The Hellblazer #1
Written by Simon Oliver
Art by Moritat
Colors by Andre Szymanowicz
Letters by Sal Cipriano
John Constantine is back in London and it looks like the Hellblazer is back to his old form. With support from classic characters and a mission from an old friend, everyone’s favorite con-man/magician is pulled from alcohol-fueled stupor and into the great wide world. Very much building on DC’s promise to return characters to their classic form while also telling new and exciting stories, The Hellblazer # 1 sets up what looks to be a very entertaining series and justifies Simon Oliver appointment as its scribe. The first issue of any revamped series needs to pull in new readers while also paying tribute to the history that long time fans hold so dear, and this books pulls both off beautifully.
This issue opens in 1914 Sarajevo, with two mysterious brothers fighting over whether or not to stop a gunman but yet ultimately allowing – spoilers alert – Gavrilo Pricnip to assassinate the Archduke Ferdinand and thus put the 20th century on the path to be the bloodiest in human history. With an opening like that you know the stakes are going to be off the chart. The bulk of the issue deals with Swamp Thing enlisting Constantine’s help to locate the Avatar’s erstwhile paramour. Although this isn’t an exciting storyline it does fill in a few blanks from the Rebirth issue, such as why Swamp Thing would stand up to the Justice League on Constantine’s behalf and who the mysterious stranger was that helped the magician return to England. With references back to Jamie Delano’s famous run on Hellblazer and a closing page that will leave you clamoring for more, this issue is a real treat for both long time fans and newcomers alike.
Simon Oliver proves that not only does he have a gift for storytelling, with this issue, but also that he truly understands these characters. By taking characters introduced in stories decades ago, he shows us that he is committed to advancing the mythology of Hellblazer by building with the past. With it being so easy to write stories within a bubble, it is great to see that John Constantine’s actions will have long-term effects on the story and his relationships. The art by Moritat is nothing short of outstanding, and although I had my doubts about his ability to convey the darkness dirt of a Constantine book, by the time I reached the third page they had all been squashed. His ability to draw slight variances in the same characters as a way of separating time periods genius and something I hope continues as the series goes on. When you have a character as cherished and with a back catalog so large as John Constantine, you owe it to the fans to put out a spectacular book, and that is exactly what DC and Oliver have done. Hopefully this is just the first great issue in what turns out to be a phenomenal series.
Art by Moritat
Colors by Andre Szymanowicz
Letters by Sal Cipriano
John Constantine is back in London and it looks like the Hellblazer is back to his old form. With support from classic characters and a mission from an old friend, everyone’s favorite con-man/magician is pulled from alcohol-fueled stupor and into the great wide world. Very much building on DC’s promise to return characters to their classic form while also telling new and exciting stories, The Hellblazer # 1 sets up what looks to be a very entertaining series and justifies Simon Oliver appointment as its scribe. The first issue of any revamped series needs to pull in new readers while also paying tribute to the history that long time fans hold so dear, and this books pulls both off beautifully.
This issue opens in 1914 Sarajevo, with two mysterious brothers fighting over whether or not to stop a gunman but yet ultimately allowing – spoilers alert – Gavrilo Pricnip to assassinate the Archduke Ferdinand and thus put the 20th century on the path to be the bloodiest in human history. With an opening like that you know the stakes are going to be off the chart. The bulk of the issue deals with Swamp Thing enlisting Constantine’s help to locate the Avatar’s erstwhile paramour. Although this isn’t an exciting storyline it does fill in a few blanks from the Rebirth issue, such as why Swamp Thing would stand up to the Justice League on Constantine’s behalf and who the mysterious stranger was that helped the magician return to England. With references back to Jamie Delano’s famous run on Hellblazer and a closing page that will leave you clamoring for more, this issue is a real treat for both long time fans and newcomers alike.
Simon Oliver proves that not only does he have a gift for storytelling, with this issue, but also that he truly understands these characters. By taking characters introduced in stories decades ago, he shows us that he is committed to advancing the mythology of Hellblazer by building with the past. With it being so easy to write stories within a bubble, it is great to see that John Constantine’s actions will have long-term effects on the story and his relationships. The art by Moritat is nothing short of outstanding, and although I had my doubts about his ability to convey the darkness dirt of a Constantine book, by the time I reached the third page they had all been squashed. His ability to draw slight variances in the same characters as a way of separating time periods genius and something I hope continues as the series goes on. When you have a character as cherished and with a back catalog so large as John Constantine, you owe it to the fans to put out a spectacular book, and that is exactly what DC and Oliver have done. Hopefully this is just the first great issue in what turns out to be a phenomenal series.
A Look Inside
