal companions in stories, and the dogs in "Cyn" were a delightful addition.

The art style is another highlight of this graphic novel. It complements the narrative perfectly, capturing the intensity of Meris's action scenes and the tenderness of her new life. The visual storytelling is powerful, enhancing the emotional impact of the story.

Overall, "Cyn" by Ibrahim Moustafa may follow a familiar plot, but it excels in delivering a gripping and emotional journey. The strong character connections, engaging art style, and the heartwarming presence of animal companions and a found family trope make this a graphic novel worth reading. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a story that combines action, emotion, and a touch of heartwarming charm.

I enjoyed it, but for me It is short even for a comic.

It is the first book of Ibrahim which I read, so I did not know Cyn beforehand, but she looks really nice. I want to read other books from the author to know more about her! The other characters are nice (not the bad boys), even I symphatized when Ness died I felt a little bit sad for the daughters.

The plot is not bad, but as I said before, it is too short to me. Drawing's style not my fav but is enjoyable and easy to follow the combat scenes.

A mysterious and powerful woman arrives at the outer edges of the worlds and is helped by a kind mechanic and his adoptive daughters. But the violence and secrets of the past catch up to them and it will be a fight to the death to survive.

It's an interesting story that doesn't feel particularly original but is so well written that you can't help but be pulled into the world with the characters. Moustafa does a great job of balancing out the extreme violence with more human and emotional moments that are the backbone of the story.
The art is solid and well-suited to the story, although it does get very, very difficult to tell anyone but the two main adults apart.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Humanoids, Inc. for the read!

A beautifully illustrated cyber-punk western that invites the reader to think about the choices they made previously and what they can do to atone and make something new from them. This was a great read.

I'm thrilled Humanoids Inc provided me a @netgalley copy of Ibrahim Moustafa, Brad Simpson, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou's upcoming graphic novel CYN, following COUNT (2021) and RETROACTIVE (2022).

CYN is the most immediate and impactful of their collaborations, at least so far.

Readers follow Meris (Cyn), a mysterious assassin who has a repressed past, and the family who finds her. All of them collectively strive to find community, redemption, and love in a war-torn cosmic feudal, setting. This is the familiar scenery.

These echoing resonances allow Moustafa and his collaborators to showcase sequential storytelling. Every gray beard hair, worried or vengeful countenance, is lived in and earned; Moustafa’s heavily inked and shadowed pencils are accentuated by Simpson’s robust full-color pallet.

Moments of foreboding, the grabbing of hoods and tunics in which one sees the folds of the fabric take center stage because the plot is well trodden- ground. Scenes of peace, love, and companionship also linger. Together with the ragtag family of a recovering assassin, peace seeking medic, and the children in their midst, readers spend a lot of time basking in achingly open affection. The pacing of this book, the ways in which panels offer close-ups of hopeful eyes, technicolor sunshine, clasped hands, canine companionship all contribute to pastoral moments. Yet, violence always lurks.

Witnessing that lethal dismembering violence demonstrates its destructive power and history altering potential. It’s in these moments of escalating tension and ratcheting violence that Otsmane-Elhaou's letters shine. Word balloons become frenzied. Font is enlarged and bolded for emphasis.

CYN invites readers to ponder the legacy of violence, possibility for active redemption, and transformational love. It's a captivating work featuring three comics creators working in refined tandem.

A lean, clean sci-fi cyberpunk western. Plenty of action and art that evokes Mike Grell at his best. The plot doesn't hold any surprises -- it's perhaps a little TOO by-the-numbers, and the concepts are by no means new -- but there's a lot of heart here and plenty of cathartic satisfaction in the finale.

While the story was relatively predictable, the gritty art style, layout and framing during the many actions sequences made for an easy and entertaining read.

This comic has a lot of similarities to Zack Synder's Rebel Moon, but in my opinion, unlike Rebel Moon, Cyn succeeds in telling an engaging story with strong characters.

This book has a really beautifull story. The characters are interesting and the main plot of redemption and changing for the better had a lot of potential, however, I felt that it left a lot to be desired.
The pacing was the main issue I had with this title. There was not enough time to connect with the characters, to learn what they are like and what drives them. Every single one of them felt very shallow and boring.
The book overall was way to short for the story it was trying to tell. With an anbiguos plot like this it eould be needed a lot more content in between the main moments.
Overall, the story and concept were pretty great but the execution left a lot to be desired.

Excellent graphic novel all around. I give 5 stars to author and artist Ibrahim Moustafa, 4 stars each for letterer and colorist.The story was good, the layout better, being easy to read and follow. If you buy this graphic novel, you will enjoy it.