RESURRECTION MAN #0

STORY: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
ART: Ramon Bachs and Jesus Saiz

Mitch Shelley is a huge ass. At least, the real Mitch Shelley. Not the Mitch Shelley we've been following over the past 13 months. Last month, it was revealed that the main character of Resurrection Man was actually a clone of the true Mitch Shelley, who it turns out is the evil mastermind behind the entire series' worth of criminal activities. It was an eloquent - if not slightly sadistic - way to technically end the series. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning were given this chance to explain things a bit more with Resurrection Man #0, and thus the issue gives readers a more comprehensive historical account of the real Mitch Shelley, as well as the events that led to the creation of "Resurrection Man" Mitch Shelley. The biggest shortcoming of this "Zero Issue" is that Abnett and Lanning seemed to have planned for Resurrection Man to continue, as foreshadowing and set-ups for future plot lines are littered throughout these pages.

For the same reason I've had a love/hate relationship with this series for the past few months, Resurrection Man #0 ups the ante by continuing to be one of the best titles from DC's 'New 52' even though this is the very seriously final issue. I tried to not get too attached to this series, as I knew the adventures of Mitch Shelley would soon be coming to an end. It didn't work, and just like the frustration of watching Firefly after it had been cancelled, I found myself upset that a series this good was so underrated. Honestly, I was holding out for a last-minute renewal, similar to Community's miraculous fourth season (SIX SEASONS AND A MOVIE!).

The plot of Resurrection Man #0 would seem straightforward enough. Fortunately, Abnett and Lanning don't take the easy way out, instead opting to make this origin story as wacky and sci-fi as possible. The first thing we're made to understand is that Resurrecting Mitch's memories were actually Proto-Mitch's memories. This means that it was the jerk-wad Mitch who was in the Middle East with Deathstroke and Hooker five years prior. This also accounts for all the other horrible flashbacks Living-and-Dying Mitch would have about his "past". At some point in Iraq, O.G. Mitch is badly wounded then attacked by some fish monster thing and injected with the tektite solution - a self-healing agent -  which becomes the catalyst that starts the proverbial ball rolling. To save the rest of his horribly wounded team, Mitch Sr. orders the tektite solution used to treat all of them. This is how Director Hooker receives his powers, as well as the Body Doubles.

In the hoopla of the explosions that cause all the harm, the Original Mitch Shelley loses his arm. Even with the tektites flowing through him, the reattachment is unsuccessful. Shelley orders his dead arm incinerated to keep the tektite solution out of enemy hands. But as Jeff Goldblum said in Jurassic Park, "Life finds a way." The tektites survive the incineration and escape through the smoke into nature where they instinctually sap all surrounding matter to 'resurrect' Mitch Shelley from the blueprint of his DNA grafted onto them. It's a bit complex, a bit high-concept, and is just plain cool. The tektites simply reconstitute Neu-Mitch whenever he dies in the same fashion, giving him a new power each time in the process.

Resurrection Man #0 also looks toward the (now nonexistent) future of the series. Who is the fishy-man who injects the first Mitch with tektites originally? How does Deathstroke's involvement with Mitch Shelley connect with his time with Team 7? How will Mitch make amends for the terrible crimes of his source material? Where does Kim Rebecki fit into all of this? And why is the Devil being set up to become a major character? Alas, it's highly unlikely any of these questions will ever be answered, unless Mitch joins the Justice League Dark or something. (Hint, hint, DC.)

GRADE

A

SERIES GRADE:

A+

RESURRECTION MAN #12

STORY: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
ART: Javier Pina

The entirety of Resurrection Man has been a mystery. From the beginning, Mitch Shelley has struggled to figure out who he is and how he came to have the incredible powers he possesses. In it's 12 issues, this series has taken us all over the United States, introduced an exceptional supporting cast, and showcased a host of awesome powers at Shelley's disposal after his disposals. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning created this character 15 years ago, and Shelley's 'New 52' reboot put him into a world that isn't ready for superheroes, turning him into more of an outcast than his previous incarnation. Unfortunately, sales numbers didn't lean in it's favor, and Resurrection Man #12 stands as the final (chronological) issue of the series. It's also the best one yet.

