Review: Sunstone OGN #7 - Mercy

One of my favourite creators is back with my favourite love story wrapped up in lesbian, bondage, stockings and fetish wear. Yep, its Stjepan Sejic returns with the next chapter of Alan, Ally, Anne and Laura’s “Year One”. For fans of Sejic’s DC work, this will seem like a walk on the wild side; for Sunstone fans, it’s more of the same.

Mercy Part Two sees the various couples continue down their respective paths towards their eventual happiness. Of course the road to true love is rarely smooth. Between the comings and goings Alan and Ally seem ok, but there are cracks beginning to show, though as we know that aspect works out well; it is an interesting road to follow. The Laura and Anne story also has its own level of intricacies and subtle moments of both love and awkwardness.

Stjepan Sejic’s writing is perfectly observed. The weighty emotion moments and joint discoveries balances against the funnier side of relationship and sex; Ally having her knickers on under the garter strap for example, are a situation that everyone has faced. Alan and Ally are both dominants, though at this stage, only Alan is fully aware of this fact, though Ally’s future leanings are also getting hinted at. Laura and Anne on the other hand are set on the their path though ages and expectations may have bigger impacts. Sejic’s, who made his name primarily as an artist, is show some fantastic nuances. The shifting emotions, the impact of the various learning situations. Truly, writing what you know really works!

The last time I looked a Sunstone, I commented that I thought the art took a slight dive. Maybe my expectations were too high. That said, this time around the art is back to it’s fully realised, emotional faces and slapstick, at times, best. Everyone looks gorgeous, the panels drive every interaction in the book, be it the couples or their families. The color are also fantastic on every page. Of course there is nudity and sex all throughout this book, so an open mind is required. Sejic arranges his characters in ways that accentuates both their best and worst aspects. I don’t think I have seen a more gleaming smile as the one worn by Ally for the majority of the book.

With my favourite characters being Ally and Lisa, I did worry that I wouldn’t care that much about Alan and Anne. Sejic is using the Anne’s relationship as a foil to contrast to Ally and Lisa’s future one. It’s a clever move that shows the confidence that Sejic has in his writing and his characters. This almost “calm before the storm” story is another fine addition to the Sunstone series.

Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 5 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars

Overall – 5 Stars

Created by; Stjepan Sejic
Written, art and colors by; Stjepan Sejic
Published by; Image Comics

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network