What was a surprise was the inclusion of lesser known characters such as Vibe and Katana. Perhaps this is why both now have their own ongoing series.
When the line-up of the new Justice League of America was announced, it didn’t come as a huge surprise when the likes of Martian Manhunter, Hawkman, Green Arrow, and Green Lantern ‘Baz’ were included. Whilst they are all essentially secondary characters in terms of DC universe ‘gravitas’, they are still well known characters that would offer a lot to the title. What was a surprise was the inclusion of lesser known characters such as Vibe and Katana. Perhaps this is why both now have their own ongoing series.
In terms of Vibe, his series runs very much alongside that of the JLA and, when reading #2 of each title, there is considerable overlap as both issues highlight the team slowly congregating in Washington D.C before being unveiled to the world at a press conference.
The comic is quite light in tone as it focuses more on the comedy side of Vibe’s attempts to fit in.
Whilst Vibe was initially introduced in 1984, the New 52 version is a young Hispanic teenager who, through being caught in the event horizon of a boom-tube opening during the original Darkseid attack, is able to view intruders from other dimensions. As per the original incarnation of the character, he is also able to emit vibration shockwaves.
Vibe’s initial role is that of the untested, unsure teenager who doesn’t feel as though he belongs in the JLA. Whilst this could have led to an emo-heavy character on a quest to prove his worth and overcome the death of his eldest brother, writer Geoff Johns thankfully has gone, so far, for an alternative approach.
Hopefully Dante doesn’t get side-lined as the comic progresses.
The comic is quite light in tone as it focuses more on the comedy side of Vibe’s attempts to fit in. Throughout #2, Vibe is constantly being shot down by his older brother Dante, ridiculing first Vibe’s superhero outfit, and then his unlikely survival chances within the JLA. This is not, however, the bullying of an elder sibling. Instead, it is two brothers joking with each other and their dialogue is definitely the highlight of the issue. Hopefully Dante doesn’t get side-lined as the comic progresses.
Other funny moments are also seen in JLA #2 when Vibe slowly shifts his chair away from Hawkman who joins the room dripping in blood and also when Catwoman catches him peeking at her cleavage through her admittedly ridiculous outfit.
Other funny moments are also seen in JLA #2 when Vibe slowly shifts his chair away from Hawkman who joins the room dripping in blood
Whilst I hope this light-hearted approach continues, when appropriate, it will be interesting to see how this fits in with the darker side of the title. Even at such an early stage, it is clear Vibe is being manipulated by A.R.G.U.S for their own agenda and he is very much an exploitable pawn who is not being told all there is. Whilst Steve Trevor seems to be looking out for the best interests of the JLA, he has been relegated to middle management with limited powers.
The biggest hindrance to both Vibe and the JLA is the motivation behind the team’s formation. With an increasing lack of trust in the Justice League, A.R.G.U.S want to form a team capable of taking down the ‘A-Team’ should the need arise. Each member of the JLA is effectively partnered to a Justice League counterpart with an eventual face-off in mind. For Vibe, he is ear-marked for taking on Flash. I believe the JLA could have been formed in a much better way than this as even the most casual of comic readers would struggle to imagine the JLA coming out on top if such a fight ever happened.
As a character, Vibe benefits from Geoff Johns being the writer on both titles. Not only should this result in a consistent continuity for future storylines but also ensures he has one voice, instead of potentially being misinterpreted by different writers. An example of this within the New 52 is the Flash where I struggle to see any real similarities between the Justice League version and that found in his own series.
Vibe’s initial role is that of the untested, unsure teenager who doesn’t feel as though he belongs in the JLA.
Where the two titles do differ is in the art. Within Vibe, the art is more appropriate to the occasional light-hearted content whereas, in JLA, artist David Finch draws the characters in a much more stressed manner, creating a difference in tone between the two titles. Additionally, one of my comic pet-hates is characters being ‘over-ripped’ and this is abundant in Finch’s work here.
