Count

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.