Review- REVIVAL VOL. 1: YOU'RE AMONG FRIENDS

REVIVAL VOL. 1: YOU'RE AMONG FRIENDS (Image, 2012; Softcover)

Collects Revival Nos. 1-5 (cover dates July- November, 2012)

Writer: Tim Seely

Artist: Mike Norton

Revival is another in a seemingly endless line of comic books about the dead rising. These are available in all flavors, from the old school zombie (The Walking Dead) to the dead coming back to life within the confines of a city (Rachel Rising). Once you get past the obvious comparisons and get down to reading it, you'll discover that Revival is fascinating in it's own right. The dead start mysteriously rising in Wausau, Wisconsin. These Revivers, as they are called, seem to be unaware of the last few moments of their life prior to death.

Strange things happen to these Revivers, such as the elderly growing new teeth, apparent increased strength and speed, etc. The CDC gets involved and the entire town is quarantined. It's hard to really go into the nuts and bolts of this title without a helping of spoilers, so I'll just drop a few breadcrumbs for you. There's a ghost running around town, the result of demonic incantations. This entity can possess a person and imbue them with their memories. The ghost seems to be the effect and not the cause of the town's problems. This is just another layer of the onion. 

Mike Norton's artwork is first rate. I love comic books when they have great artwork as well as great writing. Also great is the coloring by Mark Englert, which is extremely tasteful. Everything about this title is first class. Revival has hit the ground running, and I sense nothing but good coming from this title.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4.25 out of 5.

The OCD zone- Trade paperback collected edition.

Paper rating: 5 out of 5. This has incredibly thick coated stock paper which is wonderful to the touch.

Binding rating: out of 5. Glued binding.

Cardstock cover coating rating: 4 out of 5. The cardstock has a dull matte finish coating which has a very different feel to it. I like it. It is not as easily scuffable as many dull matte/ coated cardstock covers.