Despite Vibe coming in out of the blue, his debut has a lot of promise to it, not only in how his character progresses but also in how the JLA and the actions of A.R.G.U.S impact the DC Universe, especially with the likes of the Trinity War not too far away.
Rating: 4/5
You can follow Stuart on twitter @Martel_79 or check out his website theonlywayisgeek.blogspot.co.uk/ for more comic news and views!
Posted on April 8th, 2013
Category: REVIEWS, THE ONLY WAY IS GEEK
Tags: Comic Reviews, David Finch, DC Comics, Flash, Geoff Johns, Justice League of America Vol. 3 #2 Review, Stuart Ingram, The Only Way Is Geek, Vibe #2 Review
Saucer Country was plugged as a hybrid between The West Wing and The X-Files.
When launched in March 2012, Saucer Country was plugged as a hybrid between The West Wing and The X-Files. Despite it being an odd tag-line for a comic, I decided to give it a go for its intriguing premise.
Based around Governor Arcadia Alvarado of New Mexico, the comic tells the tale of her attempts to run for the presidency of the United States whilst hiding the fact she, along with her ex-husband Michael, is an alien abductee.
Based around Governor Arcadia Alvarado of New Mexico, the comic tells the tale of her attempts to run for the presidency of the United States.
As Alvarado attempts to form a political team that is able to deal with her revelation, she also hires a former Harvard professor to investigate her abduction, in the hope her political status will help prepare what may eventually become an alien invasion.
From reading Saucer Country, it is evident it was intended for a fairly long run, given its slow pace, so it must be disappointing to its creative team, Paul Cornell (Wolverine) and Ryan Kelly (Lucifer) that publisher Vertigo recently decided to cancel the title after #14.
Whilst it is certainly a shame a title with promise has been culled relatively early in its run, it is perhaps no major surprise given that the title has not built on its initial premise. From its debut issue in March 2012 to January’s #11, sales figures have dropped from 15,000 to 6,000.
Instead of dealing with the alien threat, it focuses more on UFO mythology and the historical context of alien abductions.
Instead of dealing with the alien threat, it focuses more on UFO mythology and the historical context of alien abductions. With the use of Professor Kidd and several psychiatrist sessions for Arcadia and Michael, it essentially serves as an introduction for abductions for the uninitiated. Whilst the comic has seen progress in the political journey from governor to presidential candidate, although it has been badly paced, the abduction arc has barely moved on. Whilst it is discussed at great length between the characters, readers are still awaiting any significant exposition regarding the identity of the aliens and their motives. Whilst I appreciate the need to plan out a storyline, at some point there has to be a pay-off to keep people intrigued and this never seemed to happen with Saucer Country.
The comic also suffers from changes in tone that disrupt the flow of the story. In general, Saucer Country strikes a fairly dark, intense mood however, Professor Kidd is revealed to regularly hallucinate as he speaks to what appear to be a miniature naked couple who aid him in assisting the Governor. As one might think, this does not fit in well with the rest of the comic.
Professor Kidd is revealed to regularly hallucinate as he speaks to what appear to be a miniature naked couple who aid him in assisting the Governor.
Additionally, any momentum gained is often lost during its run as it has dedicated the occasional issue to a backstory, aside from the main arc. As an example, #12 features Michael’s childhood memories of playing with imaginary fairies with a friend.
With just two more issues before cancellation, it is hard to see how much can be resolved. One assumes the alien threat will be open ended whilst the presidential race concludes. In interviews, it is hoped it will continue in some form, this is far from certain.
Rating: 2/5
You can follow Stuart on twitter @Martel_79 or check out his website theonlywayisgeek.blogspot.co.uk/ for more comic news and views!
Posted on March 7th, 2013
Category: REVIEWS, THE ONLY WAY IS GEEK
Tags: Abductions, Aliens, Comic Reviews, DC Comics, Paul Cornell, Ryan Kelly, Saucer Country Review, Stuart Ingram, The Only Way Is Geek, Vertigo
Whilst the staple part of my comic diet consists of DC, Marvel, and Image titles, there is nothing better than coming across a gem of a title like this.
