CHILDREN OF THE BLACK SUN #4, from Ablaze Publishing on 4/12/23, cranks up the hysteria for a shocking cliffhanger when the citizens of Brightvale turn into a bloodthirsty mob and the next Black Sun rises.
The Details
- Written by: Dario Sicchio
- Art by: Letizia Cadonici
- Colors by: Francesco Segala
- Letters by: Ingegni
- Cover art by: Letizia Cadonici
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: April 12, 2023
Is It Good?
This issue is crazy, but don’t worry. CHILDREN OF THE BLACK SUN #4 is the good kind of crazy. Good for horror fans, that is.
When last we left Clem and Matthew, Clem’s desire to use her emerging powers to make people happy resulted in horrific consequences. Now, Ivan and Ophelia fulfill their destiny with an unusual bonding, and the advent of the third Black Sun drives the citizens of Brightvale into a murderous rage.
The big wow moments in Dario Sicchio’s script come by way of the horrific backstories surrounding the children and the subversive origin of Brightvale. Suffice it to say, Brightvale is no ordinary town, and its location was selected for a despicable reason. The reasoning behind Brightvale’s origin completely tears away the innocence of the townspeople, giving Clem and her friends an ironic justification for the mayhem that follows.
Beyond the wow moments, Sicchio (again) delivers a masterful example of increasing tension and dread. Every page turn leads to something horrible or monstrous, and you can’t help but feel the discomfort, but you also can’t look away. The story draws you while making you uncomfortable (again) in all the right ways.
Cadonici’s off-kilter, disturbing art amplifies Sicchio’s dreadful atmosphere, but the star of this comic is Segala’s coloring. There are more silhouettes and eyes glowing in shadows here than in any previous issue, staring right into your soul with alien malice.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our CHILDREN OF THE BLACK SUN #3 review to find out how Matt and Clem wound up on the run.
We begin with a montage of Brightvale citizens as they begin to raid the children’s homes after discovering the bodies. The children aren’t directly responsible for any deaths, but the mob reaches a bloodthirsty frenzy to root out a perceived evil.
Elsewhere, Ivan and Ophelia take part in an instinctive ritual to give birth to the first pure-blood generation. It’s not what you think, and it’s gross. Later, Ivan and Ophelia meet Matt and Clem to explain the history of Brightvale while showing them why the town is located in its current spot.
We conclude the issue with please for help falling on deaf ears, gunshots, and a Black Sun rising.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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CHILDREN OF THE BLACK SUN #4 takes the creeping, unrelenting feeling of dread built over the previous three issues and delivers a hard-hitting cliffhanger for whatever comes next. Sicchio’s script is unsettling, Cadonici’s art is disturbing, and Segala’s colors give the story an extra kick for good measure.
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