In many ways, Resurrection Man is a type of narrative that actually can end after a relatively small number of issues. Even though,the premise of Shelley's situation is one that could be mined for years if done effectively (looking at you, Wolverine), should it? After a while, the series would be in danger of falling into a simple and uninteresting 'power of the week' format that focused on what cool new moved Shelley had instead of quality storytelling. Just look at NBC's Heroes, a show that started off so strong, so promising, only to end up wallowing in a convoluted train wreck involving a superpower-centric carnival. I'd hate to see Mitch Shelley teaming up with Flash or Green Lantern, to be honest. I'd like to quickly clarify that I'd read any and all issues of this series if it had been allowed to continue. I love the character, the premise, and the cast. In Abnett and Lanning's hands, Mitch Shelley's adventures would have been awesome going forward. But that's not the case, and the Shelley's creators send him out with a bang and a big cliffhanger that we'll get the inside scoop on in Resurrection Man #0.

At the mercy of Director Hooker, Shelley is sent through stress tests with virtual reality simulations so Hooker's scientists can research the deaths and resurrections to find a way to replicate the ability in others. While this may seem cliched, it's actually quite graceful in it's execution. Hooker takes a moment to give readers an abridged explanation of tektites, a form of nanotechnology that unlocks different abilities in different people. For Hooker, it's immortality; for the Body Doubles, it's strength and regeneration. And for Mitch Shelley, it's coming back to life with a new superpower each time he dies. From Hooker's own mouth, "Mitch Shelley is the Holy Grail."

I'm not going to give a lot away about the plot of this issue, as it's the last and the surprises throughout the issue are awesome enough that they warrant secrecy. Suffice it to say, a lot of bombs are dropped. As I suspected, Abnett and Lanning really do pull out all the stops for this issue, bringing resolutions to a lot of loose ends while simultaneously raising a whole bunch of new questions that will hopefully be adressed in Issue Zero. A lot of what felt like filler throughout Resurrection Man's run now seems a bit more important now that we've reached an end. And really, the last page cliffhanger makes the entire issue and series worth the read.

GRADE

A

UPCOMING REVIEWS (AUG 8-14, 2012)

Batman #12
(Snyder, Cloonan)
- Now that "The City of Owls" is behind us, Batman moves forward with a stand-alone issue before the next month's Issue Zero then the return of the Joker in Batman #13. For now, we get a look at Harper Row, a new character Snyder is introducing who's actually made an appearance or two already!

Batman and Robin #12

(Tomasi, Gleason)

- This is the final fight with Terminus? I really feel like there hasn't been a first fight with Terminus, let alone a final one. But what do I know? Hopefully, the "War of the Robins" story continues this month, as it has proved a far better narrative than anything to do with that weirdo with a needle fetish.

Resurrection Man #12

(Abnett, Lanning, Saiz)

- It's the final issue of Resurrection Man, not counting next month's Issue Zero, which tells the tale of Mitch Shelley's origin. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning will be wrapping things up nice and tight, hopefully, by giving us a definitive look at the way everything started going to Hell for Mitch.

Spider-Men #4 of 5

(Bendis, Pichelli)

- We've all been waiting for the meeting between Peter Parker-616 and Ultimate Aunt May (which is totally awesome to type), and it started happening at the end of last issue. Now, we get the fully reunion between two people who lost the most important people in their lives. Classic Bendis.

Superboy #12

(DeFalco, Silva)

- Yeesh. It seems, by way of DC promo material, that this issue of Superboy is about Kon-El dealing with dark influences and the choice he has to make whether to stay good or go bad. That's about as sappy and cliche as a teenage story can get, so hopefully Tom DeFalco has something up his sleeve to pull this story out of mediocrity.