There is nothing better than coming across a gem of a title like this.
Twisted Dark came my way after visiting MCM Expo at London in October last year where the writer, Neil Gibson, was signing all three volumes of the series. It is with much annoyance that it has taken me nearly three months to make a start due to a ridiculous backlog of titles. All my fault I suppose!
Onto the comic.
Twisted Dark is a collection of short comic tales, each one focused on the darker side of the human psyche, ranging from a father suffering hallucinations over a lost son to a mental patient convinced he is part of a reality TV show. Whilst these all start as separate tales here in Volume 1, there is the promise there will be later connections in future releases. To date, three volumes have been released under T Publications with at least five mentioned by Gibson in a MCM Buzz interview late last year.
Twisted Dark Volume 1 – Routine by Neil Gibson and Caspar Wijngaard.
As is probably evident by the comic’s title, this is not to be read if on a search for the more uplifting aspects of human behaviour. It pulls no punches as it features individuals forced to the fringes of society, each tale created to make the reader contemplate the open-ended conclusions. There is very much a global feel to what is being created here as locations include Tokyo, Colombia, Dubai, and Norway, possibly suggesting the darker side of human behaviour is not confined to any particular region but something that is not too far from all of us.
This is where Twisted Dark really hits home for me, the ability to highlight emotions that are likely to relate, to some extent, to readers. Whilst the characters take their darkness to the extreme, traits such as attention seeking, resentment over a failed childhood, trauma over a loss in the family, a young girl’s insecurity over her looks, and achieving success through illegitimate means are common throughout society so these are not cardboard cut-out villains here. Somewhere, deep down there lurking, is a little bit of them in all of us.
Twisted Dark Volume 1 – Munchausen’s Little Proxie by Neil Gibson and Caspar Wijngaard.
Whilst most stories follow a similar path in that all is not revealed until the final few pages, it manages to avoid becoming repetitive, at least at this stage, due to the individual style of each tale. If the tales are to somehow connect in future volumes, it will be interesting to see if the stories maintain their current structure or take a different form as they progress.
Another method by Gibson in giving each story its own identity is in the use of several artists throughout the volume. Whilst the book maintains a similar twisted mentality, the differing art styles results in each tale standing on its own. In particular, the tale ‘Routine’, based in Norway, picturing the bleak, empty life of Asbjorn and his son is emphasised beautifully by Caspar Wijngaard.
Twisted Dark Volume 1 – The Pushman by Neil Gibson and Jan Wijngaard
In short, you should read this book. Yes, it is bleak and offers little in way of hope for the characters but in no way is it gratuitous or excessive in its depictions of human depravity. It is truly compelling due to how grounded it all seems. Of all 11 stories, only one, ‘Windopayne’ , has a somewhat grandiose revelation but, even then, does not detract from the story.
For more information on Twisted Dark and comics by Neil Gibson, go to www.neilgibsoncomics.com.
Verdict: 5/5
You can follow Stuart on twitter @Martel_79 or check out his website theonlywayisgeek.blogspot.co.uk/ for more comic news and views!
Posted on January 16th, 2013
Category: REVIEWS, THE ONLY WAY IS GEEK
Tags: Comic Reviews, Neil Gibson, Stuart Ingram, The Only Way Is Geek, Twisted Dark, Twisted Dark Volume 1 Review
The title that has induced the most geek rage in me, ever since the re-boot in fact, was Green Arrow.
One of the advantages of my laptop sadly being out of commission for the past few weeks is that it has given me a chance to look back on DC’s #0 month as a whole.
Like most DC fans, I was looking forward to an easy entry into titles not previously read, as well as reading up on the back stories of my regular pull list. I was also hoping it would breathe new life into titles I’ve cancelled over the last twelve months.
