Comics
Review: ‘Revival’ #5
There’s no doubt that Revival is an intelligent, promising series from Image Comics. The pseudo-zombie drama has a unique approach to its subject and characters, with sharp dialogue and good art to boot. However, it has a tendency to overwhelm its narrative with too many intersecting plotlines, resulting in uncertain character motivations and muddled plot progressions. Unfortunately, “Revival” #5 succumbs to these flaws.
WRITTEN BY: Tim Seeley
ART BY: Mike Norton
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE DATE: November 21st, 2012
One thing “Revival” does right is dialogue – and by extension, characterization. All of the characters are strong, with their own personalities and motivations. They have their own voices, and all of them provide insight into who they are and why they are doing what they’re doing. Most of it is fairly enjoyable to read as well, particularly the scenes involving “demonologist” and Limp Bizkit fan, Blain Abel. The characters also provide intelligent commentary on the events surrounding them, and encourage you to invest in the plot.
However, that plot is difficult to follow. There are a number of threads in “Reviver”, many of them still in their infancy, so it’s understandable that Tim Seeley feels their inclusion is necessary. And in this issue, we’re introduced to two new characters – well, arguably just one, though the identity of the ghost from issues past is sort of revealed. However, it’s still uncertain how these characters actually relate to the core group.
The other issue is that there are too many subplots for any of them to shine. Dana discovers Em’s inappropriate past with her English professor. Jamie Hettinga gets a creepy letter after her step-brother (and romantic partner) has been disemboweled. Em and May flee from Blaine on snow mobiles after Em has an encounter with the ghost. Ibrahaim Ramin gets a call from his former girlfriend informing him the CDC intends to quarantine the revivers. I get that this is all necessary for whatever Seeley has in store, but it needs to be communicated more effectively. We’re left with moments of good dialogue and some good action here, but not with much plot progression.
Mike Norton’s art, as usual, is quality. There’s nothing flashy about his stuff, but he gets the job done and tells a story well. The man can draw action, emotion, gore and whatever the script calls for, and for that he should be commended. His art is more consistent than the storytelling in this issue.
Still, all that said, I’m not down on the series. I have a feeling when it picks up the pace and the characters are more fully fleshed out, the story-telling will become less cluttered and more in-depth. When that happens, this will be one of the better series Image is producing.
2.5/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – George Shunick
Comics
‘You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive’ – IDW Dark’s Next Horror Comic Will Make You Question Reality
Five friends. Four houses. One perfect life. Bloody Disgusting is excited to exclusively announce You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive, a brand new horror comic from IDW Dark.
From Eisner-Nominated writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, and rising horror artist Heather Vaughan, You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive is described as a “paranoia-laced, socially-conscious, horror mystery that will leave you questioning reality, and reveal that this crafted world is more of a nightmare than the idealistic dream they were expecting.”
Phoebe Joplin has never questioned the world her parents built: a secluded community where she and her friends were raised to be smarter, stronger, and better than anyone else. No distractions. No dangers. No secrets. Until the night of their graduation.
When one of them dies under impossible circumstances, Phee starts to pull at the edges of her perfect life—and what she finds is something far more terrifying than she ever imagined.
Because this place isn’t a sanctuary. It’s a cage. And no one who discovers the truth ever leaves it alive.
Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing (Batman – One Bad Day: Clayface, Star Trek: The Last Starship) co-write the upcoming IDW Dark horror comic, featuring art by Heather Vaughan.
Jackson Lanzing said in a statement to Bloody Disgusting, “You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive is in many ways a spiritual successor to our last creator-owned horror, The Principles of Necromancy – a dive into the promise and consequence of playing god with the blood of innocents. But the Hivemind book this reminds me of most is Clayface: One Bad Day. This is a deeply human story with intensely raw emotions – five best friends and their five mysterious parents, tearing one another apart for the promise of some impossible glory that’s waiting just beyond their darkest actions. We’re thrilled to be bringing this story to life with our long-time partner in crime, editor Heather Antos, at IDW Dark – and we’re particularly excited to give our Clayface fans a new, brutal and emotional horror made just for them.”
Adds Collin Kelly, “We’re deconstructing a feeling that seems universal these days; our elders have a death grip on their power, without any intention of giving it up to the generations that come next. YNLTPA is about growing up with the limitless potential of the future… and realizing how much it’s a lie we’ve been fed to keep us under the yoke of the past. Bringing this brutal experience to life is our artist and co-creator, Heather Vaughan, who brings an incredible amount of humanity to our cast. But it’s in our youthful leads that Heather’s art really shines – you are going to fall in love with these young people, even as they go through the worst experience of their lives. What we’ve all crafted together is going to be tragic, painful, but above all else, sincere – with a future so uncertain, there’s only one thing we can trust: you’ll never leave this place alive.”
“Some horror stories are about monsters in the dark. YNLTPA is about realizing the monsters raised you,” previews Senior Group Editor Heather Antos. “Working with Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly on this series has been a dream in the darkest possible way. They’ve built a story that’s layered, brutal, and deeply emotional, and every issue gives artist Heather Vaughan opportunities to push the art into places that feel both haunting and deeply personal. Some horror comics will keep you up at night…this is one that will stick with you for years to come.”
The first issue of You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive goes on sale October 14, 2026! Make sure to pre-order at your local comic shop by September to guarantee a copy.
Exclusively check out the various covers for Issue #1 down below.
IDW Publishing’s horror imprint IDW DARK features comics like A Quiet Place: Storm Warning, Smile: For the Camera, The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees, The Twilight Zone, Event Horizon: Dark Descent & Event Horizon: Inferno, and more.
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