4-Sentence Reviews
- Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #2 of 4
- Space: Punisher #2 of 4
- The Ravagers #4
- X-Treme X-Men #2

RESURRECTION MAN #11

STORY: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
ART: Jesus Saiz and Javier Pina

If you keep up with "The Endless Reel", you know how much I adore Resurrection Man. In a universe full of interconnecting narratives and convoluted history, Mitch Shelley's adventures represent what comics used to be - a rip-roaring good time full of superpowers, good vs. evil, and a damn fine mystery to solve. That being said, the past couple of issues have floundered somewhat, unable to make any significant progress in uncovering Shelley's mysterious past at all. Of course, Shelley's rotating power set is also a draw to the book, but he's had the same shadow powers for those same few issues, so it's starting to get a bit stale. Resurrection Man #11 comes back around and brings some resolution to at least a one ongoing plotline dealing with the Transhuman, an old villain looking to help Shelley figure out his past.


It's nice to see a character experiencing a relatable form of amnesia; it seems Mitch's memory loss came from more normal circumstances. He begins to remember more about his former life the more he experiences in familiar territory. Too often, amnesia in comic books is caused by magic or super powers, meaning the solution to reversing the memory loss comes from said magic or super powers. In Shelley's case, it may have just been a bump on the head.


Kim Rebecki has been an ally to Shelley for some time, using her empathic powers to understand how things and people work simply through touch. This month, her power reveals a giant skyscraper hidden in plain sight at the Soder Cola factory in Viceroy, South Carolina - Mitch's hometown. With cloaking technology in place, the skyscraper appears invisible to the citizens of Viceroy, allowing the organization that turned Mitch into the Resurrection Man to operate in secret while using the Soder factory as a cover.


A large portion of the issue is devoted to Mitch and Kim fending off an attack by Director Hooker, the man responsible for Mitch's arrest warrant. After locating the Transhuman, Mitch and Kim attempt to free the old man before he reveals his betrayal - his is a super villain, after all. Honestly, it's a bit of a let down, as much of Resurrection Man's run has been dedicated to Mitch and Kim tracking down the Transhuman, someone they believed to be a friend. Of course, it's not out of the ordinary for Mitch to have such bad luck. Mitch is killed this issue, bringing an end to the 'shadow master' powers and introducing his 'eye laser' ability - similar to that of Cyclops' optic blasts, but more lightning-esque and less controlled.


What started out as one of my favorite series in DC's 'New 52' has quickly become stale, possibly a reason for it's cancellation. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning have fantastic storytelling ability, but it feels like they don't know what to do with Mitch Shelley. There seemed to be a focus for the first six issues, but recent months have yielded a lot of fighting without much substance. And while nothing's wrong with a fight sequences every once in a while to break up the narrative, using confrontations as a means of plot advancement doesn't work if they don't advance anything!

GRADE

C

UPCOMING REVIEWS (JULY 11-17)

Here are this week's upcoming reviews for "The Endless Reel" for the week of July 11th. All reviews are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, so if you don't see one of these reviews this week, it will probably show up under the 4-SENTENCE REVIEW header.

Batman #11
(Snyder, Capullo)

It's Batman vs. Owlman! Bruce Wayne vs. Thomas Wayne Jr! Scott Snyder's excellent Court of Owls mega-arc begins it's ending as Bruce must face his long-lost brother! Snyder's work on Batman has been a highlight of DC's 'New 52' and shows no signs of slowing down.

Batman and Robin #11
(Tomasi, Gleason)

Damian Wayne continues his quest to defeat all the Robins! After last month's psychological duel against Tim Drake, Damian goes after RED HOOD! Also, Terminus sends his Batfreaks out into Gotham City!

Before Watchmen: Minutemen #2 of 6
(Darwyn Cooke)

Darwyn Cooke continues his phenomenal Minutemen series! Peer into the past of the Watchmen to see who came before. Cooke's retro-style artwork is the biggest pull of this series, but if the writing stays consistent, it looks to be the best series in the Before Watchmen pantheon.

Demon Knights #11
(Cornell, Neves)

Paul Cornell continues his look at Camelot through the ages! The true natures of the team's members are revealed - and they're MONSTERS! I've been reading Demon Knights since the beginning, and I think it's high time to include it on "The Endless Reel"!

