Hellblazer #2 Review — Everyone Old is New Again
Of all the DC Universe Rebirth series, Hellblazer seems to be having the hardest time finding its footing. Granted, Hellblazer #2 is only the second issue in the main arc (because of that whole issue #0 thing), but if pressed to tell you what John Constantine’s purpose is within the Rebirth series, I don’t think I can. As is Constantine’s lot in life, things are complicated, and it requires a lot of setup.
The good news is that Hellblazer is already shaping up to be a buddy story, between John himself and his best frenemy for life, Swamp Thing. Swamp Thing has been, since his inception, one of my favorite DC super heroes. Scott Snyder’s masterful turn with the hero in the New 52 remains one of my favorite takes on him, and it’s good to see him and Constantine back in action, if not necessarily together quite yet.
Apparently, Abigail Arcane — Swamp Thing’s former lover and now avatar of the Rot — has disappeared. While their union is forbidden (that whole life vs. death thing, ya know), Swamp Thing has kept tabs on his lady love, and is now unable to locate her. He has sought the aid of Constantine, who has “helped” in his typical hands-off manner.
While Swamp Thing searches for Abby, John returns to London, a town in which he is not particularly welcome. After abusing Chas’ kindness and placing a bet on a horse, John visits long-time demonic-hopeful and frenemy Clarice Sackville. Clarice is clearly involved with someone even more sinister, who needs Constantine to find Swamp Thing. Wait, what? It seems as though, for once, someone will not be endangered because of their association with John, but rather he may be endangered for his association with them.
Despite Clarice’s warning, it seems that Constantine may be in a world of trouble that, despite his craftiness, he may not be able to escape. Whomever Clarice was conferring with appears to be driving this insane bus, and it’ll be up to both John and Swamp Thing to stop him. Or, at least, that’s my guess. Regardless, whatever those hollow, bug-eyed guys are who are following him, those things are creepy and need to be stopped.
Despite having a few moving pieces, the book spends a good deal of time with John reflecting on his friends and enemies and, frankly, brooding a bit over his current plight. It’s both the John we know and don’t-always-love, which works both in and against his favor. Which is a complicated way of saying that, while I’m not sure where the book is going — and certainly unsure where this will fit in within the overall Rebirth arc — it is undeniably Constantine at his Contantiniest.
Author: Simon Oliver
Artist: Moritat
Publisher: DC Comics
Series: Hellblazer
Acquired via Purchase
Publish date: 09/28/2016
