ROGUE SUN #34 (IMAGE COMICS/MASSIVE-VERSE)
Dylan and Aurie are finding out the hard way how heavy the Mantle of Rogue Sun is.
For Mr. Siegel, a simple college visit has turned into a roller-coaster of events. Hellbent has returned and nothing ever good comes with him. Let alone Dylan’s mother has escaped her prison and tracked him down on his trip.
Aurie’s current stat quo isn’t any less complicated. Mr. Poe has been on a murder spree. She has arrived at Poe’s whereabouts but her inexperience has just led her into a deadly trap!
ROGUE SUN #34 by Ryan Parrott, Nick Cotton, Abel, Antonio Antro and Becca Carey is bringing all the smoke for these latest adventures.
Let’s take a closer look at to how transpires now.
ROGUE SUN #34 by Ryan Parrott, Nick Cotton, Abel, Antonio Antro and Becca Carey (IMAGE Comics/MASSIVE-VERSE)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Parrott and Cotton delve into the family ties with both young heroes this issue. Aurie’s escape from Poe’s squad comes with conflict with her dad, Marcus. Their mentorship hasn’t always been as sound as he would like. The writing shows Aurie brushing it off to prove her acceptance in the mantle. This leads to a more drastic take from Marcus to buy time. It is a huge risk that spins into a difficult talk with his widowed wife, Jules. The writing flows with anger and frustration over the handling of Mourningstar’s attacks. It’s one that leaves an impression on the audience before shifting gears to college.
Dylan’s talk with his mother carries much of that same energy. The difference being Dylan’s growth as a character. Their exchange is more heated as Dylan refuses to succumb to his mother’s wishes. For some readers, it might catch them off-guard, but this has been a gradual build with a solid pay-off. Events shift back to Aurie’s saga to close the chapter out. Poe’s attack on Grandma Bludmoon & her clan leads into some brutal action. It also allows Aurie to take back the spotlight in a very direct way. The finish is brilliant in set-up. This leads into a final page which will raise some eyebrows but not before sending a clear message of change in one character.
READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW HERE!
Abel and Antro open with a full shot of Aurie surrounded by Poe’s forces. It sets the tempo high as the action starts. Close-ups of Poe’s eyes seeing Marcus is a more subtle detail but nail the impact of the moment. This leads to a solid pivoting point to Baton Rogue University and Dylan’s talk with mom. Their expressions vary greatly. Gwen’s joy in reconnecting with Dylan is shunned by his unwelcomed demeanor. It leaves readers with a sense of brooding emotions as to ho Dylan is handling his future.
Arguably the most powerful point of the book is Marcus and Jules talk. The art spotlights many friction between both. Jules’ face can’t be ignored as she pleads her case to Marcus. His response is more awkward in accepting this but not wavering on the Rogue Sun missions. There is some doubt in his persona as the talk. One party’s reaction steals the scenes before heading into the final act. The attack on the Bludmoon Clan is fast paced and shows how unhinged Poe can get. Aurie swoops into the fight via help page shot. There’s a great deal of back and forth until events lead to the close. A bold full page image caps off events with many questions circling about what happened.
FINAL GRADE: 8.8
Aurie’s battle with Poe’s forces leaves some scars that will never heal in an excellently crafted issue. Parrott and Cotton lean into the family dynamics for both leads with superb results. Abel ad Antro deliver a healthy balance of action and drama. Always expected the unexpected from this series!
Let me know your thoughts about ROGUE SUN #34 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
