Review – Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #4
Ray: Ram V continues to take us deeper into the mystical side of the DCU than any other writer has in a long time. Mitch Shelley has completed his latest evolution as Resurrection Man, dying peacefully of old age – and as such, has evolved to be immune and above time itself. Now in the company of a mysterious cosmic being named Samsara, he has gained full awareness of his countless past lives. This allows him to discover his past – which casts new doubt on his original simple origin from the 1990s, and gives him ties to one of the DCU's greatest villains and his original crime that kicked off his reign. But it also opens his eyes to the ultimate betrayal he committed – turning on a woman who was the closest he had felt in centuries to a true love, and sabotaging her creation that could jeopardize the world. And it's exactly that creation that now comes into focus, as the truth behind Samsara's presence is revealed. The warriors. Via DC Comics.
It's interesting that the main villain of the series so far – or so it seemed – doesn't really play a role in this issue, but a much bigger threat emerges. That keeps in touch with the non-linear nature of this story, which makes it feel unlike any other Black Label book. How often do you see a book that takes place not just over centuries but over millennia? As we head into the last act, it's clear that the true enemy Mitch Shelley is facing here is himself, or rather the parts of himself he had locked up for eons. And in that time, he's managed to accumulate many enemies – including some that he might need again now. The guest appearance at the end of the issue is fascinating, especially given that we last saw him in a very different Black Label series. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite DC works of Ram V, and is a similarly bold reinvention of the character as his take on Swamp Thing from a few years back.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week. Liked it? Take a second to support GeekDad and GeekMom on Patreon!
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