Whilst it is safe to say the reception has been mixed, I would say it has been for a variety of reasons, with no single factor to blame for its possible failure. Undoubtedly, some titles were plain not very good, however that had to be expected when we were dealing with over 50 titles. Even the most die-hard of DC fans must have thought that! My first problem though, after reading over 20 issues, was whether all titles actually required a #0 origin tale in the first place?
My first problem though, after reading over 20 issues, was whether all titles actually required a #0 origin tale in the first place?
Personally, it got to the point where many titles merged into one and became very predictable as they followed a standard storyline. Two generic plot templates emerged with the main character either experiencing a tragic event in their early years or being responsible for such an event through reckless behaviour. Through these events, their new persona is used for either vengeance or a form of redemption.
I have no problem in DC using this as an excuse to pull in new readers, using the #0 issue as an accessible entry way into a title, however was there honestly a need for four Batman #0’s (Batman, Detective, Batman & Robin, Dark Knight)? Granted, they concentrated on different aspects of Bruce’s early days and they were all personal high-points for Zero month, but still unnecessary. Additionally, a number of titles had concluded their arc with #12 anyway so the next issue could well be seen as a potential jumping on point for new readers.
Was there honestly a need for four Batman #0’s (Batman, Detective, Batman & Robin, Dark Knight)?
The titles that would likely benefit the most from Zero month would be those that started back in September 2011 where the sales figures have been steadily falling. Two titles where the #0 issue has been detrimental would be World’s Finest and Earth 2. After only four issues released prior to this September, both titles were still finding their way, introducing new characters, and building a solid fan base. I think it was bad timing here for both titles to go on a two month break before their stories could resume. Staying with World’s Finest, one criticism of its #0 issue would be in the art department. For a comic that deals with the sudden loss of a parent, there was far too much of a cartoony feel which was completely out of context with what was actually going on.
Two titles where the #0 issue has been detrimental would be World’s Finest and Earth 2.
The title that has induced the most geek rage in me, ever since the re-boot in fact, was Green Arrow. As mentioned earlier, it is the feature of some titles for the main character to be on a quest of redemption for their past ill activities, however in my two years of reading comics, I’ve never seen such an unlikeable character as this interpretation of Oliver Queen as he shows no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
When comparing him to the Oli Queen from Identity Crisis, an ageing cynical man looking to reconnect with his wife and children, it’s almost painful to read this re-booted version and it is a title that was quickly removed from my monthly list. It seems to be a homage to the Queen seen in Smallville which doesn’t sound like a bad idea on paper, however the transition to the comic book has just not worked. The #0 issue, showing him to be a rich playboy at fault for a large explosion and the possible death of a friend, was a bad choice as that’s not the kind of act someone can hope to come back from.
In my two years of reading comics, I’ve never seen such an unlikeable character as this interpretation of Oliver Queen as he shows no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
Aside from the Batman titles, I found Batgirl, Swamp Thing, and Talon to be good reads but not enough to get the next issue although, with the Joker storyline featuring heavily in Batgirl over the next few months, I may quickly reverse that decision.
Perhaps the most striking point is my favourite #0 issue turned out to be Green Lantern: New Guardians and that wasn’t an origin issue, instead more of a reforming of the team prior to the Rise of the Third Army story.
Perhaps the most striking point is my favourite #0 issue turned out to be Green Lantern: New Guardians and that wasn’t an origin issue!
On a side note, I have, over the past couple of months and done the unthinkable in reading a few Marvel titles in Avengers vs. X-Men, Gambit, and Hawkeye. As reluctant as I was, I have noted a considerable improvement in terms of character and general dialogue. From these early issues, it appears Marvel are more comfortable with their creations, developing characters without betraying their origins. This is compared where many DC titles just seem too forced in putting across their point and not giving their storylines enough time to flourish. As an example, poor old Superman has had a rough time since the reboot as he continues to find a worthwhile arc.
