A secret agent in the distant future leaves her post to seek a normal life as an artist and mother. When a biomechanical threat starts attacking agents across the galaxy, she is called back into the field to find and stop the killer. The mission opens many questions about her own past, present, and future within not only the organization, but within the universe as she knows it.

Collecting all three books in the award winning series by writer JD Morvan and illustrated by Huang-Jia Wei, Zaya is a beautiful action thriller that pivots into a trippy sci-fi experience.

What I particularly enjoyed about the graphic novel is how it effortlessly flows from one type of story into another. At first, it’s a straight up familiar action story of a woman dragged out of retirement, and her family, to take on a threat to her former employer. That story pivots though, and the less I say about that the better, but generally we move into a trippy tale where identity is at the center, something that feels like it could be out of a Philip K. Dick novel. Basically we get two stories in one, and they flow right into each other and both are solid reads together, or on their own.

This sci-fi action-mystery is told through breathtaking design and illustration by Chinese artist Wei, known throughout the field for his bio-mechanical aesthetic and lushly painted artwork. The end result mixes have an anime like feel, just beautiful to look at. The design itself is amazing with a feeling of familiarity (to anime fans), but also new wonder.

Overall, the book is a solid read, especially for those who are fans of manga or anime. I began reading expecting one type of story, and came out the other end experiencing something completely different.

Story: JD Morvan Art: Huang-Jia Wei
Story: 8 Art: 9 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

Magnetic Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review