Cybersix is a unique series to say the very least. The original comic is a unique production between Argentina and Italy; frankly it shows in the art. But for the rest of the western world, it’s the animated adaptation that gets attention. Probably because it helps simplify the lore with the essentials. Although attitudes may vary when it comes to their endings.
Cybersix: A Comic Between Parties
The original comic book is much darker and grittier. Since it came out in the 1990s, you might be forgiven for thinking of the Iron Age of American comics. But it actually debuts in Italy as a weekly black-and-white series by a pair of Argentine creators. The writer Carlos Trillo had already won several awards from his work in the magazine Skorpio. The magazine already had a huge following in Italy, so there wasn’t much trouble with Cybersix’s publishing. It’s just that the initial pitch changes from Black Baby.
The artist Carlos Meglia worked with Trillo before on different comics like Irish Coffee. Meglia initially pitched their new series about a crossdressing cop trying to solve her father’s murder with her partner. But then Trillo finds a case about frozen embryos, the results of that trial inspires a change in Black Baby. The same crossdresser becomes the genetically engineered being Cybersix. This pair even goes the extra mile by consulting a psychiatrist to get a better idea on their character’s mindset.
Inspirations
When looking at Cybersix’s first pages there are the melodramatic narrations you might see in a Frank Miller comic. But the art shares a lot more with Italian adventure comics like Dylan Dog, Corto Maltese, and Diabolik. A few pages emphasize a dreary atmosphere and uncomfortable settings. At times the angles that the reader looks at events seem claustrophobic. Only for moments of big action like when Cybersix leaps into the air. Naturally there are plenty of Argentine comic influences including Alack Sinner with dark foreboding figures.
What The Story Cybersix?
Now for Cybersix itself. Despite her name, she’s not exactly a cyborg save for mentions of some circuit. Cyber-6 is a genetically engineered being from the DNA of an acrobat and some woman by a Nazi scientist. But the Cyber series weren’t the most obedient so most of them were wiped out. Cyber-6 only survived thanks to an enslaved man saving her and raising her like a daughter. Only for the Nazi Dr. von Reichter’s soldiers to kill him forcing Cyber-6 to run off. If that’s not enough, she needs a special chemical substance to survive. By the time she reached adulthood under an assumed identity, her supply ran out.
With her supply gone, Cyber-6 as Adrian Seidelman settles in the city of Meridiana as a literature teacher. If dealing with delinquents wasn’t enough, von Reichter has set up shop in the city. Every major inch of the city is under the control of von Reichter’s experiments. For Cyber-6 it’s a blessing in disguise, able to take sustenance from the other experiments to survive. Now if only she can survive in the long run. Fortunately, she isn’t alone as Adrian makes a friend with the science teacher Lucas Amato. Who in turns falls in love with Cyber-6 first as a scientific curiosity and later as a woman.
Why The Animation Is Easier To Get Into
Cybersix actually has two adaptations, but there’s a reason nobody talks about the Live-Action series. Despite coming first, it was cancelled after just a couple episodes due to low ratings. Most critics say it’s the bad acting, writing, and heavy use of Chroma keying. It’s one piece of lost media some casual fans would rather not find.
Meanwhile when it comes to the animated series, it’s a big step up. Unlike the comic it focuses more on visual spectacle even when some things have to get toned down. Hey when playing for American audiences, you can’t have your hero acting like a vampire. But it’s safe to say it’s also because showing too much sustenance withdrawal won’t get past the censors. Even if it does take away her insecurity of being a genetic experiment.
Besides it stays true to the source material while giving weight and depth to characters.
Like What?
Let’s start with the obvious, ditching the narrations for atmospheric music and transitions. The melancholic sounds give the impression that Meridiana has a darkness. But when Cybersix gets into the action, it evokes a look of wonder. That’s not even because the change between Adrian and Cyber-6 is partially obscured. It feels like our hero can be herself without worry, unlike when Adrian always has his guard up.
The Best Change In Character and Pacing
Then there are character portrayals. Lucas, in the comics is pretty stern because of his worries but is good natured. Meanwhile the show has him as an easygoing guy who values the little things in life. It builds off a lot of his character from the comics, an eager if lonely man looking for connection. That’s why he values his time with Adrian so much, because he can share his encounters with Cyber-6 without anyone thinking he’s a crackpot. Cyber-6 might’ve started as a curiosity, but the more encounters between them turned into love and care. Between Adrian and Cyber-6, Lucas has two people he can’t live without despite all of the ups and downs.
