Resurrection Man #0 - A Review

It is ironic that Resurrection Man should come to a close on a month when so many other new titles are beginning or looking back to their beginnings. It's funny because this comic itself was largely a look back to a classic comic ignored by the mainstream. Also, its' entire plot centered upon one man trying to figure out who he was and start a new life.



It spoils little at this point to reveal the big surprise from last issue - that the man we know as Mitch Shelley is a clone, accidentally regenerated out of the original Mitch Shelley. The real Mitch proves to be very much alive, very evil and very pissed off that there's another him walking around trying to help people with the power he was trying to steal for himself.

One wonders while reading this issue just how much longer Andy Lanning and Dan Abnett would have kept the central mystery going had they been given a chance. Suffice it to say that while the book does resolve most of it's on-going plots (particularly the battle between Heaven and Hell over the clone Mitch's soul) , it leaves the door wide open for Mitch to appear in other books. Indeed, the final page seems more appropriate to a comic book's opening arc than it does a final issue and the entire effect of the 13-issue arc is to bring both Mitch and his frequent rivals The Body Doubles back to a state not completely dissimilar to where they were in the old DC Universe.



The artwork by Ramon Bachs and Jesus Saiz serves but is not spectacular. The artists' styles prove to be complementary, for what little that matters when Saiz only drew the last page of the book. Hopefully the two of them will find a regular gig elsewhere on another book.

Will Mitch Shelley rise again elsewhere in The New 52? He'd be a natural fit for Justice League Dark. And his particular brand of weird-science would not be out of place in Agent of S.H.A.D.E. Wherever he shows up, Mitch Shelley and this book shall always live on in my memories.

Resurrection Man #12 - A Review

With this series one issue away from cancellation, there seems little point in worrying about new readers attempting to jump on with this issue. Yet Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning still saw fit to explain the entire concept of this book in a single page, satisfying the Stan Lee dictum that every comic may be someone's first comic and should be written as such. Abnett and Lanning were great at that sort of thing and I shall miss that attention to detail when this book is gone.




Amazingly, our titular Resurrection Man has little to do with the action of this issue. Captured by the federal government program he once apparently worked for, Mitch Shelly is run through a virtual reality ringer so realistic that his death in the fake world can trigger his abilities to spontaneously generate a new superpower upon his death. As his former co-workers and enemies look on, it will fall to the few friends Mitch has left to save him from a fate worse than continually repeated deaths.



This is Javier Pina's first issue on this series and it's a shame that he won't get a chance to continue on with these characters. A former artist on Manhunter, Pina's style is a natural for the dark, twisted world of Resurrection Men. Hopefully he'll find a new regular job somewhere else at DC Comics.

Fast Thoughts For The Week Of July 11, 2012

I didn't get much chance for reviewing comics this past week, what with all the San Diego Comic Con news and there's not a lot I can say about most of what I read. So here are my thoughts, in brief, on everything I didn't feel up to a full review of.


BATMAN #11 - This issue is the final chapter of The Court of Owls event that has dominated the Batman books over the last year and the final fight between Batman and one of the assassins known as The Talons is everything we could have hoped for.





If you aren't reading this book yet, I can't help but wonder about you. Sadly, unlike previous issues, there's not a lot I can say and very few scans I can show that will not give away some major spoilers. Suffice it to say Scott Snyder is writing the best Batman story in years and Greg Capullo's artwork is amazing.



DEMON KNIGHTS #11 - The plot thickens as The Demon Knights journey deeper into the heart of an corrupted Avalon. Here, most of them nearly give into the darkness and have their bodies and minds warped. Thankfully, they find an unexpected ally - the Once and Future King Arthur!



Paul Cornell and Diogenes Neves have created something truly magical with this book. It is a must-read for all fans of fantasy literature in general, sword and sorcery in particular and quirky comics in specific.



RESURRECTION MAN #11 - I wish I could say I was surprised by the news that this book had been canceled. Like Mister Terrific before it, it was unique, well-written and far too strange for the common clay of the New 52. It's too late for me to save it. It's too soon for me to mourn it. All I can do is say that I enjoyed this issue - and every issue before it - because of how Abnett and Lanning made every single issue accessible to new readers, laying the concept bare, simply and subtly.




