Tim Seeley

CW: Death, Blood, Gore, Bodily Fluids, Racism, Kidnapping,

I remember reading #1 years ago and being really excited...

The concept of people in a small town coming back from death, not as zombies, revenants, vampires, etc., but simply as themselves. Or at least most of them are themselves, maybe? is genuinely fascinating, but not new by any means. I really enjoyed the rather cheesy, cancelled too soon, and painfully rushed wrap up Australian show, Glitch, which had a similar setup. From the opposite angle, I really enjoyed The Leftovers, which dealt with those left behind after a possibly Rapture. This is a rich area for exploration and storytelling, so I was really excited to give this series a proper go.

The dynamics set up with the cop family (ACAB) and the town dealing with family members coming back, and some truly horrific changes becoming evident, not to mention the spooky ghoul alien thing prancing around between the action, are all great. Unfortunately, the writing and development of the characters just didn't hold up for me. Characters are almost entirely one dimensional or have a black and white duality, and the classic comicbook edgelord dudebro of it all really dumped cold water on my enjoyment.

There's nothing wrong with having awful occurrences, characters who are and say vile things, and uncomfortable, sensitive situations in art. When these things seem to be handled with little to know care or understanding and come across as cheap and easy easy to seem edgy, cool, and extreme, it shows and it sucks. With comics like The Boys and Preacher, as off putting and far more extreme than Revival they are, there is a greater commentary and story, regardless of if it's something somone want to read or not. The premise is here for Revival, but four issues in and I'm not seeing any substance, and anything that approaches it are tropes and weak pastiches of better media.

I appreciate this is all subjective and I am in the minority judging by reviews. I just think we all deserve better, and know that I need it. There are so many phenomenal comics out there and so many more big names and good ideas with no follow through or care. If you want to make edgelord schlock crack on, but when it's published and advertised with such praise and fanfare, alongside phenomenal works, like Saga (something that manages to be edgy and schloky and so much more), I'm going to expect something more than this.

Ice Cream Man and this have taught me to listen to my gut and get out if I'm not enjoying something or getting bad vibes after a couple of issues.… (mere)