In conclusion, the effect of Zero month has been for me to take up some Marvel titles as well as some upcoming Image comics that are released in November so, personally, I suppose it hasn’t worked. I hope that DC looks to Batman’s Court of Owl’s storyline and see, when given plenty of time to develop, a title is more likely to succeed and I hope that happens over the next 12 months.
Follow Stuart on twitter @Martel_79 or check out his website theonlywayisgeek.blogspot.co.uk/
Posted on November 3rd, 2012
Category: REVIEWS, THE ONLY WAY IS GEEK
Tags: #0 month, Aquaman, Arrow, Batman, Batman: The Dark Knight, DC Comics, DC Zero Month Review, earth 2, Green Arrow, Green Lantern New Guardians, Oliver Queen, Stuart Ingram, The Only Way Is Geek, Worlds Finest
Extermination has proved to be one of the most intriguing comics in my monthly list.
I’ll start off by honestly saying I came across Extermination more through luck than by any form of in-depth research. Whilst enjoying an afternoon off work last week, I was strolling through London’s West End and decided upon a visit to a nearby geek shop. One of this shop’s benefits is their collection of grab-bags, inclusive of four comics, for a measly £1. So amongst one of the four bags I bought was Extermination #1.
As it only really cost me 25p, I held out no major hope for it and was ready to file it in my ‘Miscellaneous’ comic folder however, after reading the first two issues, it has proved to be one of the most intriguing comics in my monthly list.
As #1 starts, the only two characters introduced are superhero, Nox, and supervillain, The Red Reaper.
I was at something of a disadvantage as I didn’t know too much about Extermination, other than a brief mention somewhere online a few months ago, so it wasn’t until finishing #2 that I had managed to get a fairly accurate idea as to what hell was going on.
To summarise the plot, Earth has been left on the brink of destruction after coming under attack from an alien force. As #1 starts, the only two characters introduced are superhero, Nox, and supervillain, The Red Reaper. Previously enemies before the attack, they are forced to work together, despite their differences, staying on the run from the alien horde, on their nuclear-powered ‘bladecycle’. Nox, a Batman-wannabe in appearance and character, tries to uphold integrity and decency in the face of mass extinction by refusing to kill and even as far as banning the use of bad language. The Reaper is a wonderfully over-the-top ‘pseudo-camp’ evil scientist who takes as much pleasure in ridiculing Nox as he does in killing the alien creatures.
Where Extermination truly sets itself apart is in the dialogue between the two main characters.
The basic premise of the series, outlined in #1, is nothing we haven’t seen before, however where Extermination truly sets itself apart is in the dialogue between the two main characters. Whilst it may be easy to quickly dismiss their arguments as light-hearted good vs. evil debates, it highlights also a clash of ideologies in a new world. Whilst Nox clings on to the values and ethics of society before the attack, Red Reaper declares them irrelevant as he likens the attack to a teenage boy hitting puberty, the world now needing to man up and concentrate on the most basic instinct, survival. To illustrate a certain level of credibility to Reaper’s argument, it is Nox that is seen with the first signs of conflict as the series begins.
Interspersed throughout the comic are short flashbacks that provide an important backdrop to how life was on Earth before the attack and also highlights Nox and Reaper in their previous roles as enemies.
One of my concerns over the first issue was the limited amount of characters, however this is thankfully rectified in #2 as more survivors are introduced.
One of my concerns over the first issue was the limited amount of characters, however this is thankfully rectified in #2 as more survivors are introduced, in addition to ‘powereds’ such as Promethean, a superhero who is used by the survivors to an extent possibly never before seen in comics! #2 also expands upon the initial plot by revealing society’s complacency and level of dependency on their superheroes and later, their feelings of betrayal towards them as they are alleged to have abandoned them in their hour of need.
