The Mummy: Dark Resurrection

by Michael Paine

Josh and Stephanie Brandt's father and grandfather disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Each went to Egypt in search of the lost crypt of the fabled priestess Ankh-es-en-Amun. And each man went missing. When news arrives that a dig Josh is financing has uncovered the sealed tomb, it sets off a chain of events that brings him up against the mysterious Ardath Bey. Bey's remarkable powers seem almost supernatural, and for good reason: they are...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1595820523
• ISBN13: 9781595820525
• Release Date: November 2007
• Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
• Length: 297 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.3" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

A worthy addition to anyone's Universal Monsters library

This book is the fifth in a series of six Universal Monsters tie-in books. The previous four -- Frankenstein, Dracula, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and Wolf Man novels -- each take place after the events of their respective movies, acting as sequels to the events of those movies. Plus, the Frankenstein book not only acknowledges the events of "Frankenstein," but also "Bride of," and hints at some of the characters and situations in a couple more of the classic Frankenstein movie series. I mention this because "The Mummy, Dark Resurrection" breaks with the pattern set in those previous books, and a reader's expectations should be adjusted accordingly. Michael Paine's story retcons the whole plot of the 1932 film "The Mummy" -- he takes only the backstory of Imhotep (plus the concept that his modern identity is named Ardath Bey) and uses it to build a new story that is irreconcilable with the classic movie starring Boris Karloff. Bottom line: don't expect this to be a sequel to "The Mummy;" forget what you remember from that film and let this book build The Mummy's story anew for you. As to the story Paine writes -- very, very good. Characterization is done in a style I found breezy and compelling. The cast of characters mostly consists of the Brandt family, each carefully constructed, and it's a shame to read some of the horrible things that happen. And this is not a book that's short on horror. You get violence, you get fright, you get mystery. The pace of the book starts slow but tantalizing, quickening and becoming more explanatory as the story progresses, yet still leaves some parts to your imagination. I would give a book 5 stars if there was no way to improve upon it. As much as I enjoyed "The Mummy, Dark Resurrection," I had some minor quibbles. Scenes would change with undue abruptness at times, shifting to a previously unseen Brandt family member, and it became obvious really quickly that this meant something shocking was about to happen regarding that character. But some of the shock dissipates when you can predict it from a pattern like this. In addition to that, the hero undergoes a sudden theological shift based on very little, in a climactic scene near the end, and it struck me as a hastily written solution to the problem. All in all, here is a fine adventure any "Mummy" fan should at least give a try. Revive Boris Karloff as the Mummy in the movie-screen of your mind with this fine horror yarn.