Rogue Sun #34: Defiance

Rogue Sun frequently ties Dylan and Aurie’s development as heroes to their development of children on the edge of adulthood. It creates extra tension between them and their parents who are very much involved in their lives as Rogue Suns. This is especially on display in Rogue Sun #34 where Dylan and Aurie find themselves in very different situations involving their parents.

Aurie and Dylan are both Rogue Suns in spite of what one of their parents wanted–Aurie her father and Dylan his mother. And they both know it. In the wake of a failed fight with Mr. Poe, an injured Aurie overhears the ghost of her father discussing with her mother how he couldn’t choose the daughter that would have done anything for him over the son he never knew. Dylan, after saving his girlfriend with the help of his mother, is again told by her that he should give up being Rogue Sun and give her the Sun Stone.

The most interesting thing about these two encounters is how both Rogue Suns react in different yet identical ways. The identical way is that both Aurie and Dylan completely disregard what their parents tell them (angrily in Dylan’s case). Aurie returns to the fight, intent on making her father proud while Dylan remains Rogue Sun almost to spite his mother. It’s a fascinating contrast and once again highlights how much the series benefits from having two Rogue Suns who have vastly different relationships with their family, parents in particular. Without these personal relationships, Rogue Sun doesn’t work nearly as well and Rogue Sun #34 is a perfect example of why.

Neither plot shines as well as the character exploration in Rogue Sun #34. Dylan’s heavily takes a backseat, any discussion of his revealed identity pushed to later issues. Aurie’s suffers from something that is a frequent problem in Rogue Sun: too many bad guys. There isn’t quite enough definitive world building to make it easy to connect with all the villains, especially when they are present in the series only briefly.

Action sequences in Rogue Sun #34 are aided considerably by Abel’s art. The villains that aren’t particularly memorable in a narrative sense are made considerably more engaging thanks to dynamic poses that suggest action in most panels. Antro’s coloring adds to this by keeping the Rogue Suns central in any action sequence. The red, orange, and yellow that radiate from just beneath the Rogue Suns’ helmets steal the focus in almost every panel.

Aurie’s story is almost entirely action focused, but there are a few moments where she is sans armor, and these few panels allow Abel’s ability to deliver emotional characters shine. Aurie has wrapped a healing blanket around herself and not even half her face is visible. There is an anger and resolve visible in her eyes. Abel gets a lot of nuance from what amounts to a very few lines.

Carey keeps dialogue well organized throughout the issue. Her depiction of sound effects works well. She ties the color and orientation of the text into the action very effectively.