Letters to Hellblazer #1

I'm very particular in my enjoyment of John Constantine. Sometimes I think he's used too much, and he becomes too... "vivid" a character, when he should always remain in the shadows, a mystery to all those around him. My favourite Hellblazer story was the unpublished (go figure) Ellis/Jimenez collaboration "Shoot", a story that encapsulated everything I enjoyed about Constantine-- he'd be the watcher, lurking on the fringes of the story until the final moments when he revealed why the horrific events had been so horrific, and why they'd happened in the first place. Grisly stuff. That's where Moore took him, I think, and it was always very tight, and very mysterious. Just what I like in a story.

"RagnaRock" had everything I loved about John Constantine in one concise package. Collateral damage. If you know John Constantine, even by association, you're going to get hurt. It's all coincidence, right? And it always involves something near to him. The main character didn't even make an appearance until the second half of the story, but you could *feel* him throughout. Gemma has been tainted by her association, and she's well aware of it. Even thinking about him sends a shiver down her spine. The mystery was set up. Horrific and recognisable, right? I don't know about you, but I've been stood in a queue waiting to be ID'd, and hoping that it won't happen (what can I say, you're only 17 once ;D). But there was a palpable fear beneath the neon sign. And then, with Gemma begging John for help, and the whole set up to that moment... very well written. I could fear her fear, her discomfort, and I could also feel John's love for her, even if he would try to run away from that.

I'm psyched to be editing this series. Dave is positioning himself as a very talented newcomer to the site, and I can't wait to see more of his stuff come to light as the months progress. A brilliant debut, and one that holds lot of promise for the horror to come.

Bravo.

I really enojyed this issue. A great way to kick off a series for a character who tends to get pushed into the background in main DC continuity.

There were a couple of typos here and there, but nothing too serious. It happens.

That said, I give the issue five stars. Most fun I've had reading ol' Johnny boy in a long time.


-Cam-

Hey! They say a bad workman blames his tools - I'm not a bad workman, but you ARE a tool ;D Editors are supposed to catch those things easier than us mere creative engines - its what gives you the superiority complex, right?

Thanks again, Cam - my first five-stars! I'm glad you feel so highly of it right off the bat. There's plenty more dark fun to be had before I give up the reins, lol!

I can't wait to see more covers from you, James. That piece... oh, I just want to stare at it.

This was a solid, standard introduction to John Constantine, through the lens of one of his few (so far) surviving supporting cast. It did what it needed to, but it seemed to take a while to get there. There were times when the scene-setting went a little overboard (and this is coming from me, who can be pretty damned purple at times). The opening alone, with rain lashing from the skies and moon glinting off the drops of rain...but most heavy rains I've been in have had skies totally clouded over, so I don't really get to see any moon. I'm also not one to pick on typos, Charlie, but in this case, there were a couple that actually affected the way I could read the story, such as a comma used for a period in some dialog that confused me as to who was speaking. Some of the elements seemed kind of irksome, like the shopkeeper, who may as well have been Apu from the Simpsons. One more "my friend" and I was going to reah through and wring his neck. John was relentlessly morose, and reminding me of why I stopped reading his titles. It's a dark series, and the character's a pessimist, but for me there's a line where morose turns to emo and again, more neck-wringing.

The hints of the plot are interesting, and I am curious to see what it will be about. There's a genuine love for the character and setting, which shines through while at the same time not allowing it to break out of that mold and show me what you're bringing to the table that's new and unique, but it's also the first issue, and a kind of short one at that, and so I'll gladly wait and see if there's more to come.

So a solid work on this one, with some first-time and first-issues stumbles and set-ups, enough to keep a cynical person like me to come back for more (and clearly, evn more than that for other readers). Keep up the good work and see you in issue two.

Take care
Don