Cybersix Wiki
Register
Advertisement

The Cybersix Comic Book Series is the first and original instalment of the Cybersix series, written by Carlos Trillo and illustrated by Carlos Meglia.

The series was initially conceived as an Argentinian underground comic and was first published in Italy by Eura Editorial in the magazine Skorpio in May 1992 and ended in January 1999. It has been translated and distributed into Spanish in Argentina by El Globo Editor and in Spain by Planeta DeAgostini, and in French by Editions Vents d'Ouest. It has never been officially distributed or published in English.

The comics was made for a mature audience and features content unsuitable for children.

Issues

Story overview

The story follows the eponymous character, Cybersix, a genetically engineered woman who had escaped the Nazi scientist, Doctor Von Reichter, who had created her and now fights to survive the monstrous creations he sends after her in the bleak city of Meridiana. Cybersix's past is full of mystery and tragedy, having been raised in isolation in the Brazilian rainforest with her five thousand brothers and sisters, all named with the combination of their series (Cybers) and numbers, created for the sole purpose of serving Von Reichter as super-soldiers as he attempts to rule the world. This plan was delayed, however, as the rebellious nature of the children forced Von Reichter to have them all destroyed and eventually replaced with a more subtle approach to world domination, the Technos, as they take positions of power in government and various other jobs. Due to one of Von Reichter's slaves, one Cyber had survived to adulthood to take on the disguise of a male literature teacher at a delinquent high school as Adrian Seidelman, the identity of a real boy who had died in a fatal car accident and taken by Cybersix to be able to live in the city. By night, she fights Von Reichter's creations sent out to kill her. Throughout the story, Cybersix bonds with the various characters she meets, and soon, she finds herself surrounded by friends and not as lonely as she had been. She also reunites with her long lost brother, Cyber29, who had been put into the body of a panther and now named Data 7, and also becomes romantically involved with Lucas Amato.

History

Creation

The main idea and script for Cybersix came from Eura Editorial in 1991, who wanted a new weekly series consisting of 12 pages, and entrusted Carlos Trillo and Carlos Meglia to create a character. They were given 20 days and a week after submitting the character, the two were set to work on the first chapter.

An early idea of Meglia was of a woman who would dress as a man to get into the police department, because her father had been killed, and her patrol partner would be Lucas. Fellow writer and friend of Trillo, Guillermo Saccomanno, came up with the title for the story, "Black Baby."[1] They continued to make changes and draw inspiration from numerous sources, such as video games, music and newspaper stories.

One particular true story was included in the introduction of the first chapter of the comic; in 1984, Elsa and Mario Rios died in a plane crash in Chile, leaving behind 2 frozen embryos in Australia, causing an international controversy and raising moral and legal issues in regards of what should be done with them. They were ultimately destroyed.[2] Trillo then asked the hypothetical question of what if they weren't destroyed but stolen by a mad scientist and they survived to this day.

Trillo and Meglia also consulted a psychiatrist to better understand a woman like Cybersix.

Argentine publication

Cybersix was first published in Argentina in April 1993 in the magazine Puertitas in issue No.33, followed by No.34 and No.35. El Globo Editor then made comics dedicated entirely to her under the Meridiana Comics brand, starting with the 3 issue coloured miniseries "The City of Monsters" (La Ciudad de los Monstruos), which was later collected in a single volume titled "The Book of the Beast" (El Libro de la Bestia).

From January 1995 to October 1995, the specials were released: "Meridiana Blues", "Kidnapping in Meridiana" (Secuestro en Meridiana), and "Chip Woman." In March 1995, the 12 page issues were printed on the monthly magazine, Comiqueando, from No.10 to No.19.[3]

In July 2012, the publisher Napoleones Sin Batallas reprinted the series with the intention of releasing 30 volumes.[4]

Spain publication

Cybersix began publication in Spain by Planeta DeAgostini in September 1997 and ending in February 1998, making 6 issues and a total of 12 chapters.[5] It was unsuccessful and ended prematurely. [6]

French publication

Cybersix was first published in France by Editions Vents d'Ouest from November 1994 to September 1998, releasing 12 volumes consisting of 16 chapters each, making a total of 192 chapters. The series ends on a cliff-hanger and they were possibly planning to continue it but ultimately did not due to conflicts between Meglia and Trillo with the publishers.[7].

