Review: Child of the Sun (1-7)

Being relatively familiar with Old Testament theology and having read deeper into Biblical history beyond the books of the Catholic Bible, I was still only aware of Samson’s involvement with Delilah not his intended albeit ill-fated first marriage to Adriana. Michael Van Cleve does a phenomenal job of detailing the events as they played out pertaining to and surrounding this historical wedding ceremony. His narrative is well constructed and engrossing. However, it is the world this epic tale is set in that absolutely steals the show. Van Cleve takes us to a time when humans shared the world with gods and monsters; a tumultuous time when even the strongest men’s faith was tested.

There is something of Conan in Van Cleve’s tale although tempered with mythology and biblical history. The warfare is depicted as poetic in its brutality while defined and detailed in almost Shakespearean drama. The cults of several lesser gods like Bacchus and Baal play crucial roles, particularly in creating an atmosphere of almost constant war among the various volatile sects ofÂ pagan worshipers and warriors. The tension and action are so well balanced and sustained throughout all seven issues of this series. Very much the classic hero’s journey the plot is gripping as it is epic in scope and while it tells the tale across a vast expanse of time at its core it is the timeless battle of good vs evil on a biblical scale.

Visually this work is a masterpiece of sequential art storytelling. Artists Mervyn Mckoy, Renee Reeser, Nick Sadek, Jabari Weathers, AJ Frena, Vincent Rodriguez, Eli Powell and Jon Bass and colorists Jonathan Hunt, Justin Wood, Mat Lopes, Peyton Freeman and Carlos Jimenez have collaborated to create some of the most gorgeous artwork in recent memory. The subject matter certainly allows for indulgence, as any sword and sandals piece, however there is an air of fine art at work here. Hunt and company’s colors are intense, but beyond that the color choices are intelligent and dynamic bringing a sense of the fantastic to the imagery. The visual language used is equally as poetic as the narrative language. There is a beauty to both even when the setting is the battlefield. The violence, while graphic at times is never self-indulgent or shocking, quite to the contrary its depicted in a tasteful yet effective style. The characters are designed and rendered beautifully with an eye toward realism, however there is more than enough stylized imagery in mind melting colors to make any fan of Frazetta happy. The page designs were also very effective in capturing a cinematic feel. The panels flow one into another as the story unfolds. The visual consistency obtained with the use of so many contributing artists is truly amazing. There is a uniformity of design yet a diversity of style that combine to work exceedingly well as a singular work.

Overall, Child of the Sun is much more than the sum of its parts. While it is clearly deals with biblical themes, it is certainly not exclusively a Christian title. In fact I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the Knights of the Golden Sun series. It never delves into any preaching or morality plays as I stated earlier I would liken the tone to that of Conan, there is enough action and superhero physiques here to satisfy any fan of theÂ Hyborian barbarian. I would say that it is certainly suited for mature readers as some of the scenes contain nudity and the aforementioned violence. This is an enjoyable read from start to finish and a feast for the eyes as well. This is one of those rare treats where the beauty of the narrative is equaled by that of the visual images. The only slight complaint I had was with some of the complicated fonts used, but once I got into the flow of the narrative I was fine.

SCORE: 4/5

Writer- Michael Van Cleve
Artists- Mervyn Mckoy, Renee Reeser, Nick Sadek, Jabari Weathers, AJ Frena, Vincent Rodriguez, Eli Powell, Jon Bass
Colors- Jonathan Hunt, Justin Wood, Mat Lopes, Peyton Freeman, Carlos Jimenez
Letterer- Leigh Walls