Graphic Novel Review - Revival, Vol. 1: You're Among Friends by Tim Seeley

“And now the power of Christ is gonna compel you…to choke on my motherfucking dick.”

About Revival Vol. 1

“Subtitle to the book is “A rural noir by Tim Seeley + Mike Norton”

For one day in rural central Wisconsin, the dead came back to life. Now it’s up to Officer Dana Cypress to deal with the media scrutiny, religious zealots, and government quarantine that has come with them. In a town where the living have to learn to deal with those who are supposed to be dead, Officer Cypress must solve a brutal murder, and everyone, alive or undead, is a suspect. The sell-out hit series created by NYT Bestselling author TIM SEELEY and Eisner winning artist MIKE NORTON is collected with bonus material!”

My Thoughts

Revival is one of those odd little gems that you accidentally discover while searching for something to read. I started it on a whim and knew absolutely nothing about it.

It is gorgeous.

It calls itself a “rural noir,” it has hometown secrets and pain. It has zombies. It could be so much less than it is had Seeley taken the easy way out when creating it. I am so thankful he didn’t. Because in reality, this is a complex story about people put into unusual circumstances. Zombies sound trite. The stuff of B-rated movies with Shuffling dead people who want to eat your braaaaaains. But, give this a chance. Because zombies are just a vehicle for the excellent noir to ride atop but there are still plenty of chills and shivers here and there.

“We stood up on two legs
And raised our heads above golden grass
He was there

We sharpened stone and steel
Used tools to harvest grass, beast and brother
He was there

We clustered together
In brick and mud swarming with rats and plague
He was there

We built nations and mistrust
Our fingers hovered over the red button
He smiled

Still we build
To rise above the golden grass
Away from the reach of his scythe

When he will harvest no more”
― Tim Seeley, Revival, Vol. 1: You’re Among Friends