As for the artwork, it is extremely detailed and imaginative, especially during the battle scenes involving the various forms of aliens. One slight criticism would be that it suffers from trying to have too much occur in each still, resulting in the main characters appearing far too small when being swarmed by aliens. Whilst this serves the purpose to highlight their plight, it can make it hard for the reader.
As for the artwork, it is extremely detailed and imaginative, especially during the battle scenes involving the various forms of aliens.
To conclude, despite exhibiting a range of factors seen many times before, Extermination still manages to pull it off with a quirky-but-at-times-serious take on the alien invasion genre with two main characters whose constant bitching make this a recommendation for those looking for something new.
Rating: 3/5
Follow Stuart on twitter @Martel_79 or check out his website theonlywayisgeek.blogspot.co.uk/
Posted on September 8th, 2012
Category: REVIEWS, THE ONLY WAY IS GEEK
Tags: Boom Studios, Comic Review, comics, Extermination #1 Review, Extermination #2 Review, Stuart Ingram, The Only Way Is Geek
The issue is a one-shot from the perspective of Harper Row, a young punk rebel girl.
Let’s be clear about one thing. Batman #12 is a filler issue. Certainly not a bad filler, but one nonetheless.
This is no bad thing as, after the previous year-long ‘Court of Owls’ storyline, there would be no real advantage in going straight into the upcoming Joker saga. As the current DC range is also about to release their #0 backstory features over the next month, starting a new arc now, only to then go on a month’s hiatus would not have done any favours to the reader.
The issue is a one-shot from the perspective of Harper Row, a young punk rebel girl whose attempts to protect her gay brother from homophobic bullies do not always prove successful. In addition to fending off members of Gotham’s undesirables, we also see her work on the city’s electrical grid and how this relates to Batman’s exploits.
It now becomes evident that Batman’s warning to Harper in #7 to stay away from him refers to their brief meeting in this backstory.
The story takes place during the first few issues of the Court arc as Harper is introduced getting ready for the same dinner seen in #1 where Bruce outlines his vision for a future Gotham. In terms of Harper, this is the same girl seen resuscitating the Bat in #7 after his escape from the Court’s maze of torture. It now becomes evident that Batman’s warning to Harper in #7 to stay away from him refers to their brief meeting in this backstory. Whilst it has yet to be determined whether she will appear in the future, Harper shows a determination in continuing to aid Batman.
Batman #12 does raise an interesting point in highlighting Batman’s reluctance in accepting help from the public.
Aside from the main storyline, #12 does raise an interesting point in highlighting Batman’s reluctance in accepting help from the public. An unfortunate consequence of his image as Gotham’s ‘saviour’ is others wanting to either assist him or emulate his actions. As seen with Harper, this approach often puts them in danger, situations they are not prepared for. With a sense of responsibility for their actions, Batman does his utmost in dissuading them from this course of action. Whilst he does have the Bat-family to occasionally help him, it shows, in defending Gotham’s citizens from the city’s criminals, he must also protect them from themselves.
Scott Snyder continues writing duties here, no surprises there, however the artwork sees a change from Greg Capullo to the joint efforts of Becky Cloonan and Andy Clarke. I have never seen the advantage of a comic being split in two for artwork and this is no different. Cloonan draws the majority of pages however the change to Clarke occurs for the final six pages as we get to the conclusion. Not that this should be seen as a significant setback, however it does disrupt the flow which I see as unnecessary and could have been avoided.
Batman #12 is used to introduce the character of Row, showing Gotham from her perspective, and the struggle for many of Gotham’s underclass.
In conclusion, Batman #12 is used to introduce the character of Row, showing Gotham from her perspective, and the struggle for many of Gotham’s underclass. Her role as electrical whizz-kid also shines some light on to a previously un-touched aspect of Gotham in how Batman manipulates the city’s power supply. Whilst this was a satisfying one-shot, its relevance will likely depend on Harper’s future role in the Bat-universe.