Mitch Shelly will live on, we are told, somewhere in the DCU. We can only hope that we can get all of his story told in the time left and that his amnesia will not be a persistent thing.

Aquaman #10 - A Review

Geoff Johns is undeniably one of the greatest idea men in comics today. However, in the case of Aquaman #10, one is tempted to say that it might be better if Johns did not try to fit so many ideas into one storyline.

I'm not certain why the multiple plots that seemed to flow together so seamlessly in the previous issues of this series seem to be scatter-shot in this issue. Perhaps it was because, in writing my review of the previous three issues of this series, I had read all the issues together in one sitting. This may be one of those story-lines that reads better in the trades than it does as a monthly book. I certainly hope that's the case, for there is a lot to like in Aquaman right now. Perhaps too much...

By way of a for instance, let us consider The Others - a loose association of superheroes Aquaman was once part of. Apparently they all draw power from or own Atlantean artifacts and were forced into teaming-up due to the machinations of Black Manta. Johns throws out quick little scenes with these new characters - The Prisoner, The Operative, Ya"Wara The Jungle Queen - with little to no explanation of who they are, what their abilities are and what their motivations are past "stop Black Manta". What we see of them is intriguing and leaves me wanting to know more about them... but there's nothing there! As soon as we see these characters in action, we're cutting away to Aquaman fighting Black Manta in the present or Aquaman fighting Black Manta in flashback.

These action scenes, too, are well-written and well-paced, but far too short and broken up by the switching between the multiple points-of-view. And that's ignoring the fourth unifying plot, where Dr. Shin - a new supporting character who has a past with both Aquaman AND Black Manta - explains to an increasingly annoyed Mera (and the reader) about Aquaman's secret past, his association with The Others and how Aquaman and Black Manta are both responsible for killing one another's fathers. I think it might have been best if Johns had devoted one issue to the flashbacks, one issue to the explanation and one issue to the action in the present day after setting things up in Issue #7.

Thankfully, while I may quibble over how this story is laid out, I have no such problems with the artwork. Ivan Reis is as grand as ever and it's good to see him continuing to knock it out of the park every month. The inking team of Andy Lanning and Joe Prado also deserve high praise, as does colorist Rod Reis. Through lighter inks and differing palettes, the art team manages to break up Johns' script visually, using differing levels to depict the flashbacks and the high-action scenes from the more stilted talking-heads moments.

I'd still recommend Aquaman to most readers but I think, given this issue, it might be better to buy the monthly issues and save them up to read in one sitting or just wait for the TP collections.

Resurrection Man #10 - A Review

Resurrection Man #10 is an excellent jumping-on point for those who have yet to discover one of the DCnU's quirkiest - and best - new titles. Told from the viewpoint of the titular Resurrection Man's new companion - a clairvoyant detective named Kim Rebecki - the opening of this issue sets up the base concept beautifully.


Mitch Shelley is an amnesiac who has somehow become immortal. More, every time Mitch dies he is reborn with a new superpower - usually something to counter his most recent demise. All Mitch wants is to find out who he was.  But a lot of powerful groups have a vested interest in stopping Mitch from doing that or bringing him over to their side.  This issue brings us back to two of the groups after Mitch who have been ignored in recent issues - Heaven and Hell themselves, each of whom has reasons for wanting to stop Mitch's using the Pearly Gates as a revolving door.

 It's a unique concept but writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning make it work. Mitch is a genuinely sympathetic character. He doesn't particularly want to be a hero but he doesn't shy away from helping people when he can. All Mitch wants is to know who he was and - based on what little he knows of his past so far - make up for his misdeeds.



The artwork by Jesus Saiz (most recently of Birds of Prey) is top-notch. Siaz is probably best known for his ability to drawn beautiful women and the forces of Heaven (all attractive women in business attire) give him ample opportunity to indulge in his particular specialty. Despite this, the artwork is not explotive or sexist. And unlike many artists known for their pin-ups, Siaz is equally capable of drawing a good action scene.

