Revival: Deluxe Collection, Volume 4

Revival #7-8

by Tim Seeley (Writer), Mike Norton (Illustrator), Mark Englert (Colorist)

This is it, the final chapter in the critically acclaimed crime/horror rural noir, REVIVAL! For one day in 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. Having solved the mystery of her sister's murder, Dana must decide whether to seek justice or help the perpetrator save the town of Wausau from eating itself alive. The sell-out hit series created by New York Times bestselling author TIM SEELEY and Eisner-winning artist MIKE NORTON is collected in this collection featuring REVIVAL #36-47 plus many behind-the-scenes bonuses and other features.

Genres: Horror, Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Zombies, Comic Book, Fantasy

296 pages, Hardcover

First published May 31, 2017

About the author

Tim Seeley is a comic book artist and writer known for his work on books such as G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, The Dark Elf Trilogy, Batman Eternal and Grayson. He is also the co-creator of the Image Comics titles Hack/Slash[1] and Revival, as well as the Dark Horse titles, ExSanguine and Sundowners. He lives in Chicago.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(B+) 78% | Good
Notes: Review pending re-read. Individual reviews for included volumes can be found here:
- Revival, Vol. 7: Forward
- Revival, Vol. 8: Stay Just a Little Bit Longer

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, it was so bittersweet reading this final collection of Seeley's Revival. But it ended the way it should end, coming full circle with a lovely epilogue.



There were some nutty additions to the cast that (unbelievably) worked really well, like the Amish Ninja Assassin...



And some characters that just made me scratch my head at why the fuck they were even given any page time, like the redneck pirate chick who seemingly lost a fight with hair clippers...



I refuse to spoil anything, but I will say that I found parts of the ending (especially pertaining to the what/how/why this Revival started) a tad confusing and rushed. I mean, yes, it does make a sort of sense, but...eh. I would have liked to had a bit more of an in-depth explanation.
Still. Your questions get answers, and I think that's basically good enough.



And we FINALLY find out who murdered Em the night before the dead started to rise!
Nope. Didn't see that one coming...



This has been a fantastic title with a great mystery behind it, and I've loved every minute I spent reading each page.
Kudos, Mr. Seeley. It was a worthwhile finale!

[Scott Rhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE END IS NIGH! For the graphic novel series “Revival”, that is, not for, like, the world and civilization and stuff, so don’t freak out. Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.

I just finished reading “The Deluxe Edition 4” of the horror/noir graphic novel series by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton, and I am saddened that it is the end of the series, but I am pleased that it didn’t cop out at the end. It actually summed things up satisfactorily and (not a huge spoiler, I hope) on a positive note.

I can’t delve too deeply into what went on, plot-wise, in this volume because I don’t want to reveal spoilers, other than to say that things come to a head, violently, in the small Wisconsin town where dead people have inexplicably come back to life. Mysteries will get solved. Some people will die. Life will go on.

Seeley/Norton’s “zombie-series-that-isn’t-really-a-zombie-series” was a fantastic, entertaining, creepy, suspenseful, thought-provoking graphic novel series that tackled issues of death, the fear of death, afterlife, and familial obligation.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last volume was a poignant ending to the complete series, and felt true to the beginning. The series had such a promising start, and while I struggled a bit in the middle wondering where the mystery was headed and the climax was a bit rushed, it came together beautifully at the end.

Reviews can be found on my graphic novels blog:

Volume Four- https://graphicnovelty2.com/2017/04/2...
Volume Three- https://graphicnovelty2.com/2016/11/2...
Volume Two- https://graphicnovelty2.com/2016/08/0...
Volume One- https://graphicnovelty2.com/2016/04/0...



Plus I had the incredible thrill of winning a contest to be drawn into the concluding issue! Check it out here: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2017/02/2...

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This finale isn't bad, but it doesn't quite stick the ending. I think I was hoping for a bit too much compared to what we got.

[Chad Malkamaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series, I'm glad I stumbled upon this. As with all finales, you finally get the answers you've been waiting for, specifically who killed Em? Great ending and epilogue sad to already be done.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The end of Revival ratchets up the intensity and drama to 10 but fails to deliver a worthwhile payoff in the end. The various threads that have been woven into this series reach their conclusion however Tim Seeley fails to explain in a fulfilling way the nature of the revivers and the supernatural elements do not get resolved in a manner that was easily understood. The art as always is top notch. A lacklustre ending to an intriguing series.

[Highland G · Rating 4 out of 5]

My previous notes disappeared so I’m rewriting this.
Its been a very interesting experience reading this, the ending was a lot better than expected but also left me wanting in some areas.
This will definitely make for an interesting closer look video.