Resurrection Man #11
(Abnett, Lanning)

Fortunately, Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning already have a new gig over at BOOM! Studios with their new series, The Hypernaturals. With Resurrection Man winding toward it's final issue next month (not counting the prequel issue zero), the secrets of Mitch Shelley's life start coming to a front! Finding the Transhuman is the only way to figure out "Who Is Mitch Shelley?"

Spider-Men #3 of 5
(Bendis, Pichelli)

After a bumbling first issue followed by a totally solid second, Spider-Men is shaping up to be one of the best limited series of 2012. Mysterio's playing a BIG, BIG part in this story, so if you're a Spider-Man fan, this title is for you!

Superboy #11
(Lobdell, Silva)

It's finally time to start letting Kon-El stand on his own two feet! After a long-running crossover with Teen Titans, Scott Lobdell finally decides Superboy can actually be a good book without the help of a team of teens!

(COMIC) 4-SENTENCE REVIEWS #4!

Resurrection Man #10
(Abnett, Lanning, Saiz)

I've been a extremely avid fan of Resurrection Man since last September, mostly based on the fact that Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning were less concerned with creating some amazingly big story arc and more focused on just writing interesting stories. I was pretty upset when DC announced that the series would end after it's 'Issue Zero' this coming September, but after reading Resurrection Man #10, I'm wondering if maybe it wasn't all that bad of a call. This month, Mitch Shelley and Kim Rebecki are still on the hunt to uncover Mitch's mysterious past, but instead of advancing the story at all, Abnett and Lanning bring back the 'avenging angels' that came after Mitch way back in issue four or five, a move that shows that maybe these writers really don't have a solid future in plan for the man who can't die. It's far more likely that Mitch Shelley's story will have a super-satisfying conclusion come next month, but we'll just have to wait and see.

GRADE: B

Before Watchmen: Minutemen #1 of 6

(Darwyn Cooke)

Minutemen is supposed to be a look back at the original superhero team that set the (arguably) 'golden standard' for what the Watchmen eventually aspire to attain: the original idea of truth, justice, and the American way. And while we know the Minutemen had their own set of problems, they also operated in a simpler time when origin stories didn't involve intergalactic sentries or mystical interventions, but instead came from ordinary people looking to make their world a little bit better. In this first of six issues, Darwyn Cooke spends a lot of time going over the origins of each member of the Minutemen, and while this could come off as cheesy and overbearing, Cooke masterfully makes each introduction feel like you're meeting these characters for the first time. It's a phenomenal first issue and even better beginning to the Before Watchmen event.

GRADE: A

Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #1 of 4
(Cooke, Conner)

In the first title dedicated to a member of the Watchmen (the first in the Before Watchmen series focused on the Minutemen, which features the Comedian, but none of the other Watchmen proper), and it's pretty damn good. Laurie Juspeczyk has grown up in the shadow of her mother, both in terms of training and studying to carry on the Silk Spectre name, as well as her infamous streak of compromising work after her days as a superhero ended. Laurie's tale starts as a romantic story with chisel-jawed Greg, a boy who knows about her mother's racy past and doesn't care - all he wants is to be with Laurie, and the two of them decide to run away from home and hitchhike to wherever. Darwyn Cooke has set up a very mid-60s story, complete with adolescent angst, social hierarchy, and a pinch of hippies to keep us interested for the next issue.

GRADE: B

(FEATURE) NEWS, NEWS, & MORE NEWS!

It figures that the weekend I'm out of communication with the civilized world - sleeping in the fields of Manchester, Tennessee and attending four straight days of nigh-constant music - the comic book world gets bombarded with news concerning cancellations, new titles, and anniversary events! Well, here's a little rundown of DC's weekend activities and how they will affect "The Endless Reel"


'NEW 52' THIRD WAVE & ZERO ISSUES ANNOUNCED

Announced this weekend, September will be see every title under the 'New 52' banner receive their very own "Issue Zero" to commemorate the anniversary of DC's imprint relaunch. Every issue will get a 'Zero' issue in September, continuing with their 13th (or 5th, in the case of 'Second Wave' titles) issue in October. DC has also announced FOUR new series being added to the 'New 52' lineup, bringing the total number of titles to a whopping 55, seeing as Justice League International will be ending in August, with an Annual issue in September.

