Constantine is back in London and is running into a new set of problems. Come check out the relaunched title that is now connected to Neil Gaimen’s Sandman Universe. Check out our review of John Constantine Hellbrazer #1 by DC Comics.

JOHN CONSTANTINE HELLBLAZER #1

Writer: Simon Spurrier
Artist: Aaron Campbell
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
Editor: Chris Conroy
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 27th, 2019

Previously on John Constantine Hellblazer: Hellblazer was one of the first modern occult detective fiction that features the streetwise magician John Constantine. When tied into The Sandman Universe, Constantine is certain to get into a load of trouble in his old stomping grounds of London.

THE HORRORS OF THE DIVINE

The book opens with the gory murder of two drug dealers who are mutilated by angels. After this visceral opening, Constantine is introduced by being thrown out of the bar and has a smoke with the bouncer who threw him out. After Constantine leaves the bar he is jumped and knocked out by a couple of street thugs. He is awakened in from of a gang leader known as K-Mag. K-Mag manipulates refugees to do his dirty work by preying on their insecurities of being a foreigner in London. Constantine agrees to help them take care of a supernatural threat after K-Mag threatens to shoot one of his gang-members. Our protagonist begins his investigations in a park and sees the angels mutilate another one of the drug dealers.

BRUTAL AND GRUESOME

I admit this summary was difficult for me to write because this is a very vivid and bloody book. The topics that are being explored here are not easy to explain and in fact makes me a little queasy. This is a horror title and the creative team does a great job creating suspense and terror from every panel. I was uncertain about the art when I initially opened the book but the noir-esque style suits this book’s tone tremendously. I applaud the fact that the team kept the story high tension throughout the whole issue. All I needed was creepy incidental music to really set the mood.

Hellblazer has had social and political commentary throughout its original run and this book is not different. There is a question about the social status of refugees that come in and feel forced to go into crime as a way to take care of themselves. We see this both from meeting K-Mag’s gang and also interactions between non-essential characters that provide a commentary on the issue. This foundation of this issue will allow us to see how racism can negatively affect youth and adolescence. I applaud Spurrier for being willing to tackle the issue and hope that it pays off in the future.

BOTTOM LINE: GLAD TO SEE THE TITLE BACK

This genre is not my cup of tea but I like John Constantine and I really like Neil Gaiman as an author and creator. This story is well crafted writing and engaging storytelling and DC has a hit series in their hands. I am willing to continue this series but I’ll only be reading this during the day time with all the lights on instead of in the middle of the night. 4.5 out of 5 stars for John Constantine Hellblazer #1.

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