Rating: 3/5
Follow Stuart on twitter @Martel_79 or check out his website theonlywayisgeek.blogspot.co.uk/
Posted on August 23rd, 2012
Category: REVIEWS, THE ONLY WAY IS GEEK
Tags: Batman, Batman Vol. 2 #12 Review, Comic Reviews, DC Comics, Harper Row, Joker, Scott Snyder, Stuart Ingram, The Only Way Is Geek
With Revival, Image Comics have done their best to show there can be a fresh perspective on the zombie genre.
Written by TIM SEELEY
Art by MIKE NORTON
Cover by JENNY FRISON
With Revival, Image Comics have done their best to show there can be a fresh perspective on the zombie genre. Labelling it as a ‘rural noir’, the comic focuses on a small community in Wisconsin, USA, where a to-be-confirmed number of dead have risen back to life. Not overly original until the reader discovers these ‘Revivers’ are not the mindless, salivating zombies one might expect. Instead they return exactly as their previous selves.
As such, this small community is overrun by both the national media and the CDC (Centres for Disease Control) as the world seeks an explanation for this freak occurrence. In the meantime, the local population do their best to cope with this extreme situation as they are forced to remain within the town limits and those back from the dead are left to question how they fit back in to the world.
The local population do their best to cope with this extreme situation as they are forced to remain within the town limits and those back from the dead are left to question how they fit back in to the world.
In its first issue, Revival covers considerably more ground usually seen in a #1, as it raises several open-ended storylines in which the writers will hopefully have many issues to cover. What is the cause of all this? Will it spread out across the rest of America? How far will the authorities go to contain the situation? And what’s the deal with that alien??
It is perhaps not a huge surprise the first issue has adopted this approach given the highly competitive nature of the comic book market at the moment. Whilst the excitement of the DC re-boot has now died down, recent months have seen a steady flow of #1’s from Image, not to mention it receiving inescapable comparisons with arguably the company’s flagship series, The Walking Dead.
What is the cause of all this? Will it spread out across the rest of America? How far will the authorities go to contain the situation?
Whilst this is understandable, given both series’ central premise of the living dead, Revival couldn’t be much further removed from the exploits of Rick Grimes and I certainly hope it manages to create its own identity.
One easily identifiable difference between the two series is the role played by the ‘dead’. In The Walking Dead, they feature as the stereotypical zombie, mindless, bereft of personality or soul, as they aimlessly wander the land, driven only by a lust for blood. Switch to the ‘Revivers’ where their identities and personalities remain intact, essentially making them characters. The focus is on the community as a whole, inclusive of the dead. Already in the first issue, it questions whether they should go back to their previous lives of working in a convenience store or going back to school. Additionally, we see an elderly lady resentful at returning, happy that her time had come.
One easily identifiable difference between Revival and the Walking Dead is the role played by the ‘dead’.
A much needed feature shown is the search for exposition. Robert Kirkman, writer of The Walking Dead, has repeatedly stated the source of the virus will not be revealed. For that comic, it is not necessary as the focus is on survival and how humanity copes when stripped of even the basic elements of life in the 21st century. With Revival #1, the search for what happened is already underway as the main character, police officer Dana Cypress, is introduced as she gets dressed for work as she listens to a radio debate on the cause of events.
With the choice of location, it also puts rural communities at odds with the more mainstream aspects of society as they are placed under the magnifying glass. Along with the clash of theories between faith and science, it emphasises the level of conflict in the comic.
Not everyone is happy at the thought of returning!
It is certainly early days however Revival is looking like it could be one of the outstanding comics of the year and is definitely worth a read.
Rating: 4/5
Follow Stuart on twitter @Martel_79 or check out his website theonlywayisgeek.blogspot.co.uk/
Posted on August 11th, 2012
Category: REVIEWS, THE ONLY WAY IS GEEK
Tags: Comic Reviews, Image Comics, Jenny Frison, Mike Norton, Revival #1 Review, Stuart Ingram, The Only Way Is Geek, Tim Seeley, Walking Dead
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