Rogue Sun, much like other titles in the Massiveverse, often zigs where other superhero stories would zag. The idea of passing a mantle onto a successor? It grows infinitely complicated when the original hero’s a deadbeat dad and the new hero’s a juvenile delinquent. A prison for the hero’s foes? It actually takes the time to try and rehabilitate the criminals rather than serve as an endless revolving door. Rogue Sun #33 continues in this grand tradition by tackling another classic trope: the supervillain team-up.
A gathering of Rogue Sun’s foes has been assembled by the malevolent feline Mr. Poe, as the mysterious Mourningstar is about to be freed and seeks their help. While Aurie prepares to battle this collection of foes, Dylan is hit with a literal blast from the past at his college tour. Turns out that the seemingly cool college guy he befriended is actually Hellbent in disguise…and the swordsman intends to settle their grudge match, no matter the cost.
Ryan Parrott and Nick Cotton do a great job of subverting the classic supervillain team-up, particularly the idea that villains can’t work together. In this case some of Rogue Sun’s foes, like the Bludmoon clan, don’t want to work together. They know the dangers of making a deal with Mourningstar and refuse to ally themselves with him. Others, like the Divinity, choose to stay neutral in the upcoming war. There’s also the harsh reality that Aurie is completely outmatched, which spells trouble for future issues.
Parrott and Cotton also do a great job of making Dylan and Hellbent’s fight feel truly personal. Each has a reason to hate the other, as Hellbent’s father wound up losing his soul while battling Dylan, while Dylan had to watch Hellbent murder his friend. One of the standout moments isn’t any fight, but a conversation the two have right before Hellbent reveals himself. Having made up with his on-again/off-again girlfriend Vanessa, Dylan confesses that he wants to do better and he’s scared he’ll fail. It’s a raw moment of honesty that separates the two; for all his faults, Dylan is at least trying to change, while Hellbent remains fixated on his vengeance.
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The artwork by Abel and Bruno Frenda gives Dylan and Hellbent’s battle plenty of emotional weight, as their blows land with the force of two kids with a vendetta against each other. Hellbent slams Dylan into the ground in a flying tackle, while Dylan summons a mace and attempts to choke Hellbent out with its chain. It’s only matched in ferocity by the way the assembled villains attack Aurie, especially when Mr. Poe’s current puppet lets off a storm of bullets that twists and turns with enough force to rival a scene in The Matrix.
Antonio Antro also deserves massive credit for his unique use of color, especially in Hellbent. The swordsman’s flames burn a dark reddish-orange in contrast to Dylan’s lighter inferno, while his word balloons are pitch black. Becca Carey once again shows why she’s one of the best letterers in the business by having Hellbent’s words slowly bleed into a jet black hue when he reveals himself, which is truly unsettling.
Rogue Sun #33 not only subverts the expectations of a supervillain team-up but also escalates the stakes as both Rogue Suns are locked in a gritty battle. Given the trajectory of the Massiveverse, fans could be in for a shock or two down the line.
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