It Tastes Like Chicken
Another unlikely character gets his opportunity in the spotlight in Resurrection Man and shows off that he is indeed a unique character readers can't find anywhere else. His situation, however, is another matter as it goes into very familiar territory for the sort of readers who would be interested in this kind of series.
In recent years, I've been very critical of writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. I was very high on them when their Nova series started, but they ran out of steam after a couple of years. By the time War of Kings finished, they seemed spent, and nothing they wrote was particularly good from then on. Stories either felt phoned in or badly amateurish. I thought the move to DC may reinvigorate them, but their two Flashpoint tie-ins were among the worst. My expectations coming in this were obviously low, but Resurrection Man has exceeded them. I can easily say it is the best thing Abnett and Lanning have written in years.
Where the writing shines this issue is in the portrayal of the Resurrection Man himself. Abnett and Lanning do an excellent job depicting his ability in an understandable and intriguing way. We aren't really informed how he came to be this way, but we really don't need to be yet. In fact, that probably would have been too much information to take in with one issue. Instead, this story focuses on the now. It immediately gives us a good taste of what to expect from the character as he starts the issue waking up in a morgue and realizing what new abilities he has in his latest life. He is then wisely given a second death in the issue so it can really sink in with readers just what he is about. Abnett and Lanning interestingly focus in on his sense of taste as he comes to realize his new abilities, giving the whole experience a very unique feel.
Readers are also introduced to the Body Doubles as one of the threats hunting Resurrection Man. It is a brief but really effective introduction that shows all you need to know about what they are about.
Where the writing doesn't really shine is in the overall plot. It seems like this is going to be the usual scenario of a protagonist who is caught between Heaven and Hell, which is something that is probably all too familiar to most Vertigo readers. Now, what is presented here isn't bad. The idea of the Resurrection Man's undying soul being an extremely valuable commodity is a clever idea. It is just that it feels like we are always getting this kind of story with angels and demons, and Abnett and Lanning appear to be telling it straight with no unique spin to it besides Resurrection Man himself. We've had this in Preacher. We've had this repeatedly in Hellraiser. We just recently had this in Ghost Rider. You have it if you watch Supernatural. Now, we have it in Resurrection Man, and it really is beginning to feel like a worn out scenario.
The art from Fernando Dagnino is solid enough, though it is a little stylized and that style may not appeal to everyone. It does suit the tone of the story, though. But there's something inconsistent about it too. It is like the style with which Dagnino draws people disappears on some pages, and it almost looks like it was done by some other artist. The action scene on the airplane does also get a little hard to follow.
Resurrection Man is a mixed bag where an interesting take on a character is placed into a plot that feels like it has been done too many times now. Its newness is being counterbalanced by something old and familiar. Overall, it is a good issue, but it's likely not something that will particularly excite you. It falls just short of really having the hook, leaving me wanting to come back for next issue.
