Hellblazer #275 - 279

Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli, Stefano Landini, and Simon Bisley

I find it odd that I enjoy Milligan's run on Hellblazer, but actually have no desire to purchase the book each month.  Instead, I scour bargain bins at poke around used book stores for it, and usually score small runs at conventions.  That's how I amassed these five issues, which start with John's wedding to Epiphany, and move through their first few challenges as a married couple.

The notion of Constantine being married is an interesting one, especially since he married the alchemist daughter of a notorious gangster.  There is a lot of story potential in that sentence, and Milligan is slowly unpacking it.  We see the desire they both have to remain independent in dealing with their own issues, the first of which is John wanting to retrieve the thumb he cut off a little while ago.  This leads to an odd sequence of events involving crashed cars, thieving art managers, and Epiphany's father.

This comic remains fun (when it's not dealing with topics like John's demonic side molesting his niece Gemma at the wedding), and very well put together, but for whatever reason, it's not enough to attract me to it on a more regular basis.  I'm also not sure what it would need to do that.

Hellblazer # 264

Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Giusseppe Camuncoli and Stefano Landini

Constantine's Indian adventure comes to a close, and while the cover suggests a big Bollywood ending, there are no big dance numbers, and no one really gets the girl.

I've enjoyed this arc. Putting Constantine in such an unfamiliar setting allowed his shtick the chance to seem fresh and new, although this last issue puts things back to status quo so neatly, and with such a dismissive wave of Milligan's hand, that I'm not all that interested in reading the next issue (even if it wasn't drawn by Simon Bisley). It's hard to accept that Chas isn't even angry with John after the events of a few issues ago.

I have been on the fence with this title since Milligan took over, and I think I'm done now. It's been decent, but I can live without it.

Hellblazer # 263

Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli and Stefano Landini

More craziness in India, as Constantine is reunited with the wrong (if more interesting) girl, the Bollywood movie mogul gets what's coming to him, and the Indian cops track down their serial killer.

This has been an enjoyable arc on this title, with only one issue left before its conclusion. Milligan's doing a good job here, as are Camuncoli and Landini. I wish Vertigo would leave Simon Bisley on the covers only though, as I saw in Previews that he's going to be doing interiors on the book again soon...

Hellblazer #262

Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli and Stefano Landini

Milligan's 'Constantine in India' storyline continues to please, as John faces off against a demon from colonial times, meets up with an old mage in a loincloth, and scares his white guru friend. Milligan has managed to introduce a number of new characters over the last couple of issues, my favourite being the two Indian cops that tail John, thinking that the serial killer they were denying the existence of last issue, might be advantageously white.

I feel like Milligan's put himself on very familiar ground, and he's able to use that as a definite strength in this story. As always, Camuncoli and Landini are turning in good, solid work as well.

Hellblazer #261

Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli and Stefano Landini

I've been unable to make up my mind about Milligan's run on Hellblazer. Some issues have been fantastic, while others have been lackluster. This new arc sends John to India, because he's still looking for ways to resurrect Phoebe, and feels that a fellow Englishman there has a way to 'purify' his soul enough to get the job done.

Milligan seems to be on more familiar ground here, establishing a number of new characters and potential plotlines. There is a Bollywood movie mogul with a connection to an old English spirit, as well as a couple of police detectives who are investigating a string of murdered girls.

There is more than enough to keep me intrigued for this arc, and Camuncoli and Landini are always good.

Hellblazer #258

Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli and Stefano Landini
I keep deciding to drop this title, and then give it another issue, which ends up convincing me to stick with it. I think that this has not been a very consistent run. Milligan has some great ideas, and the art by Camuncoli and Landini has been very nice, but there is a lack of cohesiveness.

I'm inclined to think that the events of this issue, involving death, alchemical resurrection, zombies, and police, do a good job of setting up the next set of storylines to be interesting, fast-paced, and a little unusual for a Constantine story. The only problem is, the next few issues are drawn by Simon Bisley, of whom I'm not a fan anymore (when was Lobo cool again?).

So: we've got John on the run from the police and a gangster, looking for revenge on a love-sick ekkimu, and I'm certain that if Camuncoli was the artist on the next issue, I'd be singing the praises of this one so much more. I guess I'll have to take a good look through the next issue before I decide if it's coming home.

Tokyo Days, Bangkok Nights

Written by Jonathan Vankin
Art by Seth Fisher and Giusseppe Camuncoli & Shawn Martinbrough

I didn't pick up the original Vertigo Pop! mini-series, because at the time they came out, I was trying to cut back on my purchases, and because I wasn't very familiar with any of the creators involved. Since then, I have gained an appreciation of Seth Fisher (too little, too late), and have been following Camuncoli's career since his work on the brilliant "The Intimates".

This trade presents two mini-series, unrelated to each other except by themes and hemisphere. The Tokyo story is about Steve, an American in Japan who gets swept up in a weird tale of pop stars, Yakuza, family stife, and hot teenage girls. It's a fun story, and Vankin makes good use of Fisher's strengths - namely kooky detailed settings, bizarre action, and cartoon expressions. This half of the book was highly enjoyable.

The Bangkok story is about an American girl, the American actor boyfriend she treats horribly, Thai prostitutes, Western sexual exploitation, and sacred elephants. While on paper it sounds almost as madcap as the Tokyo half, it's a much darker tale, lacking in satisfying outcomes for anyone (except maybe the elephant).