Long story short, this series is an over-looked treasure and you should give it a shot.

Aquaman #7-9: A Review

In the 45 years since his creation, Black Manta has been many things.  An abused child driven to hate the sea after being trapped on a boat. An autistic man who found comfort in the texture of water while being tortured in Arkham Asylum by an incompetent psychiatrist.  A Black Separatist who wanted to form a new nation, free of the White Man's oppression under the sea.  And even a half-man/half-fish monstrosity.  But despite all this, there's one thing Black Manta has never really been - threatening.  Small wonder then that having established Aquaman as the badass as should be with his first story arc on this title, Geoff Johns should use his second story arc to build upon the background of both hero and villain and turn Black Manta into a villain worthy of the King of the Seven Seas.





These three issues move smoothly through four different story-lines.  Two are set in the modern day DCU.  Two are told in flashback.  In the first storyline, we focus upon Black Manta himself as he hunts and kills a series of superheroes - all of whom apparently draw power from Atlantean artifacts and all of whom were once part of an unofficial super-group called "The Others".






 The second arc focuses upon Aquaman, who was - not surprisingly - one of The Others.  He joins forces with Ya'Wara - a jungle-queen style heroine who was also a member of The Others -  and the two begin to track Black Manta.  This greatly annoys Aquaman's wife Mera, who doesn't seem to wholly believe that the only connection Aquaman and Ya'Wara ever shared was a telepathic one.








The third arc, depicted in flashback, showcases the adventures of The Others in the past.  We see exactly how Arthur and his fellow heroes used to work together and how they were all united in their efforts to stop Black Manta from exploiting the power of ancient Atlantis.  We also see how much Aquaman has changed in six years times, becoming much less savage and kinder in aspect - a scary prospect for those who remember that Aquaman is one of the few who can out-gruff Batman.







In the fourth arc, Mera is told of Aquaman's  life on the surface world as a child by Dr. Stephen Shin - a doctor to whom we have already been introduced.  We learn a little more of his background with The Curry Family and how he came to be hated by Aquaman mixed up with Black Manta.  I'll spare you any more details than that.  Suffice it to say that those familiar with how Geoff Johns rebuilt the Green Lantern mythos from the ground-up will not be surprised at how well Johns is beginning to do the same for Aquaman.

Ivan Reis continues to impress with his pencils, fitting more fine detail into several single panels than many artists attempt over whole pages.  He is ably assisted by inkers Joe Prado, Oclair Alber and Andy Lanning, whose work further refine Reis' pencils without becoming overly dark.  Colorist Rod Reis also deserves special praise, particularly for the sequences where he uses a water-down palette in conjunction with lighter inks in the flashback scenes showing Aquaman's childhood.  The effect seems to perfectly suggest the past without resorting to sepia tones or black-and-white imagery.

If you aren't already giving Aquaman a shot, now is the time to come on-board.

Resurrection Man #7-9 - A Review

As I noted before, the original Resurrection Man title was one of the great lost treasures of late 90s DC Comics and the current series, through the first six issues at least, was proving to be a worthy successor to that legacy.  No small surprise given that the new series was written by the same creative duo as before - authors Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning.  Have the issues since then continued the trend of excellence?  For the most part, yes.




 Issue #7, much like Issue #6, is a perfect jumping on point for new readers.  The opening pages not only establish the setting but also explain Mitch Shelley's circumstances and powers. In brief, Shelley is amnesic and remembers very little of his life.  What little he has started to remember suggests he wasn't a very nice person. In addition to his inability to die permanently and his ability to be reborn with a new superpower every time he does die,  Mitch Shelley has also developed a sixth-sense that seems to be guiding him to places where a hero is needed .  In this case, the sense has guided him to Metropolis, where he quickly finds himself stuck in a fire-fight between a MPD SWAT team and Intergang - an organized criminal group who use advanced technology in their crimes.


