There are very few comics on the stands that can match Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma (unless we’re talking Absolute Martian Manhunter). It’s essentially taken a little-known DC superhero and placed him in the center of a grand cosmic tapestry that tackles matters of life, death, love, and identity, all thanks to his miraculous resurrection powers. Now Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #6 reaches the end of this strange tale, and it’s pulling out all the stops.
For starters, there’s the fact that the universe is literally about to end thanks to Gashadokuro. The malevolent force has consumed everything that lives…except for Mitch Shelley, who has one chance to save all of existence. I have to give Ram V some major props here; a man who can’t die, facing off against a man who consumes all he sees, is one of those battles rich with thematic weight.
When Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #6 isn’t dealing with the fate of the universe, it’s exploring what Shelley is thinking in his last moments. It’s…a lot. He’s hesitant to go out and face Gashadokuro because it means that he’ll potentially bring about the end of the world. Yet at the same time, he reflects on where he’s been and how he’s changed so many lives. “Every choice matters and is full of gravity,” one caption, elegantly lettered by Aditya Bidikar, reads. “We are each of us the superdense center of our own universe.” It’s heavy stuff, but it fits the themes that V is running with.
DC
The art in Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #6 will blow readers’ minds. Anand RK is pushing the medium in ways that I never expected; one page features Shelley peeling apart his skin to reveal a ticking collection of blood soaked gears instead of organs, while another page shows a series of panels unraveling the universe until there’s nothing but sheer darkness. RK really outdoes himself in a two-page spread where he shows Shelley standing at the edge of the universe, facing Gashadakuro. The former is all but a speck, while the latter nearly dwarfs half the page as a horrifying collection of skulls and flesh.
Mike Spicer’s colors also help set the stage. Throughout the issue, Shelley is represented by gold. The whirring gears within his body take on a gold hue, and so does his signature coat. In contrast, Gashadakuro is a cold, pale blue, making him a literal angel of Death. Black also plays a major role, as there’s two whole pages with nothing but darkness.
Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #6 ends with a stirring tribute to Jackson “Butch” Guice, the late co-creator of Resurrection Man. They have a clear, genuine love for Guice’s work, and the fact that they could work with him on his creation, and in a way it underlines what makes this story special. Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #6 is a celebration of life above all, and a phenomenal character study. Comics fans of all stripes should add it to their reading lists, and other creators should definitely be taking notes.
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