Comic Review: Children of the Black Sun #2 (ABLAZE Publishing)

Issue two of Ablaze’s Children Of The Black Sun delves further into the indoctrination of the young children by the older children of the black sun.

You see, the sun turned black a couple of times, four years apart. It was just for one day, but man, what a day it was. Horrifying. In little Brightvale US, these Children Of The Black Sun are outcasts, despised by the God-fearing others in the community. There is something super-self-aware about these blond, tall slender kids that is unnatural and definitely NOT sunny.

Writer Dario Sicchio a continues with A Certain Resonance, resolutely marching the narrative in a creepy and powerful direction. The dialogue is sparse and sharp-edged, the scenes easy to decipher. The ease of reading amplifies our unease in the goings-on in Brightvale.

Artist Letizia Cadonici sways in for a closeup to illustrate a smirk, then launches back on both feet to follow a swiftly moving sequence. Its action, it’s threat, and allegation, it’s wonderfully expressive and exaggerated. The colouring by Francesco Segala is nuanced, with faces coloured a pale grey, in front of a grey wall. Less is more. The heavy hits of earth tones, the shifting of the palette to show a move in environment. Lettering balloons have no borders, and their tails descent nicely in Ingegni’s delivery, edited by Kevin Ketner, with assistant editor Amy Jackson.

In this issue, now available, there is again a preview of Boogyman #1, written by Mathieu Salvia, with art by DJET. This too looks very impressive.

Ablaze, Children Of The Black Sun #2, $3.99 for 24 pages main story content plus 8-page preview. Mature.