The first new title is Talon, a spin-off from Scott Snyder's Batman that will feature Calvin Rose, the only assassin to ever escape the Court of Owls. Snyder's work on Batman over the past year has been phenomenal and the Court's influence over Gotham is a vast entity that's only been scratched at the surface. Hopefully, Talon will be as good as Snyder's current work, though it will be written by co-plotter James Tynion IV. Second is the Dan DiDio-helmed Phantom Stranger, a character we were only offered a glimpse of in this year's Free Comic Book Day issue, The New 52 #1. The Stranger's connection to magic seems more overt in the 'New 52' universe, but his mystery will most likely be just as enigmatic and tight-lipped as before. Sword of Sorcery will be DC's newest mystical jaunt with a fan-demanded "Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld" tale coupled with a "Beowulf" back-up story by Tony Bedard with art by Jesus Saiz. "Amethyst" will be written by Christy Marx and pencilled by Aaron Lopresti, whose work on Justice League International has be great for it's entire run. Finally, Team Seven will merge the DC and Wildstorm universes even further with an - obviously - team-based series set in this universe's pre-superhero days with characters like a young Steve Trevor, Dinah Lance (Black Canary), Amanda Waller, a pre-Grifter Cole Cash, Alex Fairchild, John Lynch, and the Deathstroke: Slade Wilson. T7 will be written by Justin Jordan with art by Jesus Marino.

Come September, I'll be covering all "Issue Zero"s for Talon, Sword of Sorcery, Phatom Stranger, and Team Seven to determine which series (or two) I'll add to the list of regularly scheduled coverage in October. Based on page hits and '+1's, I'll make a decision.



GREEN LANTERN #0 TO POSSIBLY INTRODUCE ARAB GL

In DC's Free Comic Book Day offering this year, The New 52 #1, the final pages of the issue revealed a massive fight between some of the most iconic characters from the 'New 52' so far, along with an array of reintroduced characters like Elemental Woman (from Flashpoint), Black Adam (supposedly), the Atom, Vibe, as well as a mysterious new Green Lantern that seemed to have darker skin.

Now, with promotional art from Green Lantern #0 coming this September, we can see this new Green Lantern busting through the cover with an Arabic phrase tattooed on his right arm. Roughly translated to courage, bravery, or fearless - appropriately - the tattoo marks a second drive toward diversity for the Green Lantern brand in less than a month, considering Green Lantern Alan Scott's announced sexual orientation. While this new GL's first image also has him brandishing a handgun for some reason, it's safe to say DC isn't looking to make one of it's most iconic and famous characters a 'bad' person in any way. But everything is relative, and next year's promised "Trinity War" event seems to be part of this new GL's story.



DC CANCELS THREE MORE 'NEW 52' TITLES

After announcing four new titles being added to the 'New 52' lineup, bringing the total to 55 starting in September, DC quickly announced, just today and only one two days after it's initial announcement, the cancellation of three more titles on the heels of Justice League International in August. While they will still receive their "Issue Zero"s, Captain Atom, Resurrection Man, and Voodoo will all end in September, making way for the 'Third Wave' titles. While all three titles were performing poorly, Resurrection Man is a featured title here at "The Endless Reel" and will be missed, along withe Justice League International. Both JLI's Annual issue and Resurrection Man's "Issue Zero" will be covered here in September to give them proper send-offs.

In cancellation-related news, Dan DiDio did also announce that DC Universe Presents #0 will feature the Blackhawks, Hawk and Dove, O.M.A.C., and Mister Terrific, all characters whose series were cancelled during the 'Second Wave' back in May. This shows that DC is committed to it's characters, even if their series don't work out. This means that, hopefully, we'll see more of Mitch Shelley and the JLI in the future, somewhere in the pages of the 'New 52'.

