Okay, some quick notes on this series:

  • I love François Bourgeon’s work on the brilliant Twilight Companions, which he both wrote & drew. It’s one of the funniest, grittiest, realistic series about Medieval Europe I’ve read, so me giving this one a try (which in this case he didn’t write was co-author of) was a no-brainer.
  • The art on “Cyann” is on the same level as TC, but it’s fun to see Bourgeon “let 'er rip” on sci-fi scenarios, as opposed to Medieval ones.


https://www.bedetheque.com/media/Planches/PlancheA_146.jpg


https://www.bedetheque.com/media/Planches/PlancheA_223413.jpg

  • Unfortunately, this was just too difficult a series for me to get through on my first pass. As in-- many series are fairly exotic & complex by their nature, which from the readers’ POV boils down to, ‘what’s the introductory process going to be like?!’
  • Now IME it can range from tedious, pedantic over-explanation, all the way to… what we’re looking at here. No helpful context; just nothing. What I’m saying is that Le Cycle de Cyann kinda blasts off in to its own reality with seemingly no regard at all for the reader. (sorry, not sorry for saying that)


https://www.bedetheque.com/media/Planches/PlancheS_37.jpg

  • Of course, no question that if my natural French was better, the whole experience would be improved.
  • Now don’t get me wrong! Some series can get started rather elusively & mysteriously not unlike this, which is in fact how I’d describe a quality series I just finished today, Saint Elme.
  • I think the difference with “Cyann” is that there’s this massive load of dialogue right from panel one which was unfortunately, completely non-plussing to new readers. I mean, I kinda get the idea of “immediate immersion,” but this isn’t boot-camp, right?

TBH-- I feel like there’s indeed something quite special about “Cycle de Cyann”. And I don’t get it right now. And that frustrates me. So here we are. *gulp*