Resurrection #1-2

Written by Marc Guggenheim
Art by David Dumeer
32 pages, black and white
Published by Oni Press

In creator Marc Guggenheim’s afterword to the first issue of Resurrection, he mentions watching V: The Series on tv and being so disappointed on the chances it had to be a story about what happens after an alien invasion, and failing utterly. It’s funny, because I remember watching both V: The Final Battle and V: The Series and I completely understand his frustration. So it’s with that in mind that I had high hopes for Resurrection, taking what’s generally speaking a squandered setting for a story and giving its own spin on the set-up of Earth after the invasion comes to a close.

It’s been ten years, but the alien invasion of Earth is finally over. The Bugs have left, beating a retreat to parts unknown. People are slowly coming out of their shelters and bunkers, and governments can finally leave their protected areas. Unfortunately, if people think that life will simply return to normal, they’ve got a bad surprise waiting for them. Because to use an old cliché, it’s safe to say that their lives will never be the same again.

The first two issues of Resurrection are a bit of an ensemble piece, following three different characters in post-war Earth. The closest we’ve got to a main character is Sara Lisco, who along with her new acquaintance Ben is trying to make it to Washington DC to see who or what survived from the government. At the end of two issues, it’s still a little hard to get a handle on them. We’ve got the broad brush strokes of characterization—caring mother, strong-willed and determined—but none of the finer points. Hopefully with time we’ll start to get more, but for now it’s a good enough of a start. Ironically, though, it’s the other two threads that I’m more interested in: the scientist with the last Bug on Earth in captivity, and the US government preparing to leave the official bunker in Mount Weather, Virginia. We’re only getting glimpses of their stories so far, but there’s a lot of story potential in them. Fortunately, with Sara and Ben traveling throughout the country, it seems inevitable that their stories will intersect before too long.

Perhaps the best thing so far about the writing is that Guggenheim isn’t sacrificing one aspect of the greater whole for another one. You’ve got all sorts of genres and pushes for the series overlapping in Resurrection, from political intrigue to apocalyptic future; suspense thriller to exploring abandoned alien technology. Post-Alien-Invasion Earth has so many possibilities, and it’s actually a bit of a relief to see that Guggenheim sees them all as well.

David Dumeer’s art for Resurrection doesn’t really call attention to itself. It’s solid, it gets the story told, it moves the reader effortlessly through panels. The most remarkable thing about it, though, is really how non-flashy and unremarkable the art is. Most of the time that’s not really a bad thing; Dumeer’s focusing on getting Guggenheim’s story told efficiently and competently, working well in service to the script. Occasionally, though, I really would’ve liked to see some flash. When we get a flashback to the start of the invasion in #2, for instance, it would’ve been nice to get a little more oomph, something that really pops out at the reader when they turn the page. Instead it just seems, well, almost average. And it’s at those moments that I think the story really does deserve a little bit of flash.

Resurrection is off to a solid start. I like that Guggenheim clearly has far-reaching ideas and plans for the book, and he and Dumeer are working steadily away at just that. A little more spark, though, would be appreciated—something that really makes an event in the book stand out. As it is, I’m certainly intrigued enough to stick around and see what they’re going to do next.