Resurrection Man #2

Well, at least Mitch Shelley seems to be competent this issue! No mass bystander deaths or other examples of poor heroics.

It's interesting that DnA said this is essentially "Ultimate Resurrection Man" because it does seem to be one of the more clear-cut reboots. Although, with Mitch an amnesiac, I suppose the old series could have happened...

Mitch is on the trail of his Dad, who died a year ago, making any kind of reconnection difficult. Fortunately an old friend of his father's is willing to help Mitch take a look around. I'm a little suspicious of this guy, and that has nothing to do with his former occupation. He just seems a little too willing to go out there for a relative stranger. Isn't someone from the "other office" on Mitch's trail like that weird angel lady is for the office upstairs?

I did like Fernando Dagnino's happy rest home. This isn't Bubba Ho-Tep, everyone is smiling and life seems pretty good. Of course, being the DCnU, all the residents will probably get blown apart by the Body Doubles next issue! Some of the faces do seem uneven this issue, with the Doubles almost looking photo-realistic, then a little more sketchy. It's not bad, but not quite as tight as the first issue, art-wise.

Fair

Resurrection Man #1

As a fan of the original series, I'm quite pleased to see Mitch Shelley returning to the DCU. And for most of this issue, I really enjoyed the book. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning are masters of atmosphere and pacing, two essential elements for a book like this. Mitch is immediately likeable, he seems like a normal guy in a rough spot. While he does some shady things, he regrets and rationalizes his choices.

Things pick up on his flight. It seems Mitch's soul is quite the prize to both Heaven and Hell, and both "offices" have sent collectors out to try and acquire it. The battle sequence on the plane looked great. Fernando Dagnino is channeling some Tom Mandrake here, and it really works. The floating faces in the storm, the horrific angelic agent, they all look like they came from Mandrake's crazy imagination (and I mean that as a compliment).

What I didn't care for was the resolution. SPOILERS BELOW

Mitch basically drives off the creature, but gets tossed into the plane's engine, causing it to crash. I have one concern that constantly killing Mitch will make him seem incompetent, but DnA have balanced that in the old series, so it may not be an issue. But I also have a problem with the death toll. A plane full of people is a pretty huge amount of collateral damage. I hope that elements like this aren't required of the "Dark" line, because too much of that will sour me on the book.

I enjoyed the comic, but it sure felt like Mitch isn't very competent.

Fair