Ever wanted a different take on the dead rising from their grave? Well you have it in “Revival!” Is it a take worth reading? Find out here!
Written by Tim Seeley
Illustrated by Mike NortonFor one day in rural central Wisconsin, the dead came back to life. Now it’s up to Officer Dana Cypress to deal with the media scrutiny, religious zealots, and government quarantine that has come with them. In a town where the living have to learn to deal with those who are supposed to be dead, Officer Cypress must solve a brutal murder, and everyone, alive or undead, is a suspect. A beautiful “farm noir” that puts a new twist on the zombie genre, created by NYT Bestselling author TIM SEELEY and acclaimed artist MIKE NORTON.
Tim Seeley is a mainstay of the horror/supernatural genre. Whether it’s his own creator owned work like “Hack/Slash” or his work on Top Cow’s “Witchblade,” he has a passion for the genre and that includes taking the well-known tropes in the genre and turning them on their head in order to create new and innovative entries into the genre he clearly loves.
“Revival,” like “Hack/Slash,” is a creator owned title that puts a new spin on the dead coming back to life and turns it in a way that you might not expect. Instead of being flesh-eating corpses that merely have a somewhat active brainstem in a very dead corpse; these are people who came back from the dead more or less exactly how they were before they died.
This obviously doesn’t work out like people might expect, as the town where it starts (a small town in Wisconsin which reminds me of Slither just a bit) is immediately quarantined by the government. It turns out people dying and coming back might not be a good thing! After a quick brainstorm, I realized it really wouldn’t be, as resources could not keep up with a population that only grows and doesn’t have any sort of way to control the population growth like death does. Not only does this create problems in the case of our energy crisis (which is already stretched to the limit), but the Revived have problems of their own. They died and came back. Some liken it to the fabled Rapture in the bible, and religion is played up in probably the most terrifying way possible.
Speaking of terrifying, that’s the best way to describe this book. Seeley is a master of the genre, and this book is no exception. Much like another Image book called “Danger Club,” the twists and tweaks to the genre serve it well and make for a unique experience while still somewhat conforming to other tropes in the genre. While we’re on the subject of terrifying though, there’s a scene near the end of the book that is not only one of the scariest pages I’ve seen in a long time, it also serves to explain why the Revived, while not being zombies in the classical sense, are still something to be terrified of, even if they’re an old lady. Horror fans, you have to see it.
Tim Seeley’s creative partner, Mike Norton, is also on point with regards to his artistic duties. When things are meant to be gruesome (and trust me, they get gruesome) they get extremely bloody, and it looks absolutely gorgeous in that macabre way you want. In fact, he hits every single emotional note the script asks of him, without seeming annoying exaggerated like some books can be guilty of. Seeley and Norton work very well together and I can’t wait to see where this book goes.
In case the glowing review didn’t convince you: I absolutely adored this book. I haven’t felt this strongly for the next chapter in, well; I can’t remember how long it’s been since I wanted another chapter so much. If you’re a horror fan, you need to pick this up.
Final Verdict: 9 disemboweled zorses out of 10 — Buy!
