Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #2: Falling In Love and Saving the Universe

Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #2 opens similarly to the first issue, with a single page rundown of some of Resurrection Man’s storied history with a backdrop of the late Butch Guice’s art, denoting a classic time period in DC comics history. The week prior to this comic’s release, the comic book world was heartbroken by the news of Guice’s passing. With a storied career that spans across some of the most important comics of all time, Guice’s art was a work to behold. For those unfamiliar with his work, his single page in this issue is just icing on the cake for what he accomplished in his storied career. RIP.

Picking up with the events of the first issue, Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #2 continues Mitch Shelly’s journey through space and time as he comes to grip with his newest abilities that seemingly allow him mastery over time itself. Towards the end of the first issue, Ram V and Anand RK introduced a new villain named Gashadokuro, a cannibalistic soldier who unintentionally gained powers after he ate parts of a deceased Mitch Shelly. Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #2 picks up that narrative, revealing that Gashadokuro now has similar powers to Mitch, although he is stuck in a constant stake of pain, with his body being completely withered away by Mitch’s attempt to burn down the enemy camp. His story here is more brief, with his appearances indicating that he will become a larger threat later, but there is no doubt that this creation from Ram V and Anand RK is one of the most bizarre, twisted characters in recent history.

The subject matter discussed here often can come across as theoretical and presumptuous, mainly because the idea of someone with power over time places them at a cosmic scale beyond that of almost any other hero. That is where the meat and bones of the issue comes in, with Mitch attempting to explore this new power through changing slight choices he had made in his past in order to see a modified outcome. This feels very Butterfly Effect-esque, although there is a deeper discussion here that warrants the sometimes flippant nature of how this is all explained to Mitch. This all can come across as very high concept, but thankfully, Anand RK is on the art, allowing the audience to see how abstract and nuanced everything is, especially in the time-scape.

The most poignant part of the issue comes when Mitch starts exploring his prior relationship, the one that ended in his death of old age which gave him the powers he now has. Mitch’s exploration of this reveals that he still doesn’t quite understand how two people can just happen to be in the right place, at the right time, and form a connection strong enough to allow him to feel comfortable leaving his prior life of heroics. As he circles back that discussion, Ram V writes some of the best dialogue in his career, “You think saving the universe and falling in love are the same thing? You’d be surprised.” This line of dialogue here feels like it may be the impotence behind the entire story, and that makes it all the better.