You couldn't ask for a better one-shot superhero story than this issue.  Abnett and Lanning quickly establish Mitch as a likeable protagonist and a man of principle. Despite his confusion over his past and his desire to get back his life, Mitch is equally determined to be a good man in his new life no matter what he might have been in the past. 

The artwork by Fernando Dagnino matches the story thematically.  Mitch's world is a dark one and the artwork reflects this.  Dagnino's pencils offer many fine details that are brought into sharp relief by the shadowy inks, while still being somewhat obscured in darkness, like Mitch Shelley's memories.



Issue #8 is another good jumping-on issue, with the opening once again reiterating Mitch's amnesia, his powers and his desire to find out who he was and how he became what he is.  The action centers upon two new players - a necromancer/bounty hunter called The Butcher and a clairvoyant detective named Kim Rebecki.  Both of them seek Mitch Shelley, having been apparently hired by separate parties for differing ends.  By issue's end, Mitch has almost formed an uneasy alliance with Rebecki, who seems to know more of Mitch's past than he does.and has come to the conclusion that he isn't the man he once was.



The quality dips a little bit with Issue #9, in which the Body Doubles catch up with Mitch shortly after he is brought down by The Suicide Squad and hilarity ensues.  While Abnett and Lanning's script is strong as ever, the narrative flow is ultimately ruined by the artwork provided by two pencilers and three inkers.- all of whom have completely different and conflicting styles.  Of the two guest artists, Jesus Saiz is by far the least offensive.  His pencils aren't bad but the heavy inks used on his pages do not do his particular style any justice.


More problematic is Andres Guinaldo's pencils, which are under-inked to the point of sketchiness at times.  What is more maddening is that the colorist (surprisingly, there is only one) seems unable to decide on a consistent skin-tone for Kim Rebecki from page to page.  What is worse, he's elected to depict Amanda Waller with a shade of skin that is more orange than brown.  Perhaps, not having read the new Suicide Squad book since the first issue, I have missed out on something?  Did Amanda Waller have some sort of accident with a Cheeto-bomb?  Or was she perhaps bitten by a vampire carrot?   I want to know!

 

In the end, Resurrection Man is still one of the best books DC Comics has to offer.  It is much better when it is depicted a single artist but even the worst issue of this series has proven to be better than most.  Highly recommended.  Pick up Issue #7 or #8 if you want a good place to jump in.

52 Catch-Up: Resurrection Man #1 - 6

The original Resurrection Man series was a lost treasure of DC Comics. When I heard that a new Resurrection Man series would be part of the New 52 I was both excited and fearful - Excited because I was glad to see such a wonderful concept being revived and given a second chance and fearful because I was certain the series would be one of the first to be canceled. But somehow, Mitch Shelley has beaten the odds and remains to fight another day. For now.





The first issue seemed to have changed very little of the base concept of the original series. Mitch Shelley is a man with a unique gift, even in a world where magical is real and men fly. Not only is Mitch immortal, being continually resurrected no matter how serious his injuries but every time he comes back to life he is reborn with a unique superpower. He is continually pursued by two assassins known as The Body Doubles - a pair of women as dangerous as they are beautiful.





The first issue only revealed one major change from the original series but it was a big one - in addition to The Body Doubles, the forces of Heaven and Hell are hunting after Mitch as well. Why? Good question. But they want Mitch bad enough to risk attacking him overtly on an airplane and to send formless demons and angels who look like Lady Gaga after him.





The reason why I feared this book was an early cancellation risk is because good as it is, this is a very quirky book. There's a lot of high-concept ideas apart from the main theme of the book.





One of the cooler concepts is the introduction of The Transhuman - a retired super-villain who lived in the same rest home as Mitch's dad, who quickly comes to Mitch's defense when The Body Doubles show up looking for him. The true story behind his origin however, is worth of its' own series.





As the series has continued, we've gotten more and more hints as to just how things are different in the New DC Universe, making things new again for old fans. For instance, The Body Doubles have healing factors now - a change that has made them more formidable adversaries and taken them further away from the Danger Girl parodies they eventually devolved into once the original Resurrection Man series ended. Issue #5 also offers us a flashback sequence, which suggest a much deeper connection between all the characters this time around.





