The Returning #1
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The Returning #1

Writer: Jason Starr Artist: Andrea Mutti Publisher: Boom! Studios Release Date: March 12, 2014 Cover Price: $3.99 Critic Reviews: 11
6.1Critic Rating
N/AUser Rating

WHY WE LOVE IT: BOOM! We can't get enough innovative mashups of some of our favorite genres: Fantasy, Horror, and Mystery. Plus, we're fascinated with the science of NDE's!

WHY YOU WILL LOVE IT: Award winning novelist Jason Starr (Wolverine Max, The Chill) and artist Andrea Mutti (Noir, The Executor) deliver a gripping but deeply human drama set in an uncertain world.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT: It's 2022, and some people who have had Near Death Experiences have come back "changed." They exhibit extreme behavioral changes, becoming increasingly paranoid and violent, and no one knows why. People who have had NDE's fall immediately u more

  • 8.5
    Multiversity Comics - Michelle White Mar 13, 2014

    “The Returning” is a lean, efficient read that builds up plenty of atmosphere before you get to the last page. The writing is well-paced, and the art is both seamless and expressive, nailing the paranoid landscape that Beth is negotiating. There's no question that this cliffhanger will make you want to pick up the next issue; with an introduction this intense, checking out the rest of this series is looking like a necessity. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    AIPT - David Brooke Mar 12, 2014

    This is a very well written first issue that introduces its protagonist very well. The world is realistic and lived in and you shouldn't have any trouble believing what's going on. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    All-Comic - Ian Stephen Mar 11, 2014

    When it comes to any comic series, it can always be difficult to hook readers right away with a first issue. With so many quality series on the shelves, most readers will only give the first issue of a new series a shot and if youre lucky maybe the second. So when it comes to a mini-series likeThe Returning, you certainly need to try to catch the attention of as many readers as possible. FortunatelyThe Returningdoes just that, and with this series only being four issues long theres no reason to not dive in and start enjoying this series. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    IGN - Mike Logsdon Mar 12, 2014

    Andrea Mutti presents a style that accurately meshes with the overall tone of the story. The world presented in this book is one that is in a seemingly slow decay. Mutti's characters and environments are all somewhat askew, and this helps to sell the eeriness of the main premise. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Bloody Disgusting - Breed Ogden Mar 14, 2014

    I so badly wanted to love this comic based on the lore it imposes to the NDE but it didnt quite hit home for me. I think that it may speed up in future issues and possibly live up to expectations because its clear that the creative team has some great ideas. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Rhymes With Geek - Timothy Merritt Mar 12, 2014

    This first issue is exposition-heavy, and bogged down by numerous problems with its art. The story, while intriguing in its concept, is plagued by plotholes and clunky dialogue. These issues could lighten up in the next few issues, but for a four parter, with twenty five percent of the story already told, this doesnt bode well for whats coming in The Returning. The idea of a menacing afterlife could be an interesting one to explore, but there just wasn't enough groundwork laid in this issue to make a compelling enough case for it. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    Comic Book Resources - Jim Johnson Mar 12, 2014

    Despite the detour this issue takes near the end, what will bring readers back isn't this manufactured twist in the story, but rather the idea behind the story itself, which remains compelling. "The Returning" #1 sputters after a decent start, but has just enough promise to stick with future issues. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    Newsarama - Pierce Lydon Mar 12, 2014

    The Returning is a by-the-numbers horror jaunt that hits almost all the necessary tropes. Starr is definitely trying to open up the concept but most readers will need more than the appearance of a mysterious stranger to keep them interested. While Mutti and Starr do get better as the issue progresses, the whole package kind of feels stale. There's potentially a good story to be told here but the creators haven't unearthed it. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    Flip Geeks - Nicolo Parungo Mar 11, 2014

    Maybe things will start to turn around in the second issue, but I honestly can't recommend picking up The Returning, even if you haven't read Revival (and if you haven't, you should!) and find the gimmick and art interesting, the lack luster writing and piss poor characterization " not to mention the weak ending " won't have you RETURNING (nyahaha) to the book anytime soon. Read Full Review

  • 4.0
    Big Comic Page - Ross Sweeney Mar 11, 2014

    Theres just no hook, nothing that compels you to come back for more unlike its newly reanimated protagonist, theres not a whole lot of soul in here, and whilst its entirely competent, it just doesnt pop like the premise says it ought to. The next issue may prove me wrong, but theres just nothing here to compel me to pick it up. Read Full Review

  • 4.0
    Major Spoilers - Ashley Victoria Robinson Mar 19, 2014

    If you like zombie stories that arent quite zombie stories and youre looking for an easy read to fill your comics experience and have exhausted all other avenues then The Returning #1 might be for you. If you are anything other than that there is little of report from this issue and you had might as well pick up something else. Read Full Review

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