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Hellblazer #195
April 24, 2004
Quick Rating: Good
Title: Out of Season Part One
Constantine’s friends hunt for him as his amnesia causes him even more problems.
Writer: Mike Carey
Art: Leonardo Manco
Colors: Lee Loughridge
Letters: Clem Robins
Editor: Will Dennis
Cover Art: Tim Bradstreet
Publisher: DC Comics/Vertigo
After an encounter with an unpleasant fellow with telepathic tendencies last issue, John Constantine is trying to figure out who he is with nothing but his first name. His large friend is looking for him, a new friend isn’t exactly stable, and his old friends are trying to find him by any means necessary.
This is listed as the first of a two-part story, but it essentially continues from last issue’s quite good “Ward 24” story. Seeing Constantine trying to get by without his usual wit, snarky nature or anything else is new territory for the character, and for someone with 195 issues under his belt, finding something new isn’t easy. He gets into a seriously dangerous position in this issue and is unable to rely on any of his usual tricks, not remembering what they are, and the result is much more perilous than usual without actually making the stakes as high as they often get in a book like this.
Leonardo Manco does a fantastic job with the artwork on this issue. He has a handle on Constantine that actually echoes the rendition of the character done by cover artist Tim Bradstreet. It’s not quite as detailed – but doing the level of detail on a Bradstreet cover for the interiors would virtually eliminate any chance of getting an issue done on time. The facial structure is similar, however, and moreso than it usually is when it’s just different artists trying to draw the same character. It’s as if they used the same model.
Manco’s creepier scenes work well too, with just the right touch of blood and gore interlaced with some pretty normal-looking characters. These guys are still in shape, but unlike some horror comics, there is no character in this title that could be mistaken for a superhero.
With My Faith in Frankie over, this is easily the best title Mike Carey is writing now. He manages just the right mix of horror and potboiler, and that’s something that’s always fun to read when it’s done right.
Rating: 7/10
Justice League Dark #2
November 6, 2011
Title: In the Dark Part Two: Dark Matter
Writer: Peter Milligan
Art: Mikel Janin
Colorist: Ulises Arreola
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Cover Artist: Ryan Sook
Editor: Rex Ogle
Publisher: DC Comics
The Enchantress is growing more unhinged, her power more unchecked, and Zatanna know she’s going to have to draw together a team to fight back. Across America, though, the likes of Constantine and Shade the Changing Man are dealing with issues of their own. The book is coming together slowly, but not in a bad way. Like a lot of team books, this first story arc feels like it’s all about bringing the group together for the first time. We see their connections here to Zatanna, we see why they may be needed, and the slow convergence is entertaining to me. The big surprise is just how big a role Dove seems to be playing in the book. Considering her relationship with Deadman, I expected her to show up once in a while, but this issue really makes it feel as though she’s going to be a regular cast member, which would be just fine by me. In addition to a good story, the artwork by Mikel Janin is nothing short of gorgeous. His ability to blend superhero characters with a book that feels like high fantasy is absolutely uncanny, and his faces are very expressive and energetic, telling the story of the characters’ emotions as neatly as the speech balloons convey their words. The “Dark” corner of the New 52 has really turned out to be one of its finest.
Rating: 8/10
Recent Reviews: August 24 Releases
A lot of DC comic books last week. This week will probably be not so much…
Recent Reviews: July 27 Releases
I went to town on the reviews at CX Pulp this week, guys. Here’s everything I chimed in on…
- Action Comics #903
- Archie #623
- Avengers Academy #16
- Brightest Day Aftermath: The Search For Swamp Thing #2
- DC Retroactive: Justice League of America-The 70s #1
- DC Retroactive: Superman-The 70s #1
- DuckTales #3
- Fables #107
- Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #2
- Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost #2
- Flashpoint: Lois Lane and the Resistance #2
- Flashpoint: Project Superman #2
- Green Lantern Corps #62
- Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #12
- Invincible #81
- Teen Titans #98
- Terminator/Robocop: Kill Human #1
- X-Men: Schism #2
- Young Justice #6
Hellblazer #192
January 27, 2004
Quick Rating: Good
Title: Staring at the Wall Part Four
Constantine sets up a last stand.
Writer: Mike Carey
Art: Marcelo Frusin
Colors: Lee Loughridge
Letters: Clem Robins
Editor: Will Dennis
Cover Art: Tim Bradstreet
Publisher: DC Comics/Vertigo
With only one issue left in this story arc, Mike Carey has set things up for a really epic climax. As a demon has found a way to invade and take over the collective unconscious of the human race, John Constantine has found a way to shield himself from the insanity, making him humanity’s last hope. Outside mob rule has taken over, riots rip apart the cities, fires burn and things are plunged into chaos.
I must say, however, my favorite thing about this issue is that we are reminded that several of the Vertigo titles do take place in the DC universe proper, and as such, the fact that it’s a shared universe is recognized and used to the story’s advantage in this issue. Aside from Constantine’s own battle, we see how other mystic creatures are dealing with the insanity about them with cameos by Lucifer, Swamp Thing and one of my personal favorites, Tim Hunter (the new Books of Magic series cannot begin soon enough).
In fact, if one didn’t like the shared universe concept, that could be the biggest complaint they have about this issue, that it reads a bit too much like a superhero comic and not the horror/dark fantasy title it is purported to be. But why can’t it be both? If the book reads well — and it does — what’s wrong with that sort of thing?
Marcelo Frusin wouldn’t be one of my favorite artists on other projects, but his talents are very well-suited to this book. He and colorist Lee Loughridge craft a very good dark, dismal world, reflecting the horrors that Constantine’s enemy is inflicting on the planet Earth. Frusin also does a very good Swamp Thing, and with rumors floating around about that book being resurrected later this year, editors would do well to look in his direction.
Although I’ve always enjoyed Constantine’s guest appearances in other titles, I’ve never bothered to read his own book until this storyline. I think I found a good one to come in on. Dark, funny and horrifying sometimes, this is a good comic book, and with only eight months to go, one can’t help but wonder what Carey has in the works for the big issue #200.
Rating: 7/10
The Back Issue Bin 