Count

by Ibrahim Moustafa

Overview

A sci-fi reimagining of the greatest revenge story of all time: The Count of Monte Cristo.

Framed for treason and wrongfully imprisoned at the hands of a jealous and corrupt magistrate, Redxan Samud escapes his breathtaking hover-prison with only one thing on his mind: revenge.

Disguised as a Man of Status and with a newfound fortune and his Automaton Retainer Unit (Aru) by his side, Samud sets out to dismantle the lives of those who have wronged him. But when innocent lives begin to get caught in the middle of his quest for vengeance, Samud will have to decide between using his new fortune for the good of the people or to pursue the revenge he so desperately desires.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781643376349
Publisher:	Humanoids, Inc.
Publication date:	03/16/2021
Pages:	136
Sales rank:	1,113,436
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Ibrahim Moustafa is an illustrator and comic book writer/artist from Portland, Oregon. Best known for his Eisner-nominated comics Jaeger and High Crimes as well as his work on titles such as James Bond and DC's Mother Panic, he has been published by DC Entertainment, Marvel Comics, Image Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, Dark Horse Comics, BOOM! Studios, Valiant Entertainment, and IDW Publishing. He is the author of Humanoids' critically-acclaimed Count.



Ibrahim Moustafa is an illustrator and comic book writer/artist from Portland, Oregon. Best known for his Eisner-nominated comics Jaeger and High Crimes as well as his work on titles such as James Bond and DC's Mother Panic, he has been published by DC Entertainment, Marvel Comics, Image Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, Dark Horse Comics, BOOM! Studios, Valiant Entertainment, and IDW Publishing. He is the author of Humanoids' critically-acclaimed Count.

Editorial Reviews

02/22/2021

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.)

Publishers Weekly

"Glorious."

GEEK DAD

"[A]n ambitious, sweeping re-imagining of the entire saga that reframes the classic revenge tale in a sci-fi universe complete with airships, robots, elemental swords, and all the stunning visual detail that goes with it. The result is a must-read vision of a timeless tale....From the character designs to the worldbuilding to sword fights that unfold with breathtaking grace across elegantly structured panels, it's a masterpiece of visual storytelling, layered with meaning and power on each page. Count is an ambitious idea transformed into a masterpiece, and reaffirms Moustafa's place as one of the finest artists working in comics right now.”

SYFY WIRE

Brilliant… A faithful retelling of the story with a new skin to all the characters and settings…the magic is in what Moustafa and team add to it . . . .I LOVED IT.

SMASH PAGES

02/01/2021

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.

Library Journal

05/01/2021

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

School Library Journal