[OmniBen · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Zero spoiler review - best read my previous reviews for context)
I knew it! I just knew it! I could smell the book I had fallen for over the previous three hardcover collections coming apart at the seams towards the end of the third volume. I delved into this somewhat in my previous reviews, although maybe I was a little starry eyed, maybe I was in denial just a pinch. Maybe I was just hoping this book would skip the landing. And while I wouldn't say it fell flat on its face, it certainly tripped and stumbled, or landed on its ass even? OK, so a little spoiler free context to go with this disappointment I'm feeling, whilst its still fresh.
As soon as I finished this series, I toddled over to my computer and started this review, not exactly sure whether I was more angry or disappointed. I wasn't sure whether I could do justice to my feelings without doing spoilers. I would really enjoy being able to disseminate exactly what went wrong with this final arc, as it would definitely help to get a little of this pent up frustration out. It certainly would be cathartic in some way. But I'll stick with the spoiler free and do my best without spoiling what this book becomes, though if you have read up to this point, I would imagine you would be committed to the series and aren't worrying so much what others say about it now.
So, where did this go wrong in my opinion. The strength of the story, at least in my opinion, was the small town character study it started out as. It reminded me of my favourite Stephen King story, Under the Dome. Now, I know many will disagree with that choice, but what it started out as a brilliant examination of a small town, with a small town mentality caught in the middle of an unprecedented crisis. Now, the characters in Revival, now the narrative flow were not as good as King when he was really cooking, but it appealed to me for the same reasons. From the outset, you could tell Revival was building to something. amidst the supernatural tones, there was something grounded and human keeping it centered. It was a character study of people when confronted by a revelatory event. But towards the end of the third run, and absolutely in the fourth, that more grounded, more simple aspect was well and truly thrown to the wayside, replaced by what can only be described as a ridiculous, uninteresting and poorly executed B movie plot, littered with plot contrivances, numerous plot conveniences and characters decision which were either nonsensical or downright degrading to what they had become (a few in particular). What was previously a well paced slow burn became a rushed and muddled mess. Yes, there needs to be an inevitable ratcheting up in pace as the story draws to a conclusion, but this here is not how you do it. It was jumbled and jumpy, which only added to the disaffection I felt with where the story was heading. If it took its time and sold it a little more, I'd be more inclined to get onboard. I won't belabor these points, although I really can't stress enough how I feel the author really shat the bed with where he ultimate went with this, particularly in the final six issues, though the opening six issues weren't exactly stellar either. I also felt a bit of wokeness creeping in here and there as well, but I'll simply mention it, and leave it there.
A positive I should mention before wrapping this up is Mike Norton's artwork. The man kept improving throughout the series, and this final arc had some gorgeous art to accompany a lackluster story, which is always a shame. if the words improved like the man's drawing did, then we would have been in for something special.
So, I was right, although I take no joy in that admission. If I'm honest, I kind of thought it might have gone to pot a little sooner than this, so I got a good thirty plus issues of solidly strong content, before it came unstuck. The sad thing was, if Seeley had simply stuck to his guns and kept things going as they were, and reigned in a few of is more outlandish choices in this final arc, it could have been oh so different. We could have been looking at one of my favourite series, for its length and consistency if nothing else. But heavy lies the crown, and after such a long run, people remember the finish far more than they remember the beginning. Just look at Game of Thrones. This series didn't screw things up as badly as what that abortion turned into. But nor was Revival as good as Thrones was in its heyday. So, should you read this series, should you happen to be reading this without having started it. Yes, I would ultimately say so. Would I reread it. Hmmm, maybe. I'd likely skip the last book though. I'll give it a few years between reads though. Right now, the taste of shit is still just a little too fresh. 3/5

OmniBen

[Eastham Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery surrounds this horror thriller as no one can figure out why everyone who died within a few days of New Years day, came back to life and apparently became immortal as they cannot be killed.

With a quarantine by the CDC in place, no one comes in and no one goes out, which results in high tension among the townsfolk of Wausau, Wisconsin. Main protagonist, Detective Dana Cypress, has her hands full as she secretly tries to find her reviver sister's murderer in the midst of having to investigate several murders committed by Revivors who may have experienced a blood lust. These story lines, laced with black market reviver organ sales and mysterious glowing ghostlike creatures pile mystery upon mystery in this great horror comic.

Volume four, as the last volume in the series, kicks things into high gear at a pace that is a little faster than that set in previous volumes, and it suffers for it. Previous volumes gave time for each character whereas this volume seems like it was racing to get to the end. Whether this is due to the writer's exhaustion on the project or possibly Image only allowing so many more issues, the result is the same, a rushed finish with not all questions being answered. That being said, answers are finally revealed in that the reader learns who was Em's murderer, who the glowing men are, and why the revivers were revived in the first place. What is missing, and not really answered, is the how to the whys. New characters (arguably too many) give the reader pause as he/she must take them selves out of the moment of the story to ask, "who is this and why do I care?"

