I seem to be hitting a common theme in my reviews of the "Eye of the Storm" books. I like the writers, but not the artists, and Black Sun is no exception. Scott's style is flashy but hard to read, and it's a shame, because Andreyko turns in an action-packed script with some strong characterization and an interesting mystery to back it up. Andreyko is pushing some boundaries in sex and violence on this book, as well as creating a strong female protagonist, and Scott's work does have its moments, but the overcrowded pages and somewhat oversaturated colors weaken a potentially interesting story.
What draws me to Black Sun is the character interaction, and Andreyko creates an intriguing cast of characters. His observations on the relationship between Maggie Sun and Nate Randall, in particular, are an interesting reversal of the male and female roles, and tell us plenty about the characters. In fact, Maggie is a fascinating character, not unlike the tough female cops that are a dime a dozen in fiction, but with an edge of violent temper that makes her seem a little more unstable. She's likable, but clearly dangerous, which actually makes her more likable.
Andreyko is telegraphing his plot, probably purposefully, but it's better than so many mini-series that wait until the last issue to reveal what their actual point was. But the notion of villains centering on a children's phenomenon holds a certain appeal for me, especially given the "do you have any Yu-Gi-Oh?" questions that I field daily at my day job. In addition, though I thought Scott could have done a better job making the villains less cartoonish, their methods of attack are anything but cuddly and goofy.
Which brings me to my main problem with Black Sun: the art. Trevor Scott's work has its moments, including a very good scene of Maggie and her father in a shadowy office and an amazingly unrestrained sex sequence. Udon Studios's coloring is also great in some places, such as the neon-lit and rain-drenched streets in the opening sequence or the afore-mentioned office scene. However, when the art isn't great, it's bad. Scott rushes through some of the action sequences, including the first one and the last one, and his manga-esque style is almost comically mismatched for the material, and Udon occasionally lets their work get far too dark.
There's some great characterization in Black Sun, and a solid mystery at the center of it. I only wish that the artwork were as accomplished as the writing, so that the book might be more than just readable, but instead hit the level of exciting and engaging that it's clearly got the potential to reach.
