BLOOD ON SUNSET #5, from Source Point Press on April 27th, 2022, brings the sun down on Los Angeles as Clint finds out the sickening truth behind Bugsy’s murder.
The Details
- Written By: Mark D’Anna
- Art By: Arjuna Susini
- Colors By: Vittorio Astone
- Letters By: Andworld Design
- Cover Art By: Arjuna Susini
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: April 27, 2022
Was It Good?
BLOOD ON SUNSET #5 ends the arc the way all good detective noir stories end – with a twist reveal that mixes equal parts surprise and tragedy. Fortunately, the ending feels like a conclusion that shakes up the status quo. Unfortunately, the ending leaves the door wide open for more, so it doesn’t feel complete.
When last we left Clint, he was running from the authorities as a suspect in Bugsy’s murder, and Uppercut Meyer wants him for his own purposes as a human/vampire hybrid. All the while, Clint is determined to find out the identity of the real killer. Now, D’Anna lays it all out through the action without letting Clint off the hook. The killer’s identity is surprising and a little heartbreaking, but D’Anna constructs the mystery, through the arc and the reveal in this issue, in such a way that the killer’s identity makes sense via the clues you would pick up if you were paying attention.
As much as this is a vampire story, it’s a classic detective noir story at its core, and D’Anna nails all the tropes, mood, twists, and reveals you would expective from the detective noir subgenre. By the last page, Clint has a sense of closure and a newfound purpose for whatever comes next. That said, the closure is a little too open. While it’s nice to leave a few threads dangling to continue in future issues, one thread is as thick as a tree trunk, almost fumbling the ending.
Susini and Astone turn in one of their best pieces in this issue. A big part of the first issue is the use of light at sunset and its implied metaphor for the sun going down on the mystery and the city. The lighting and color saturations perfectly match a city at sunset, and the colors are used for maximum effect in the final half.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
If you want to track the clues, first read our BLOOD ON SUNSET #4 review.
We begin with Clint and his ghost pal looking over the city to think about a game plan for surviving the night. All roads lead back to Uppercut Meyer, and Clint decides to end Meyer’s pressure for good.
Meanwhile, Meyer comes out as the Sun sinks below the horizon as he can’t risk getting exposed to sunlight. All he wants is to bring Clint in to learn how he became a hybrid and can survive the daylight. When Johnny informs Meyer how he failed to bring Clint in, Meyer’s frustration and rage escalate. Ultimately, Meyer questions Johnny’s loyalty and threatens his life. In desperation, Johnny begs to be spared by divulging key information about Budgsy’s death and who ordered the hit.
We conclude the issue with a key bit of character backstory, the killer revealed, and acceptance accompanied by a newfound purpose.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
BLOOD ON SUNSET #5 is a solid semi-ending to the arc with the killer’s big reveal that makes complete sense in hindsight. The vibe of a classic detective noir story comes through loud and clear, and the art team pulled out all the stops to present a dusty city as darkness falls.
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