Between 2012 and 2017, one of the most talked-about and highly praised independent comic series was Image Comic’s Revival, co-created by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton, with colorist Mark Englert and cover artist Jenny Frison. The main theme revolves around a peculiar occurrence known as “Revival Day,” where individuals who had died within a few miles of Wausau, Wisconsin, in early January, mysteriously return to life on the following day.
Nobody can explain why they returned. They aren’t like the undead walkers from The Walking Dead. Instead, they’ve simply reappeared. Unsurprisingly, the people of Wausau are alarmed because the idea of death has been turned on its axis, leaving detective Dana Cypress and CDC doctor Ibrahim Ramin to unravel the mystery behind their unexpected return.
The revival has been transformed into an original series titled the same, set to premiere on SYFY on June 12 at 10:00 p.m. ET, with subsequent episodes airing every Thursday night. Luke Boyce and Aaron B. Koontz collaborated on its creation, and it maintains a striking resemblance to the Harvey Award-nominated comic while incorporating many imaginative turns that enrich the storyline for television.
In a small town, police officer Dana Cypress, portrayed by Melanie Scrofano (from “Wynonna Earp”), is now working alongside her father Sheriff Wayne (David James Elliott). Dana has an unstable younger sister, Em (Romy Weltman), who’s dealing with the aftermath of a day they call “Revival Day.” Meanwhile, Ibrahim Ramin (Andy McQueen from “Mrs. Davis”) – a scientist for the CDC – has arrived in town to investigate why the dead are mysteriously returning to life.
In a chat with SYFY WIRE, Koontz discussed building the series based on the comic book’s storyline, and outlined the points where their trajectories will deviate during Season 1.
A pilot episode that unfolds very much like Revival Issue #1
Aaron B. Koontz, the executive producer, shares with SYFY WIRE that his initial encounter with the comic book “Revival” was prompted by a recommendation from Luke Boyce. He mentions that it instantly caught his interest.
Speaking about adapting the series, he comments, “Reading that initial comic, it felt like, ‘Ah, here’s the introduction.’ It all seemed so logical.” He emphasizes that from the first issue itself, there is a strong hook which if successfully replicated at the end of the pilot episode, sets the show in motion.
As a devoted fan, I can share that during my discussions with NBC and SYFY, they were instantly captivated by the concept of the pilot and the first issue. These elements seemed to resonate remarkably well with them, as they mirrored each other in a fascinating way. Once we’ve set the stage and defined our characters, I find great appeal in the chance to mislead viewers about the show’s direction, only to create something entirely new from there.
As first-time TV series showrunners, Koontz admits that he and Boyce are avid enthusiasts of this medium. To understand what makes successful adaptations click, they delved into studying their preferred versions.
Luke mentions that this was entirely novel for him and himself in every way, as they had never served as showrunners before. Although he has a rich background as a writer, this experience is unique due to their focus on balancing the real-time adaptation of the series with key moments, while also knowing when to move more quickly through certain parts to identify essential story points.
He points out that while there are 47 issues in the “Revival” comic series, it doesn’t mean there are 47 episodes in the adaptation. Instead, he explains that adapting a comic into an episode format requires condensing the content significantly due to the nature of the adaptation process.
Grounding the series in the Revival comic book narrative but trying new things
Moving on from the initial episode, I personally put in a great deal of effort to ensure the series closely mirrored the comic, creating a sense of comfort and familiarity for fellow enthusiasts, making it feel like we’re all immersed in the same world.
He explains that the season narrative will feel familiar yet offer some unexpected twists. “We aim to follow a path similar to the comic,” he says, “but with surprises when you least expect them. It’s like in our writers’ room, we often discuss how the comic does this, so we’ll make it seem as though we’re going one way, and then we’ll go another. This approach keeps both new viewers and fans of the comic engaged.
Koontz encourages fans of the “Revival” comic books to exhibit patience as they watch the show, hinting that a significant revelation from the initial comic book issue has been moved to another part of the TV series’ season instead.
He assures the purists that while some things may seem to have been overlooked or skipped initially, they will become significant later on. The sequence of events will be intriguing, involving setting up expectations and then fulfilling them in an unexpected manner. This will lead to a realization that certain characters are developing in ways that might surprise the audience, which can serve as a delightful nod to fans while also maintaining an element of surprise.
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2025-06-12 18:32