Another is with Data-7, Cyber-6’s closest ally. This panther has the mind of the only other Cyber that 6 was friends with. It’s supposed to be a brain implant, but modern times would suggest it’s just the memories. In any case Data-7 was an antagonist at first sent by Dr. von Reichter to take out Cyber-6. The show paces the eventual reunion more evenly with an arc involving a supporting character. Julian is a street orphan pickpocketing to get by, Cyber-6 takes pity on him because he reminds her of Data-7’s old body. They used to look out for one another under Reichter up until the injury that crippled the now-panther. So as Cyber-6 sets Julian on a better path, the reunion between her and Data-7 is all the sweeter.
Some Depictions May Vary
But then there are how a few other characters come across. Some are for the better like Lori Andersen. In the comics she’s a flirty delinquent trying to get Adrian’s attention. She’s also not above threatening him or others with her gang; and yeah she’s racist. But she’s got a care for some kids after being sexually abused as a child. But in the show, while still flirty with Adrian she shows notable computer skills on a complicated machine. It gives the impression that Lori doesn’t take much else seriously because she lacks direction. Plus the way she humiliates her captor is a big step-up from the comic this is adapted from.
That captor is Jose, Dr. von Reichter’s clone/son. On the show, Jose is just a bratty crime lord with the same intellect as von Reichter. He makes von Reichter a much bigger threat this way thanks to Cybersix besting Jose. Unlike the comic where he’s a 32-year old man stuck in an extreme form of arrested development. Dr. von Reichter might take pride in making him strong and intelligent, but he keeps Jose in a ten-year old’s body to make sure he doesn’t betray him. This gives Jose a few neurotic urges, having a child’s behavior but adult urges, like how he rapes Lori. An interesting concept, but ultimately dark and disturbing for its own sake.
An Interesting Bit About Cybersix
I’m not trying to ignore one part that people aren’t going to like about Cybersix. It’s how there are traces of racist stereotypes. Is Meglia racist? I don’t know, an Afro-Latin saved Cyber-6 after he was enslaved by von Reichter. Plus Lucas chastised an ex-girlfriend for filming black kids getting attacked and not doing anything. That said, these people are more-or-less reduced to being victims of oppressors. Thankfully none of this is in the show.
Then there’s probably the most interesting case Miao Hashimoto. He and his sister Ikiko resemble Japanese stereotypes but they do have character to them. How would I know? Well the show was animated in Japan and the animators didn’t seem to mind their designs. Besides the show gave them more better roles.
In the comics, Miao is an aspiring comic artist who inherited his detective agency after working there as an intern. He came close to finding out Cyber-6’s identity but didn’t catch it. Unlike the show where he is a genuinely good detective with gadgets, agility, and even found out that Adrian is Cyber-6. Plus his sister Ikiko went from being a nagging thought in the back of Miao’s head to a friend of Julian. This along with Miao’s situation tied the resolution together a little more smoothly. Not that the episode could be shown in US due to design concerns.
Which Ending Is More Satisfying?
And now for the part that might bother people the most. Both mediums have an open ending but with varying degrees of plot resolution. Admittedly the comic is a lot more absurd; Cybersix and Lucas have a kid, Lucas gets amnesia, the kid gets force-grown into an adult by Dr. von Reichter who names him Gengis, there’s a cop with a different name than on the show, also von Reichter and his assistant apparently resurrect… ah!!!!!!! Yeah, this is a lot of lore.
The show’s second half is pretty much episodic monster-of-the-week style adventures. Even the finale takes a streamlining approach to how the comic ends. Dr. von Reichter’s experiments betray him as he’s about to lose everything. The only difference is that Jose is now the de facto crime lord and no one knows what happened to Cybersix. It’s hopeful she got out of Jose’s trap, but she won’t have Adrian as a disguise. Because Cyber-6 reveals to Lori her identity as she leaves behind her glasses.
Unlike the comic where after von Reichter’s ultimate defeat, Cyber-6 now has the means to sustain herself. Lucas begs her to stay in Meridiana with Gengis back to being a child while asking if Adrian will come back. At the very least it ends on a more hopeful note. The comic ending certainly has a greater resolution than the show, but that’s hardly the show’s fault.
How Do I Find Cybersix?
The Cybersix comics never appear in English speaking countries. Heck they’re more popular in Italy and France than its Latin American place of origin. They exist, they’re just not in demand; besides both Trillo and Meglia are dead. That almost makes scans and scanlations excusable.
As for the show that people to this day still enjoy, it can be legally watched on TMS Entertainment’s YouTube Channel. And it can be found on DVD.
What do you all think, does anything about Cybersix strike your fancy?
Thanks for coming to the end and as always remember to look between the panels.