Comics
Review: ‘Revival’ #17
A gripping mystery, “Revival” #17 keeps the story running at full speed with red herrings and plot twists. This is a perfect crime where all the evidence is lost and no one has actually been murdered. Not only is the series a clever twist on the zombie genre, “Revival” is also a potent suspenseful whodunit thriller.
WRITTEN BY: Tim Seeley
ART BY: Mike Norton
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: Jan. 29, 2013
For one day in rural Wisconsin, the dead suddenly came back to life. As the media showed up, with all their nosy reporters and cameras, and the government trying to quarantine the small town, there is no peace for the nicknamed “Revivers.” While everyone else is trying to understand why the dead have returned, Sheriff Dana Cypress is trying to figure out who killed her sister, Em. While Dana is in hot pursuit of a major suspect, Em is tracking down a college reporter, May Tao, who knows too much. Dana and Em are on their own as they search for the truth, which will lead them to a very dangerous enemy.
What I really enjoy about Tim Seeley’s writing is his examination about death and its aftermath. Em has returned from the dead to face the consequences of her actions. Forced to seek closure, there are things Em wishes she could take back. In their confrontation, Em and May have to look inward and ask themselves what they really want. Are they seeking justice? Or are they searching for redemption?
My favorite part of the story is Seeley’s characterization of Dana. At times, we see Dana cross the line between good/bad cop. Dana has to take part in a crime, in order provide herself with an alibi and protect the victim. She doesn’t need to think about her questionable actions; she just does them without hesitation. Dana is willing to get her hands dirty because she is so obsessed about finding out what happened to her murdered sister.
Artist Mike Norton is able to pinpoint the dramatic moments through facial expressions. In the opening pages, Dana’s possible suspect is getting rid of the evidence from his laptop. Rather than place the camera on the evidence, Norton focuses on the suspect’s guilty behavior. The suspect, Aaron Weimer, knows there is no turning back now, as if this will be the last time he sees his wife. This is more about showing the character’s moral conflict than the explanation of the crime itself.
I particularly liked how colorist Mark Englert and Norton worked together on Em’s character design and wardrobe. When Em is wearing her hoodie, notice how there are just three hints of color – with red, black, and gray tones. The black inks are used to illustrate the shapes of bones on her sleeves and the wings of an angel on her back. When Em bows her head, you can tell there is a skull on her cap. This is a clever way of portraying Em as the Grim Reaper as she contemplates killing May.
Murder mystery fans are going to relish every bit of “Revival” #17. Gritty and humorous, the “Revival” series has an interesting premise and delivers the perfect crime with zombies.
4/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – Jorge Solis
Comics
‘Curse of the Where Wolf’ Bites Into August Release With Trio of Werewolf Theatrical Screenings [Exclusive Preview]
Larry Chaney‘s hairy misadventures are continuing in the sequel graphic novel Curse of the Where Wolf from creative team Rob Saucedo, Debora Lancianese, and Jack Morelli, and its author is celebrating with a trio of horror’s greatest werewolf films.
The Curse of the Where Wolf hits shelves on August 7 from Encyclopocalypse Publications.
That coincides with the launch of a theatrical screening event in Houston, Texas, featuring a trio of seminal werewolf flicks turning 45 this year: The Howling on August 7, Wolfen on August 14, and An American Werewolf in London on August 21.
Each screening features a “werewolf in film” presentation as well as a book signing from Where Wolf author and River Oaks Theatre artistic director Rob Saucedo.
In the new graphic novel, “Being a werewolf sucks. Reporter Larry Chaney wanted to be a hero. Instead, he became a werewolf. Now, caught between incredible new powers and a desire to eat everything (and everyone) in sight, Larry must find a cure for his curse. Or die trying.”
“With Where Wolf, I wanted to tell a whodunit set in a furry convention, so the story was pretty contained within a very specific setting and genre. With Curse of the Where Wolf, I wanted to celebrate everything I love about the possibility of comic books. Curse of the Where Wolf is a funny book, in every sense of the phrase, but it’s also an earnest look at a person’s struggle to become a better version of themselves, especially when the alternative is to become a literal monster,” Saucedo says of Curse.
The original graphic novel was previously serialized as the first webcomic hosted on Fangoria before being collected by Encyclopocalypse Publications in 2023 and has already been optioned for film, podcast, and television development ahead of launch by producers James Fino (“The Freak Brothers” for Tubi, “Rick and Morty” for Adult Swim) and Charles Horak (First Date for Magnolia Pictures).
Expect Larry to find himself in even weirder situations in the 362-page full color sequel; Saucedo has provided Bloody Disgusting with exclusive art pages from the upcoming graphic novel that showcase lupine humor.
You must be logged in to post a comment.