What's interesting about placing these two tales together is the way in which they portray Americans as insensitive, greedy tourists, who expect that the entire world should adhere to their values and social mores. While I would never defend the things that go on in Bangkok, it can't be a coincidence that Tuesday, the main character, identifies best with an elephant, as she is the one that is trampling all over everyone and everything she sees.

This is a great collection, worth the price just for Fisher's artwork, although I think it is the Bangkok story that will stick with you much longer.

Hellblazer #257

Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli and Stefano Landini

I continue to be torn by Milligan's run on Hellblazer. The first arc, with the scabs, I liked a lot. The plague doctor story didn't really do it for me. This current story, wherein John gives a love potion to both Phoebe and Julian the Ekkimu, is much more interesting.

There is a lot of good character work in this issue, as John starts to see some of the consequences of his actions, and, being John, pushes things a lot further as he tries to overcome his addiction to Julian's dead skin. I'm very curious to see how this storyline ends.

The next arc is going to be drawn by Simon Bisley, and if it looks like this cover, I'm going to be passing.

Hellblazer #256

Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli and Stefano Landini
I really can't seem to make up my mind about Hellblazer. I enjoyed Milligan's first arc, but wasn't as impressed by his second. I like the introduction of characters like Phoebe, John's current love interest, and Julian, the Ekkimu to whose skin John is addicted, but I'm not sure that a 'love potion' plot is right for a character like Constantine. I feel that, at this point in his life, he would know better. All the same, I'm intrigued to see how this all plays out.

The art is great. I've liked Camuncoli since his run on The Intimates (now there's a comic I miss), and while he's not as gritty as Hellblazer artists usually are, I feel like his look fits this title nicely, for a change.

I'm sticking with this title through the end of this arc, but am not promising anything past that.

Hellblazer #253

Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli and Stefano Landini

This is the end of Milligan, Camuncoli, and Landinis' first arc on Hellblazer, and I think they have a very good feel for the book. It must be difficult to write a character like Constantine - he has to be likeable enough that people will want to stick with the title, but being a jerk is so very at the core of who he is. Milligan seems to have the right balance here, as he has Constantine examine his own personal guilt as a way of getting rid of the horrid scab that has been covering his body.

I like the addition of John's uncle to this story - it helps to establish some connection to the story, and leads to one of the funniest moments I've seen in comics in a while.

I hope that Constantine's relationship with Phoebe makes it past the hurdles set up in this arc - I like the character and still firmly believe that it is only when Constantine is in a relationship that this book is at its best.

Hellblazer #252

Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli and Stefano Landini

Hellblazer under Milligan and Camuncoli continues to look like a very good thing. The scab storyline continues, as Constantine's usual weirdness infects his new girlfriend.

I really like Camuncoli and Landinis' look for this book. Usually Hellblazer is drawn in a tight, realistic and dark look, so the more open lines and spacious panels are a nice change of pace. I like the nod to Kill Bill in the girlfriend's friend's outfit.

I think I'm going to stick with Hellblazer for this team's run.

Hellblazer #251

Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli and Stefano Landini
I wasn't sure if I was going to continue reading Hellblazer now that Andy Diggle's run as writer was finished. Peter Milligan is a highly inconsistent writer, having written some truly amazing books (Shade the Changing Man, and X-Force/X-Statix), and some books that have left me completely cold (his X-Men run for example). But, I have liked Cumoncoli's art since the criminally shortlived 'The Intimates', so I thought I'd give them one issue to see if they impressed me.

I'll be back for the next issue for sure. Milligan introduces a much-needed supporting cast for Constantine in this issue, in the form of Phoebe, his new girlfriend. Constantine hasn't had a serious relationship since Kit graced the pages of Ennis's historic run, and I think that the addition of Phoebe adds a grounding element to the types of stories that usually play out in Hellblazer. John has to be more human when he is explaining some of this stuff to someone (other than Chas). As well, Milligan excells at writing strong female characters who get sucked into a lot of weirdness (I had a small crush on Shade's girlfriend Kathy when I was a teenager).

The story of a mysterious scab is an interesting way to provide background for this new status quo in Constantine's life, and all of the dialogue scenes provide Camuncoli with plenty of opportunity to showcase his skill at conveying emotion.

Hellblazer #250

Written by Dave Gibbons, Jamie Delano, Brian Azzarello, Peter Milligan, and China Mieville
Art by Sean Phillips, David Lloyd, Rafael Grampa, Eddie Campbell, Giuseppe Camuncoli, and Stefano Landini

I'm not usually a fan of the Christmas anthology, but this is how such things should be done. In this extra-sized issue, we get five stories by different creative teams, almost all of which are centred around Christmas. (I think it strange that the book starts off with the New Years story, and then backs up a few days.)

It's a real treat to see artists like Phillips and Lloyd draw Constantine again, and an even bigger treat to see the series' original writer come back for an excellent tale of poker and trafficking. The story by Azzarello and Grampa is beautifully drawn, if a little tenuously linked to the Christmas theme. Milligan's story augers well for his run on the title, which begins next issue. The final story, about a Bhopal-like industrial accident was odd - I couldn't figure out where it was taking place.

This was a very enjoyable book. It didn't have many of the elements I expected - Constantine wasn't haunted (well, at least, not by ghosts of his Christmases past), and there was no mention of his having snorted the ground up bones of St. Nick a few issues back.

All $3.99 comics should have this level of quality.