Italian publication

Cybersix first began publication in Italy by Eura Editorial on the magazine Skorpio as a weekly instalment, starting from issue No.22 in 1992 to No.18 in 1996, making 24 issues and a total of 117 chapters. The 24 weekly issues were compiled in 4 special editions, consisting of 8 chapters each. The first special edition served as a supplement to Skorpio No.37 in 1992 and was published a second time with a different cover in Skorpio No.42 in 1992[8][9]; the second special was attached to Lanciostory No.1 in 1993[10]; third attached to Skorpio No.1 in 1993[11] and the fourth and final special was attached to Skorpio No.22 in 1996 to No.24 in 1997[12]. The cover sheet could be requested from the publishing house.[13]

Cybersix began its monthly instalments in November 1993 and ending in January 1999, making 45 issues consisting of 96-page, making a total of 117 chapters. Beginning with issue 26, "Hate, Fear and Pain" (Odio Paura Dolore), in December 1, 1995, Cybersix transitioned to a bi-monthly schedule.[14][15]. The story concluded abruptly in issue 45 due to disagreements between Meglia and Trillo with the publishers.[16].

In April 24, 1996, Eura Editorial published The Adventure of Cyb in Skorpio No.16, a 12 page coloured comic with a child-friendly story, in contrast with the darker tone of the main series.

From 2009 to July 2010, Coniglio Editore released 3 volumes, ordered differently than the Eura Editorial editions and translated directly from the French editions, before cancelling due to bankruptcy.[17].

Eura Editorial also released a limited edition of collectible cards in Italy of 1995, 3000 sets of 50 cards, 3 being special coloured cards.[18]

Adaptations

The Cybersix comic inspired two adaptations:

Trivia

  • After seeing the Dark Angel series when it was released in October 3, 2000, Trillo and Meglia filed a lawsuit against director James Cameron and Fox for plagiarism. However, the two were not able to go through with the lawsuit due to financial issues. Possibly due to the allegations, Cameron attempted to change the story of Dark Angel in it's second season, which was received poorly and the series was cancelled. [19]
  • In Presidents Prefer Blondes, Miao Yashimoto re-imagines Cybersix's alter ego as a police sergeant named Anita Fatal. This is a possible throwback to the early idea of Cybersix being a police officer.

References

  1. http://www.quintadimension.com/node/49 Carlos Meglia interview
  2. http://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/21/us/new-issue-in-embryo-case-raised-over-use-of-donor.html Newstory of the frozen embryos
  3. http://www.cybersix.it/argentina.html Argentina comics info
  4. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/CyberSix Spanish Wikipedia- Napoleones Sin Batallas
  5. http://comicbookdb.com/title.php?ID=31854 Spain comics info
  6. http://www.cybersix.it/argentina.html Spain comics info
  7. http://www.cybersix.it/canada.html French collection info, cliffhanger and conflicts
  8. http://www.cybersix.it/fumetti/fumettospec1a.html Special 1/A
  9. http://www.cybersix.it/fumetti/fumettospec1b.html Special 1/B
  10. http://www.cybersix.it/fumetti/fumettospec2.html Special 2
  11. http://www.cybersix.it/fumetti/fumettospec3.html Special 3
  12. http://www.cybersix.it/fumetti/fumettospec4.html Special 4
  13. http://www.cybersix.it/fumetti.html Italian comics info
  14. https://www.goodreads.com/series/58269-cybersix Goodreads- Italian info
  15. https://comicvine.gamespot.com/cybersix/4050-29304/ Comic Vine- Italian info
  16. http://www.cybersix.it/fumetti.html Disagreements with publishers
  17. http://www.cybersix.it/fumetti.html Coniglio Editore bankruptcy
  18. http://www.ebay.fr/itm/MEGLIA-TRILLO-CYBERSIX-COLLECTION-COMPLETE-DE-50CARTES-TL-3000EX-TBE-/112393479001?hash=item1a2b2c6359:g:XIQAAOSwR29ZCNN- Collectible cards on Ebay
  19. http://io9.gizmodo.com/a-history-of-plagiarism-claims-against-james-cameron-690974718 Dark Angel and claims of plagiarism

External links

  • 2012 translations: April 16 and April 17
  • Unofficial translation by Zannen: [1]
  • Unofficial translation by PharmaDan and Shippothekit: [2]
  • Comic on Wikipedia: [3]

Gallery

Comic Covers

Spanish Volumes

Argentina
Spain

French Collected Edition

Italian Specials

Italian Collections

Italian Issues 1-45

Adventure of Cyb

Live-Action

Other

Advertisement