That all being said, as negative as this review may sound on Volume 4, the overall journey of the story is fantastic and the writing and art are consistent throughout. Revival is a comic that can recommended to all readers with enthusiasm.

Well written and fast paced, the reader will quickly blow through this volume and onto the next. Tim Seeley and Mike Norton created a winner.

[Paul Allard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The conclusion of an original series – reasonably clear and good stuff

If you've not read the six previous volumes of this comic series, this will be a bit of a mystery to the reader. It's a very good series which had improved as it goes along, dealing with a phenomenon where various dead people are “revived” to live amongst the locals in a small US town. The characters are well-developed and sometimes it is hard to keep track of who they all are, especially if there's a sizeable gap between volumes being published. This volume incorporates the last volumes of the series and brings everything to a close with plenty of violence.

It is clearly-illustrated and this volume has plenty of gore and blood. It's a series which I recommend.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revival has been one of my favourite comics since the first hardcover was released. This final volume provides a decent conclusion to what has been a well developed overall story. I found the conclusion related to the Revivers to be a bit unsatisfying. As an entire narrative however Revival has maintained a "premiere TV" like quality to its characters and storylines. An excellent example of telling a complete story through the comic medium. Mike Norton remains consistently brilliant on art duties.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seeley & Norton wrap up their hit series just like they've been doing, with heart-wrenching twists and turns. The mysteries are laid bare and make sense, in a comic book way. The town of Wassau, which is a character all on its own, becomes a war zone and how things shake out might surprise readers. Seeley obviously put his heart and soul into this book and its awesome. Mike Norton continued to impress on every page. Side note, I didn't love the idea of an Amish ninja but typing it out, maybe I do. Overall, the entire series was a success and it a must read.

[Jon FK · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought the Hardcover Deluxe editions long ago and I wish I hadn't. Even if I went for the Trade Paperbacks, I wouldn't keep them.

The premise is cool but the prose and the interior artwork don't hold the standard the exterior artwork attempts to represent.

The books start with much more depth and emotion and loses it over time, replaced with shock and extremes rather than the great story-telling that could have been.

The premise is a great take on what was hot at the time - zombies, but it falls short of its own standard it sets.

[Villis Sticht · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series even if the last little bit had an element that seemed a little "out there" even for this series, yes, I am talking about the Amish ninja woman. To be clear I liked her a lot, but it really seemed a bit like a deus ex amisha. Overall, this series has a lot to recommend it: interesting questions, characters, family dynamics, power dynamics, what empowers people/keeps them in power, etc. A lot in this series connects with what is happening in our world in our current timeline (i.e., 2025).

[Joel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since becoming a father a few years ago, family stories have really had a much larger impact on me. I go all blubbery for well executed familial stories. Revival is that at it's resurrected, soul-less heart: a family story. Seeley and Morton stick their landing here. I will not go into specifics of what the ending of this serial works for me--as that would be so spoiler-y as to be offensive to me.

[Kris Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying end to the series. Kind of a bummer it took me 12 years to circle back and finish reading it, but art has no expiration date.

The lockdown aspect is pretty eerie this side of the pandemic. It's crazy how it shifted the perspective of the entire world. How something like Revival was once pure fiction and now seems somewhat more...plausible.

Time to head over to Peacock and watch the series.

[Valleri · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a superb ending to an incredibly well done graphic novel series, I would rank Revival with The Crow especially the Flesh and Blood spinoff. The graphics, storyline, and characters have evolved so much from the beginning of this ethereal apocalyptic novel exploring family bonds and limits of self and survival. A very compelling read; I would highly recommend.

[Magnus Frederiksen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sista delen i denna mäktiga historia. Och vilket slut. Att det skulle finnas en förklaring till den här berättelsen trodde jag inte. Är slutet episkt? Nej. Det är helt ok. Men det är inte för slutet man läser dessa väl snidade serierutor. Det är för resan. Jag applåderar kreatörerna och hoppas de får all kredd de förtjänar.

[Leanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ripped through these and enjoyed them, but they're really a popcorn read. The characters are all pretty one-dimensional and you get a little bored of the soap opera-y tone at times. Fun, but I'll probably never think about this series again.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO sad to say goodbye.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Linnea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Så bra! Så skönt med en serie som dels avslutas och också gör det snyggt! Spänningen var intensiv rakt igenom till sista sidan! Och Norton illustrationer håller verkligen toppklass.

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amish ninja was weird but otherwise, what a series.

[Marcus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is difficult. The art style is really good and there was a lot of energy put into the characters and story. But ultimately it wasn't for me. I had to force myself to sit down and finish it.

[C. Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stellar finish on a criminally underrated book.

5/5

[Nigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally reading the epic conclusion! Whodunnit howdunnit whydunnit and who survies and who
at will be left of them, all revealed in Revival!

[Soteralzobooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8