Rogue Sun #28: A Dylan Critique

Rogue Sun #28 opens with Dylan’s father silently contemplating his choice to give the Sun Stone to Dylan. This becomes a running theme in the issue, and it proves to be a good one. In previous issues, Caleb was the sole character to explicitly and strongly have this opinion, and it was easy to discount because he was motivated by selfishness and power. This theme of criticism and dissatisfaction works in a way it couldn’t have even three issues ago, before Aurie found the second Sun Stone, because now there’s a point of comparison. It’s easier for the reader to accept criticism of Dylan as legitimate.

This more legitimate criticism has an ancillary benefit of partially rehabilitating Caleb. Though Parrott continues to write the character as untrustworthy in Rogue Sun #28, the reader might come to retroactively agree with the impetus for Caleb’s earlier betrayal if not the betrayal itself.

Parrot plays into this theme even further with a sudden and surprising statement from Dylan late in Rogue Sun #28. It’s somewhat unclear in context if what Dylan says is a deeply held belief or more akin to an excuse not to act. But either way, it is a strong moment and, like so much else in this issue, perhaps impossible without Aurie’s development.

Action runs away with Rogue Sun #28 thanks to multiple characters figuring into multiple fights. As is so often the case when it comes to Rogue Sun’s action, Marques’ coloring steals the show. With multiple Rogue Suns involved, shades of orange, red, and yellow dominate the issue. Marques typically uses a more vivid palette for these Rogue Sun colors, and it creates significant contrast with Dylan’s black armor. This is the case here as well.

The same is not true of Aurie’s armor, though. Abel’s design for it is already softer than Dylan’s, with rounded joints akin to knee and shoulder pads. Marques tones down the Rogue Sun colors that are such a big part of Dylan’s armor. That choice, alongside a blue toned color scheme for Aurie’s armor, creates a clear distinction between the two characters in a way that most Rogue Suns don’t have with others in their line. Though not operating in an explicit fashion, this design choice pays off in an issue critical of Dylan.

Abel is well-suited to Rogue Sun’s action, something that is on display in almost every issue. The quieter moments are easy to overlook, which is probably the case in Rogue Sun #28. Even in his worst moments (save for when he was lost inside the Sun Stone), Dylan returns to being bright and easy going. That aspect of the character is missing in this issue, and it leads to a constantly reserved if not outright angry Dylan. Abel handles this side of the character well, keeping him totally on model. The variations in emotion are primarily expressed via Dylan’s eyes and mouth, but in some cases posture as well. Dylan stands rigidly upright when alongside his judgmental father. Late in the issue, alongside Aurie and after gaining critical new information, he is downcast.

Carey’s usual organization skill is on display again here as she keeps dialogue bubbles neatly arranged and out of the way of the art, whether that be along the edge of panels or more in the middle of panels in “blank” areas, like empty sky, where there is nothing to interfere with. Her thin colored outlines for Caleb, Marcus, and Noxious are always a nice touch. The red pointy bubbles used for Mourningstar stand out especially–an advantage of less being more since Carey doesn’t use colored bubbles or text anywhere else.