Advance Review: Role Reversal At Play In ‘Rogue Sun’ #13

Talk about a role reversal. For the first several issues of Rogue Sun, Dylan Siegel was receiving not-so-welcome advice from his otherworldly father. Dylan could see and hear his dad, who wore the hero’s costume before him, but usually ignored his advice. You know, fathers and sons.

Now, Dylan finds himself in an unfamiliar position of being a spirit of his own, haunting the new Rogue Sun, who is actually an older version of the hero who has taken control of Dylan’s body. Instead of giving Rogue Sun advice, though, Dylan is actively trying to defeat the hero, Caleb. Most of the other characters notice the change in Dylan (at least they think it’s Dylan), who has pretty much been a jerk for most of the series

If that sounds exciting and interesting, it is – but only for a bit. Most of the issue is spent setting up this new story arc while tidying up issues from the last. Aside from this character switch, writer Ryan Parrot’s script is fairly predictable, particularly the would-be cliffhanger at the end of the chapter. It’s not bad – and it may get better, but it feels like the series is coasting a bit instead of finding the creative energy that should come with a new arc.

Regular series artist Able is joined by Marco Renna, and it sounds as though the two will be sharing duties for a bit. They do a nice job throughout the book, though the big fight scene isn’t all that exciting. It doesn’t help matters that we’ve seen this villain before – too recently, in fact.

Rogue Sun’s signature fire, colored by Natalia Marques, really pops off the page. Marques also gives more subdued tones to a short epilogue, which shows us we’re no longer on Earth. It’s a smart move that saves the writer extra exposition.

The start to this new story arc could be stronger with some tighter writing and more excitement for the artists to render. Until then, this series is biding its time for something bigger.

Rogue Sun #13 will be available for purchase on Wednesday.