(THE WEEK) JUNE 13-18, 2012

COMIC COVERAGE


AvX: VS #3 of 6
(Yost, Loeb, McGuinness, Dodson)

Featuring Black Widow vs. Magik and Colossus vs. Thing! Why Marvel decided to give us a fight between two characters already featured in the VS series is anyone's guess, but the fight should still be interesting!


Batman #10
(Snyder, Capullo)

The "Night of the Owls" may be over, but Bruce's fight with the Court of Owls continues this month as Batman discovers the true face of the Court!

Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #1 of 4
(Cooke, Conner)

Continuing our weekly coverage of Before Watchmen with the Silk Spectre!


Batman and Robin #10
(Tomasi, Gleason)

It's a meeting of the Robins! Someone has called together all those who have taken the mantle as Batman's sidekick, and even Red Hood may show up!

Green Lantern #10
(Johns, Mahnke)

The history of the Indigo Tribe is finally revealed in the penultimate issue of "Secret of the Indigo Tribe!" Hal and Sinestro must take on the entire Tribe by themselves.

Resurrection Man #10
(Abnett, Lanning, Saiz)

Even though Resurrection Man is coming to an end in September, I'll be bringing you coverage through issue zero! Mitch Shelley keeps getting closer to discovering the mystery of his past, but where is the Transhuman?

Superboy #10
(Lobdell, Coello)

Scott Lobdell continues to intertwine Superboy with Teen Titans, making sure that neither get the character development they both so desperately need.


DC NATION COVERAGE


Young Justice
Season 2, Episode 8
"TBA"

I'm still not sure if there will even be a 'DC Nation' airing this week, but if there is, I'll be covering it!

(COMIC) RESURRECTION MAN #8

STORY: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning

ART:

Last month, I wrote about how Resurrection Man continued to be one of my favorite offerings from DC's 'New 52' because it wasn't yet focused on a grander story or epic to move it's events forward; Mitch Shelley's abilities alone are enough to keep the story moving. Of course, pieces of the greater plot concerning Shelley's have been slowly coming together throughout the first seven issues of the series - he had a dream about working as a weapons engineer in Iraq and he keeps running into other people who seem to know the history of Mitch Shelley.

Resurrection Man #8 begins the process of tying together some of the loose ends in Shelley's life with Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning introduces two new characters. The first is Kim Rebecki, a private eye from South Carolina with the power of psychometry (psychic response through touch); and the second is a batshit crazy necromancer called The Butcher. And that, dear readers, is what comic books are about! By thrusting the real with the surreal, Abnett and Lanning have created a fantastic narrative without really even telling us what's going on! Both have been hired by the same client to hunt down and bring in Mitch Shelley.

By the end of the issue, more questions have been raised than answered, but the road toward enlightenment also becomes a little clearer. Since taking lives powers his magic, the Butcher seems to implode after Shelley "takes back" his own life, leaving the necromancer only his own life force with which to cast a spell. Rebecki, on the other hand, stands down after she touches our anti-hero and sees that he's not the monster her client made him out to be. With his life's history rushing through her head, Shelley gains a partner. Before they even begin their journey, however, the Suicide Squad shows up and Deadshot puts a bullet in Shelley's temple.

Next month, I'll be covering Suicide Squad #9 to see what happens between the team and the Resurrection Man.

GRADE:

A

(COMIC REVIEW) RESURRECTION MAN #7

Written by Dan Abnett
Artwork by Fernando Dagnino

Mitch Shelley's journey thus far as been pretty fragmented, taking readers from one location to another with little explanation as to why or how. Sure, sometimes Dan Abnett throws us a bone and gives us a flashback or connector panels, but for the most part, Resurrection Man has been about cool comic book writing and action, more than actual plot-driven narrative, which isn't exactly a bad thing. Too often these days, writers forget the roots of comic books and how powerful a simple story can be. Abnett uses Mitch Shelley's unique ability to do just that; tell stories that are minimal and fun, but that all exist within the larger DC universe.

