Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The Count of Monte Cristo duels with cyborg assassins, sky pirates, and robot soldiers in this kinetic if flawed, sci-fi tinged take on Alexandre Dumas's revenge saga. Moustafa (High Crimes) infuses a palpable sense of excitement as characters bounce off air ships, duel with pirates, and engage in high speed sword fights and aerial pursuits. The cinematic artwork unreels some excellent action choreography, but the drama and suspense of the hero encircling his prey is shortchanged, and the worldbuilding lackluster. As in Dumas's original novel, the young Count is incarcerated and trained, escapes, and acquires a great fortune, which he uses as the engine for his vengeance. But narrative intrigue takes a backseat to the action--this retelling foregoes all of the maneuvering, and the Count's revenge plot boils down to stabbing all the bad guys. In one of the more effective sequences at integrating sci-fi elements, the Count realizes that his wife, assumed dead, has in fact been reprogrammed and rebuilt as an assassin cyborg--but the initial shock doesn't last long. There's ample fun for fans of fast-paced action and adventure, but the deeper themes of the classic tale are rather more abridged than reimagined. (Mar.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
After Redxan Samud's courage and selflessness impress his superiors enough to overlook his lowborn status, he's promoted to captain of his own shipping vessel. The day after marrying the daughter of a wealthy and politically connected family, he's framed for treason by conspirators preparing to seize control of the government and sent to a floating prison colony where inmates are forced to compete in gladiatorial matches in order to maintain a manageable population. Over the next decade, Redxan grows close to an aging prisoner who mentors him in combat, stresses the importance of striving for a better world, and finally provides the location of a vast fortune. Following a daring escape, Redxan retrieves the loot and sets out for revenge on the men who framed him. Posing as a wealthy aristocrat, he enters high society in order to gain access to his enemies; when he discovers they've amassed an army of automatons in preparation for world domination, he's forced to choose between fulfilling his vendetta or saving the world. VERDICT A fast-paced science fiction spin on The Count of Monte Cristo that adds jets packs, superhuman assassins, and flying motorcycles while retaining the spirit of the source material.
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--In this futuristic reimagining of The Count of Monte Cristo, Redxan Samud saves the ship he's working on while the captain is nowhere to be found. Running out of patience with the captain, the ship's owner rewards Redxan by naming him captain. Though Redxan is celebrated by his shipmates, his command is short-lived when his nemesis, a magistrate, frames him for treason. After years of imprisonment, Redxan escapes to seek revenge. Determined to find his family and exact reprisal, Redxan disguises himself as a wealthy man with an Automaton Retainer Unit skilled to help assist in defense. A romantic subplot will have readers rooting for Redxan not only to take down his enemies but to find love, too. The artwork is engaging and eye-catching, especially in fight scenes, and the use of dark, muted hues aligns well with the grim story line. The narrative switches between full-color and black-and-white panels, which at first is simple enough but then becomes difficult to make sense of. Redxan is white, and there are numerous characters of color throughout. VERDICT With action-filled illustrations and a unique spin on its source material, this title will appeal to sci-fi fans. A secondary purchase for robust graphic novel collections.--Erika Long, Thurgood Marshall M.S., Antioch, TN
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