New 52 Review – “Resurrection Man #1”

Why name a character Resurrection Man? Because he just plain refuses to stay dead. The Powers That Be don’t seem to like that.

General Information

Title: Resurrection Man #1

Authors: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning

Illustrator(s): Fernando Dagnino (art) and Santi Arcas (colours)

Cover Date: November 2011

Cover Price: $2.99

Buy the digital edition. Incidentally, the full 27 issue run of the original series is also available through ComiXology for $1.99 per issue.

Premise

Mitch is special. Each time he dies, he comes back to life with a new power. Each death causes him to lose his old power but gain a new one. Well, in the DC Universe, there is no question that the Christian God and Satan both exist (although details in the Bible cannot be accurate, given some of the other revelations in the Universe.) It seems that both factions are tired of Resurrection Man’s resurrections, and they plan to do something about it.

High Point

There are implications to establishing the existence of the gods of particular faiths in a fictional universe that plays fast and loose with the rules of life and death. It’s nice to see them confronted head on for once. I also like the fact that the DCU has stuck with something of an Old Testament God, who cares about individuals, but only specifically chosen individuals, while other lives are inconsequential. Without that edge, it couldn’t be reconciled with some of the other events that take place in the DCU.

Low Point

It would have been nice to learn why Resurrection Man resurrects. Maybe I’ll pick up the original first issue on ComiXology and find out.

The Scores

There have been many titles that use theologies, but those are usually done to introduce characters and ignore implications. In an original direction, this one embraces those implications. I give it 6 out of 6.

The artwork is very well done. It’s a little off model, but when the lead character can’t really get a handle on who he is or how he came to be, that’s quite appropriate. I give it 5 out of 6.

The story is the quality I’ve come to expect from Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, collectively known as DnA, who have recently been the caretakers of the Marvel Cosmic universe and are currently writing the Heroes for Hire/Villains for Hire/unannounced followup series of titles for Marvel, amongst other titles. We know who the hero is and what his abilities are, and what the threat is. There is no shortage of action here. I give it 5 out of 6.

The characterization isn’t as strong as it could be. I don’t feel I know Mitch well enough yet to predict his reactions in typical situations, which would be nice. I give it 3 out of 6.

The emotional response is decent. I like the concept, but don’t know enough about the hero yet to get truly invested. I give it 4 out of 6.

The flow is smooth and effective. No problems here at all. I give it 6 out of 6.

Overall, it’s a good first issue, and one that turn into a great first arc. I give it 5 out of 6.

In total, Resurrection Man #1 receives 34 out of 42.

The New 52

Here are handy links for the reviews of all 52 new #1 issues:

  1. Action Comics
  2. All-Star Western
  3. Animal Man
  4. Aquaman
  5. Batgirl
  6. Batman
  7. Batman and Robin
  8. Batman: The Dark Knight
  9. Batwing
  10. Batwoman
  11. Birds of Prey
  12. Blackhawks
  13. Blue Beetle
  14. Captain Atom
  15. Catwoman
  16. DC Universe Presents
  17. Deathstroke
  18. Demon Knights
  19. Detective Comics
  20. The Flash
  21. Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E.
  22. The Fury of Firestorm
  23. Green Arrow
  24. Green Lantern
  25. Green Lantern Corps
  26. Green Lantern: New Guardians
  27. Grifter
  28. Hawk and Dove
  29. I, Vampire
  30. Justice League
  31. Justice League Dark
  32. Justice League International
  33. Legion Lost
  34. Legion of Super-Heroes
  35. Men of War
  36. Mister Terrific
  37. Nightwing
  38. O.M.A.C.
  39. Red Hood and the Outlaws
  40. Red Lanterns
  41. Resurrection Man
  42. The Savage Hawkman
  43. Static Shock
  44. Stormwatch
  45. Suicide Squad
  46. Superboy
  47. Supergirl
  48. Superman
  49. Swamp Thing
  50. Teen Titans
  51. Voodoo
  52. Wonder Woman

3 replies on “New 52 Review – “Resurrection Man #1””

  1. “the Christian God”– Would that not be the monotheistic God? Strictly speaking, I don’t think DC has ever explicitly endorsed one particular faith-tradition, other than a general monotheism. Most of the company’s founders and founding writers were Jewish, “Satan” exists in Islam, and, as you say, this God seems rather Old Testament.

    I wonder if they’re going to play the game they did with the Spectre, whose Master has frequently been God, but (according to some other writers in some eras), turns out to be some Really Powerful Being, But Not That One. (Marvel has played the same game with Mephisto and Satan).

    • There was a story I’ve read (possibly “Final Crisis: Revelations”) that established the “truth” of the New Testament, which is why I’ve assumed it is the Christian God that exists. Either way, it’s currently an unforgiving entity that will play a big role in this series.

      • For some reason I now have visions of people on street corners with signs like “He doesn’t work for my God”, and a sketch of Spectre’s face in a circle with a line through it.

        Okay, so the DC average-person-on-the-street probably doesn’t know about Resurrection Man, Spectre, or the others who work for this God. But enough other people have that it seems like a matter of time. And the image amuses me. :)

        I’m also picturing public debates, with atheists and people from various religions arguing not over whether there is a God, but whether He’s “some Really Powerful Being, But Not That One” — and whether it’s the same being behind a bunch of different stuff, or maybe this stuff is really from God but that stuff is That Other Being, etc. I’m not saying it would make sense to stick such a debate in the comic (unless there were a couple of devoutly religious characters) but I’d love to see it on some TV in the background.

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