Review: Rogue Sun #1
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Ryan Parrott
Artists: Abel
Letters: Becca Carey
Colors:
Reviewed by: Carl Bryan
Summary
“Dylan…just because the suit is calling, it doesn’t mean you have to answer.” – Dylan’s Mother Rogue Sun #1–
Yesterday: New Orleans’ greatest hero, ROGUE SUN, was murdered. Today: rebellious teenager DYLAN SIEGEL discovers that Rogue Sun was his estranged father, Marcus—and that he’s inherited his father’s mantle.
Tasked with protecting our world from the forces of the supernatural—and solving his father’s murder—Dylan will be forced to come to terms with the man he’s spent the majority of his life hating.
From acclaimed writer RYAN PARROTT (Mighty Morphin, Power Rangers, Dead Day) and rising star artist ABEL (Harley Quinn, Crimes of Passion) comes 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!
Positives
So how did Hal Jordan become Green Lantern? How did teacher Ralph Hinkley/Hanley (an entire back story on that one from the 1980s) become The Greatest American Hero? Who lives in a mansion with a lot of money, a superhero suit, and fights crime?
If all of this is in your stew of comic knowledge, then you will get Rogue Sun. However, Ryan Parrott provides the loss of a father who was the hero Rogue Sun and the inheritance of the suit going to the son from his first wife…insert teenage angst and daddy issues into the picture.
Pop in an already established Rogues Gallery which includes Suave, a foil swinging swashbuckling villain with a penchant for a suit that is akin to what The Joker wears, and you have an interesting back story.
Against the backdrop of New Orleans, this comic should make the locals of Louisiana happy as I am unsure if we have ever had anyone come out of the Bayou since Gambit in X-Men.
Negatives
No negatives per se, but if you have a history with Green Lantern mixed with the tv series The Greatest American Hero…you get the gist of the book.
It’s all a bit formulaic but I think that Ryan Parrott will find his audience with the teen angst angle. There is only so much ” I don’t know how the suit works” and mentoring you can do from the grave.
Verdict
Issue #1 is always a gamble for any company. However, Image does a great job of hitting for the fence on all their first issues. Look at Spawn. Walking Dead, Nocterra to name a few. Who knows…Rogue Sun may catch on like those.