Frontline Defenders Launches Cypher Comics

/’sīfər/

The dictionary definition of cypher is ‘a secret or disguised way of writing’. In many

ways, this is the essence of comics storytelling – the image, rather than the word, is

a disguise for many words, that can convey meaning, emotion, and can re/frame

an entire narrative.

Rap and hip hop culture has taken the word and ascribed a new meaning: ‘an

informal gathering of rappers, beatboxers and/or breakdancers in a circle, in

order to jam musically together.’ This, too, we find relevant to this project, in that

we are bringing together artists and HRDs in freestyle collaboration of activism and

art with the aim of informing, elevating and inspiring.

For us, this captures the spirit of why we are working in comics and guides how we

facilitate the process of creative production.

Adam Shapiro (Publisher) and Beldan Sezen (Creative Director)