By Gregory Lujan — It’s rather rare that a first issue is able to capture my interest so strongly, but Rogue Sun #1 does just that. This singular issue gives the reader everything they need to follow the narrative of this story. Now, let’s get the elephant out of the room now — yes, this book is set in a shared universe. It is indeed a spin off from the Kyle Higgins and Marcelo Costa’s Radiant Black series, and Rogue Sun does appear in Supermassive #1, which was released last week. Do you need to read either of those to read this book? No, not at all. In fact, the events of those books have no bearing thus far (although, if you are interested in those books, I  highly recommend them, or you can peruse the reviews for them here on ComicsBookcase).

Ryan Parrot is playing to his strengths in Rogue Sun #1, a strength that he has been showcasing since Go Go Power Rangers #1. That strength is an appeal to the personal relationships between characters. I have only been with these characters for a short time, but I understand who they are at this point in the story, their relationships to each other, and what’s most impressive is that I care about them. I want to spend more time with them, to know even more about them, and to see them interact with each other more. This is a difficult thing to do in a single issue of a larger story, but Parrot nails it here.

Parrot’s dialogue is only half of the equation that brings such character dynamics to the page, with Abel’s artwork and Chris O’Halloran’s colors capturing your attention and keeping it firmly encapsulated in the world of Rogue Sun. The combination of Abel’s crisp and expressive linework and the diverse and appropriately not-quite-muted colors of O’Halloran simply ooze emotion. In fact, the artwork is so expressive, that there are panels where the characters’ faces convey subtlety in conversation that one would think is near impossible to capture in a superhero book.

While this is a superhero book, at its core, it is a very personal story. What is presented in this first issue, is at its core, a book about a father and son relationship that is, at best, tumultuous. At this point, there will be small spoilers for the first issue…so if you’re interested, perhaps it would be best to stop here and check out Rogue Sun #1 for yourself. Image Comics solicitations made it clear that this book was about a father and son, but the twist of the opening pages, where Marcus Bell, the current holder of the sun stone, is killed by an unknown and mysterious assailant.

One might ask, if Marcus is Rogue Sun and he is killed, who takes up the mantle? With that question in mind, Parrot and Abel take us on a beautiful journey of expressive panels and witty dialogue as we are introduced to a cast of characters starting with Dylan. It is here that we see trademark Parrot character interactions as Dylan seems to be that high school kid who toes the line between apathetic and genuine, and let’s be honest, most of us wanted to project that as a teen. With Dylan being the narrative driver, we are subsequently introduced to his mother, his connection to his father, Marcus Bell, and Bell’s new family, which includes Bell’s very wealthy wife and other two children via a reading of Bell’s will, post-death.

These quiet, small moments are where the comic truly shines. While the opening pages were a salvo of superhero action, the majority of the book are these small establishing character interactions. It is in these moments, between the witty dialogue extruding teen angst and banter, eloquent character designs, and poignant expressions where the strength of this comic lies. Rogue Sun #1 is bookended with fun superhero action and mystery, while being filled with interesting and vivid character dynamics and expressive art.

Overall: Rogue Sun #1 delivers an overture that is unexpected, captivating, and inviting, that any reader can jump in on. 9/10

REVIEW: Rogue Sun #1

Rogue Sun #1
Writer: Ryan Parrot
Artist: Abel
Colorist: Chris O’Halloran
Letterer: Becca Carey
Publisher: Image Comics
A SUPERNATURAL MURDER MYSTERY that explores the complicated bond between father and son and cements itself squarely in a corner of the IMAGE COMICS SUPERHERO UNIVERSE!
Price: $3.99
Buy It Here: Rogue Sun #1

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Greg has many hobbies including comics, music, and action figures. Engineer by trade, he uses his free time to explore artistic outlets. Twitter: @hulkbeast51 IG: @thecollectingrid