Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #6: The Meaning of Life

Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #6 concludes not only one of the best works of Ram V’s already-considerable career but also one of the finest comic books of 2025, delivering one of the most satisfying conclusions in recent memory. Mitch Shelley, the titular Resurrection Man, devised an ingenious scheme in the previous issue that carried him to the very end of time, where he confronted an alternate future version of himself bent on universal destruction. Now, at the edge of existence, Shelley faces the impossible question: What is the true meaning of life?

To call Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma philosophical would be an understatement. Beyond the typical action and heroics of both classic and modern superheroes, Ram V grounds the story with an emotional core that always carries a meaningful message. Issue #6 argues that neither a definitive ending nor a grand conclusion should be the goal, whether in fiction or in life. Instead, it is the journey itself, the lessons learned, the impact left on others, and the love shared, that represents life’s ultimate purpose.

At first glance, answering this universal question appears to be the series’ central focus. But as the layers of Shelley’s psyche are peeled back, it becomes clear that he already knows the answer. His powers allow him to live countless lives, experiencing the wonders of the universe endlessly. For Resurrection Man, the question of life’s meaning matters less than the question of each person’s role within the universe. This idea ties back to a key line that resonates throughout the finale: “You think saving the universe and falling in love are the same thing? You’d be surprised.”

That leads us to the central conflict: Shelley versus his alternate future self. Their clash is not merely one of strength or strategy, but of interpretation. Shelley’s future self has resigned to a vision of existence where the only imaginable path is to stop Gashadokuro at any cost—even if it means sacrificing the richness of lived experience for a single, cold end goal. Shelley, however, realizes that regrets are not failures to be escaped but essential parts of life. This final issue resolves their conflict swiftly yet intelligently, leaving ample space for the rich introspection that follows.

As Shelley reflects on his fate alongside the Phantom Stranger, Gashadokuro emerges to reveal his true motivations. His eternal hunger, we learn, began in childhood, and absorbing Shelley’s powers gave him the means to fulfill what he perceived as his purpose: ending existence itself. It is then that Shelley recalls words once spoken by his brother, Vandal Savage, before his first death: “Maybe you’re the thing that dies so others can learn to really live.” This revelation crystallizes Shelley’s awakening. Purpose and destiny, he realizes, are illusions when weighed against the everyday experiences that shape us.

By the series’ conclusion, a profound sense of hope shines through. Even in the face of destruction and endings, Ram V insists that love, above all else, is what ultimately saves us.