There’s something poetic about a character whose entire gimmick is dying. Mitch Shelley, better known as the Resurrection Man, has always been one of DC’s most fascinating cult icons. But in the hands of writer Ram V and artist Anand Radhakrishnan, Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma transcends cult classic status to become a metaphysical masterpiece.
If you’ve been following Ram V’s work on Swamp Thing or Detective Comics, you know the man loves to weave modern myths. Teaming up with the ethereal, gravity-defying art of Anand RK, this trade paperback collects a journey that is as much about the human soul as it is about cosmic gears and time-traveling monsters.
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Dying to Live: The Story
The book kicks off with a moment that feels uncharacteristically final: Mitch Shelley is dying of old age. Surrounded by family: the tears are real; the goodbye is heavy. But this is Resurrection Man. Death is a revolving door. Mitch is reawakened with a new, daunting mission: save the universe from a darkness born of his own past.
What makes Quantum Karma so effective is how it sidesteps traditional superhero tropes. Instead of a linear “save the world” plot, Ram V gives us a non-linear odyssey spanning decades and dimensions. We see Mitch in 1945, escaping a prison camp; in 1984, sharing a philosophical romance with a woman named Rhea; and even in 2035, navigating a world where his powers have evolved into something unrecognizable.
The primary antagonist is Gashadokuro, a sadistic WWII commander named Sohei Kawaga, who was twisted even further after consuming Mitch’s essence. But the narrative’s true genius lies in the “enemy within.” Mitch eventually finds himself hunted by Samsara, a future, broken version of himself. It’s a chilling question: What’s the worst kind of enemy? The answer, as Mitch discovers, is yourself… especially when you have an eternity to brew your own regrets.
A Masterclass in Atmosphere: Art, Colors, and Letters
You can’t talk about this book without praising Anand RK. His art doesn’t just sit on the page; it breathes and vibrates. There’s a cosmic quality to his work that captures the abstract nature of Mitch’s existence. The way he renders the Samsara double-page spreads (full of coalescing gears and negative space) is nothing short of breathtaking.
RK has this incredible ability to blend the grotesque with the beautiful. There’s a scene where Mitch rips the skin from his body to reveal a golden clockwork of gears underneath. In the hands of a lesser artist, it would be body horror; here, it feels like a divine revelation.
Mike Spicer’s colors are the glue that holds this psychedelic trip together. He uses a watercolor-inspired palette that makes the world feel like a dream you’re just about to wake up from. The contrast between the golden hues of the Kurukshetra War and the deep, purplish-blue voids of the cosmic scenes creates a visual language that tells the story as much as the dialogue does.
And let’s give a shout-out to Aditya Bidikar on letters. Lettering is often the unsung hero of comics, but Bidikar’s work here is essential. From the menacing, black thought bubbles of the villain to the distinct, eggshell-colored balloons for Mitch, the lettering guides your “ear” through the story, making the characters’ voices feel distinct and weighted.
Deep Themes and Unexpected Cameos
Ram V uses the “Black Label” freedom to dive deep into heavy themes: imperialism, the weight of memory, and the “quantum karma” that connects every action across time. He grounds these high-concept ideas by tying them to human savagery: war, internment camps, and the literal consumption of power.
The book also feels like a vital, if hidden, corner of the DC Universe. We get fantastic cameos that feel earned rather than forced. The Phantom Stranger acts as a cosmic guide, the Flash and Green Lanterns make brief appearances to remind us of the stakes, and there’s a surprisingly poignant guest role for Christopher Chance (The Human Target). Seeing the immortal Resurrection Man hire a bodyguard to protect him from his own future self is the kind of creative chef’s kiss moment that makes this series stand out.
One of the most moving parts of the book is the connection between Mitch and Vandal Savage. Revealing that they both gained immortality from the same prehistoric meteor (two “brothers” born of the same rock but heading in opposite directions) adds historical comic weight to their rivalry. It’s a “caveman duel” that feels as epic as any modern-day crisis.
The Verdict: A New Beginning
The finale of Quantum Karma brings everything full circle. It’s a cyclical ending that suggests life and death are two sides of the same coin. As Mitch dies one last time and finds himself as a “reader” flipping through the pages of his own story, the meta-narrative hits home: our lives are the stories we tell, and even with a thousand-second chances, what matters are the choices we make right now.
Ultimately, Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma is more than just another superhero comic. It’s a philosophical journey, a visual feast, and a love letter to the medium. If you want a story that challenges you, moves you, and leaves you staring at the art for hours, this is the one. Ram V and Anand RK haven’t just resurrected a character; they’ve given him a soul.
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Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma is more than just another superhero comic. It’s a philosophical journey, a visual feast, and a love letter to the medium. If you want a story that challenges you, moves you, and leaves you staring at the art for hours, this is the one. Ram V and Anand RK haven’t just resurrected a character; they’ve given him a soul.
