Series Preview: Cyber Phoenix Vol. 1 Captures All the Charm of Vintage Action Serials
January 20, 2026
If you like retro superpowered martial arts stories, Cyber Phoenix Vol. 1 is a graphic novel that is absolutely worth your time. Andy Seto’s Cyber Phoenix effectively blends futuristic sci-fi concepts with the charm of older action serializations. The result is a work that feels almost timeless. Cyber Phoenix isn’t an instant classic or anything like that, but this first volume establishes a fairly strong foundation for the series going forward. It does have more to prove, though.
To set the scene a little, Cyber Phoenix Vol. 1 starts off with Ling Hoi seeking the aid of her aunt Wong Yam, an established member of the Emei Mountain Spirit Power Academy. Ling Hoi’s mother and sister have gone missing after an attack on the family, and Hoi herself is in need of refuge. As one of the most adept fighters in the academy, Wong Yam is perfectly suited for the dangers behind investigating their disappearance, but what exactly is she up against? Volume 1 is just a peek at who and what that is.
A Little Ambitious in Its Writing
Cyber Phoenix Vol. 1 establishes a lot for the novel series and is incredibly ambitious in how much it wants to get done through its 100+ pages. It may be early, but many seeds have already been sown. There is no doubt that Cyber Phoenix is just itching to expand on a good amount of those ideas and concepts, all of which seem to have great potential in building up the narrative. That being said, Cyber Phoenix Vol. 1 does feel like it’s trying too hard, with the pacing suffering as a result.
To put it simply, too much is happening too quickly. The stakes of the story aren’t really being allowed to evolve in a natural manner. What this means for the story is that it ends up feeling less captivating. I will say, though, that this is more of an issue in retrospect. Looking back, it’s just a bit hard to appreciate why Cyber Phoenix is resolving some dilemmas with such haste.
Ultimately, I’m not really concerned about the direction in which Cyber Phoenix is taking things. If it’s guilty of anything, it’s just shattering expectations about its narrative design. Cyber Phoenix may have a retro feel to it, but it certainly isn’t opting for a predictable storyline. Feeling starved for more closure is actually a pretty good sign for this series, all things considered. There is plenty of incentive to keep following this series. How it specifically wants to comment on AI is just one of many things to look out for.
Action in Art — What a Good Style Can Do
What will pique most people’s interest first about Cyber Phoenix is very likely to be its art style. The cover leaves a strong impression, with a softness to it that is just so inviting. I’m sorry to say, though, that the quality of the art varies a good deal in this graphic novel. It’s a bit disappointing, but asking for illustrations at the same level of the cover art on every page would understandably be too much.
Despite the inconsistency in the quality, Cyber Phoenix is still a mostly positive visual experience. The style still comes through in every panel, even if it definitely looks a good deal more rough. What matters more anyway is how the story conveys its action, and Cyber Phoenix definitely handles that well for the most part.
There is some visual clutter in fights, but Cyber Phoenix conveys impact properly even through all that. The higher quality illustrations in those moments make them stand out even more, of course. The character and world design is generally pretty strong, but it’s those moments of greater focus that really highlight what makes Cyber Phoenix truly unique and special. Wong Yam’s journey has everything you could really want out of an action series so far, and I’m excited to see where it goes next.
You can order both physical and digital copies of Cyber Phoenix straight from Nakama Press’ website, starting January 27, 2026. Comic shops also expect to have it in stock, so keep your eyes peeled there as well.