Issue #6 is a solid stand-alone issue and a good jumping on point if you can't get the first five issues. In it, Mitch finds himself confined within Arkham Asylum. Naturally they don't believe his story about having superpowers, keep him so doped up he can't use his current power set to escape and are quick to stop any of his attempts to kill himself or goad another inmate or guard into doing the job for him. It's a glorious bit of dark comedy but also a suspenseful thriller.





Every issue so far has been gloriously illustrated by Fernando Dagnino. I can't say enough good things about Dagnino's style, so I shan't bother. Just look at the page scans above and revel in their splendor. And once you're done with that, head to your local comic bookstore and pick up the back issues of this series. You'll be glad you did!

52 Pick-Up - Week Two, Part Two

GRIFTER #2 - Cole Cash tries (and fails) to explain about his alien abduction and the aliens in disguise all around them. After getting attacked by the aliens again and digging himself in deeper, Cole escapes only to be attacked by his own brother, who has been sent by the federal government to kill him. This one is falling back to "Wait For The Trade" Status. It is very well written and the art is good but it's paced like a marathon and I like my monthly books to have a little more speed to them.


MISTER TERRIFIC #2 - This issue is hard for me to summarize because so much happens in it. Seriously, I don't think any book in the New 52 manages to throw out as many interesting concepts and ideas as this one. It's very much like a good Doctor Who episode. The art is a little bit sloppier this time around but it's not bad. And while Power Girl fans may be disappointed that Karen Starr doesn't have any super-powers (yet) she still proves herself to be intelligent and a cool-hand in a difficult situation. Also, the new baddy - Brainstorm - is a close second to The Mirror as the best new villain of the New 52 line. Definitely on the pull list.


RESURRECTION MAN #2 - As with the original Resurrection Man series, this issue focuses upon an amnesiac Mitch Shellley as he's trying to remember who he was. He's tracked down by two super-powered female assassins, who call themselves "Body Doubles", who apparently know who Mitch is and have some previous relationship with him. This is a change from the original series, where the Body Doubles were just two ordinary women turned assassin who took the job to track down and capture Mitch Shelley. These changes are academic, however, and this is another solid title that is definitely going on my pull list.

Resurrection Man #1 - A Review

Resurrection Man #1 is everything a first issue should be. For newcomers, it is a wonderful introduction to one of the most underrated books DC Comics ever published. For fans of the original series written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning over a decade ago, it is a homecoming. Yet there are a few twists and turns to keep them on their toes.

Mitch Shelley is a man without a past and an uncertain future. Possessing a unique ability to die and return from the dead repeatedly, being reborn with a new superpower every time he is brought back, Mitch also has a sense of where he is needed and uses his “gift” to help others as best he can. But the forces of good and evil – The Upstairs and Downstairs departments – are both angling for Mitch’s soul and a mysterious duo of beautiful, but deadly killers has apparently targeted Mitch for some reason…

While it would be a horrible pun to say that Abnett & Lanning have brought their creation back from the dead, it would be an accurate statement. While long-time fans may not be happy about the supernatural element added into the new book, there were plenty of hints in the original series (including a throw-away line by The Phantom Stranger that there was more to Mitch’s power than met the eye. Regardless, this book does a wonderful job of setting up the core concept for old and new readers alike.

Artist Fernando Dagnino proves an able replacement for Jackson Guice, who drew the original Resurrection Man series. Fernando’s style is dark and atmospheric – appropriately spooky for the subject matter, with heavy inks that leave many scenes with heavy shadows that only serve to add to the aura of mystery about the book. The ultimate effect of this is art that looks like it belongs to a classic horror comic but with the feel of a modern-day superhero book as well.

I found myself pleasantly surprised to find that everything old is new again with this title. I remembered the old Resurrection Man series fondly but I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this book, except a guess that it would be good. It was. And you can expect to see me reading this book again next month and in the months to come.