Spotlight: Revival

Do you remember the first time you picked up a comic book? The feel of it in your hands, the excitement of having a new story to delve into? The details of the artwork that sprang off the page, waiting to be devoured by an eager mind? Now, when was the last time you felt that excitement?

Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash, GI Joe) and Mike Norton (Battlepug, Queen + Country) have succeeded in bringing us back to our beginnings. A new story, a new twist, a new feel. All that wonder you first felt when you turned the page of that comic book? It’s back. And in a big way.

Welcome to Wausau, Wisconsin, home of snow, cows and a small community of the living dead. They’re not zombies or walkers or anything like that though. They’re simply alive again, back to their jobs and everyday lives. What could possibly cause this you ask? We have no idea. But the local police have organized a special team to figure that out. We follow this team, a reporter and a CDC liaison, as they search to find out why people are “reviving” and if they really are themselves. What could possibly go wrong?

Seeley’s writing succeeds in bringing us a new spin on the horror/mystery genre. With elements of action, mystery, investigation, horror, family, supernatural and drama, Revival is a truly well-rounded tale. Many horror tales have become formulaic and predictable over the years. This book is not one of those stories. With twists and turns and spins, you’ll be glued to the pages, wondering what could possibly happen next to this small, rural town? Jeff Lemire writes in the introduction of the first volume, “It’s equally chilling and fascinating stuff…”

Norton’s art goes hand in hand with Seeley’s writing seamlessly. Each detailed panel gives us another piece to the bigger picture. With realistic characters that have imperfections, and beautiful snowy landscapes, Norton gives us the sense of being in Wisconsin, in the thick of it. Heads above the rest of  though is Norton’s hauntingly beautiful character design of one of the more moving, mysterious characters in the book. To say any more would only spoil it.

With sold out multiple printings and rave reviews, I’d follow Jeff Lemire’s advice: “…sit back and enjoy. You can only discover your favorite new comic once, so savor it. I know I did.”