Mr. Untouchable is the antagonist in this issue's vignette. Shelley has (somehow) made his way to Metropolis and finds himself - quite by coincidence - in an apartment building that quickly becomes the setting of a firefight between the police and a group of thugs led by Untouchable, who gets his namesake from a red force field suit. Yah, it's pretty campy and straightforward, but that's the point. Let Batman and Green Lantern deal with Earth-shattering events - Mitch Shelley just wants to figure out who he is.

Shelley's death and resurrection this issue gives him telekinesis. I wouldn't be so averse to this power if Scott Lobdell wasn't shoving TK powers down my throat over in Superboy. Telekinesis seems like such a cop-out power; it's range and scope change depending on the writer, and there's no uniform consensus on how the power should be portrayed. Even here, Shelley uses his TK to disarm the previously untouchable Mr. Untouchable without even breaking a sweat.

Resurrection Man is consistently one of my favorite titles offered under the 'New 52' banner. Mitch Shelley's journey mirrors the narrative style of comic books in the 1960s, when characterization was shown not told and readers could make inferences themselves without needing to be led through cosmic event after cosmic event.

GRADE:

B+

(REVIEW) Resurrection Man #6

Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Artwork by Fernando Dagnino

Resurrection Man #6 opens with notes from Arkham Asylum. The notes just so happen to be describing one of the two things I truly fear in life; being locked away in a mental institution with no chance of being let out. I'm not saying I'm crazy, and I know it's an irrational fear, but it's an intense phobia nonetheless. Mitch Shelley has been admitted to Arkham and has been deemed 'insane' because he tells the doctors he can't die and that he has super powers. In this rebooted DC world, the idea of individuals possessing 'powers' is a relatively new one. Thus, Shelley is kept against his will.

Featuring yet another prison break from Arkham (seriously, that place has the worst track record), Shelley becomes savvy to a prison guard taking payouts to cause riots so various criminals can escape in the chaos. It's a simple, yet extremely effective, narrative trope that writer Dan Abnett has made fresh by making his main character unable to do anything about it until he dies. Of course, most of this title's "ah-hah!" moments come from Shelley's resurrections and powers, but it's great seeing it from the perspective of a group of characters whose job it is to gauge sanity.

Fletcher, the aforementioned corrupt guard, incites a cell-break for Sumo, one of Batman's rogues, as a diversion to allow Sumo escape through the service tunnels. Before Fletcher or Sumo can escape, Shelley attacks and brings down the obese super villain. Seeing the man he's tortured for days finally displaying a semblance of power, Fletcher shoots Shelley through the temple even after Commissioner Gordon's expressed cease fire order. Deemed a hero, Fletcher takes medical leave. The final pages show Shelley going to take his revenge against the 'hero' who gambled Gotham's safety against a few bucks. It's a great, single-issue arc that really captures what the 'New 52' wanted to do; present easier-to-digest stories that could be accessible to new readers. Resurrection Man tends to hit this mark more times that not, and each month, Mitch Shelley's journey becomes more and more enigmatic.

GRADE:

A

Review: Resurrection Man #5

Review




Resurrection Man #5
Dan Abnett - Writer
Andy Lanning - Pencils

Much like Action Comics #5 this month, I felt this episode of Mitch Shelley's saga left a lot to be desired. I don't know if DC coordinated this or not, but it seems like multiple issues are delving into origin stories this month.

***SPOILERS***
Last we left Shelley, he was dead...again. But this time, it took a bit more to send him back. While being treated by a beautiful redhead physician, we get a flashback to three years prior. Deathstroke makes a guest appearance as a contracted mercenary with some possibly hypocritical tendencies, but mostly we see Shelley going about his job, which seems to be covert in some sense. The situation is left vague to let the reader come to their own conclusions before an eventual reveal. However it's meant to be read, it feels like Shelley isn't in the most ethical lines of work. Unfortunately, the issue only spirals into more confusion until the flashback ends and Shelley awakens on a hospital bed.

Dan Abnett throws a lot of plot into this issue and doesn't give many answers to raised questions. I'm sure there's an eventual conclusion that everything will lead to, but introducing some cybernetic-suited warrior in the last pages without so much as a name is kind of frustrating. It makes for a good cliffhanger, but not a solid single issue of work.

Grade: C-