The first issue of Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma wasn’t like any other superhero comic I’ve read in a while. It offered some thoughtful, downright transcendent mediations on the nature of life, took a lesser-known superhero and told an interesting story with him, and was a visual treat to look at. So does Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #2 continue that trend? The answer is a surprising yes.
In the second installment of the series, “Reflections Pass Over Me,” readers are treated to more of Mitch Shelley – or rather, Mark Seivers in this chapter of his life – as he makes a daring escape during World War II. But little does he know that the fires of war have forged another immortal being: Sohei Kagawa, who becomes obsessed with consuming superhuman flesh to survive. This earns him the moniker of “Gashadokuro”, which in Japanese legend is a terrifying spirit formed of the bones of those who fall in battle – disturbingly fitting, given that he should have died in the war.
The parallels that Ram V draws between these two is at the heart of Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #2, and it makes for a compelling read. While Mitch is contemplating whether or not his existence is futile, he comes face to face with different moments in his life that prove otherwise: fulfilling the last request of one of his fellow escapees, meeting his wife Alize, or saving people with his wide array of powers. Kagawa, on the other hand, is a dead man clinging to life and willing to sacrifice others to hold on just a little longer. With these separate threads, V is showing that one’s life and death is defined, both for good and ill, by the actions you take. It all matters, no matter what you might think.
DC
I’m also continually blown away by the work that Anand RK is putting on the page. It might match Javier Rodriguez’s work on Absolute Martian Manhunter for sheer trippiness: when Seivers punches an enemy soldier, they explode into spirals of blood and flesh. The villain Kilg%re is a massive pile of machinery that seems to grow without end. In a scene featuring the Atom, the size-changing hero utilizes his shrinking power, causing an afterimage that feels like a dozen Atoms leaping into the air. Kagawa is the standout as he looks absolutely horrifying; a body stripped down to raw, red flesh and a grinning death’s head, which Mike Spicer renders in horrifyingly vibrant color.
Once again, Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #2 opens with a page from the late, great Jackson “Butch” Guice, this time detailing Resurrection Man with the ’90s era Justice League. Much has been said about Guice’s artwork after his passing, but it’s true: the man knew how to draw some epic superhero art, even if it’s for a single page. Whether it’s Kyle Rayner as the Green Lantern or Superman in his “electric blue” suit, Guice captures the vibes of an era, which is fitting given this is a series about a man with multiple lives.
Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #2 delivers a story that continues to push the boundaries of superhero comics, resulting in a thought-provoking and visually stunning read. If you haven’t yet, add this one to your pull list – it’s shaping up to be something special, or at the very least one of those books that shows why this medium will continue to thrive in the right hands.
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