- Paperback: 126 pages
- Publisher: Vertigo (10 Nov 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1401225012
- ISBN-13: 978-1401225018
- Product Dimensions: 16.8 x 0.8 x 25.7 cm
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
225,560 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #15 in Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Characters & Series > Hellblazer
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Product Description
Product Description
John Constantine is an unconcerned, somewhat amoral occultist with a British working-class background. He's a hero, of sorts, who manages to come out on top through a combination of luck, trickery, and genuine magical skill.
In this latest volume in the graphic novel series, Peter Milligan (BATMAN, HUMAN TARGET, X-Statix), one of Vertigo's most popular and prolific scribes writes the adventures of Constantine for the first time. John digs his fingers deep into his bumpy past and discovers that old wounds and new loves are both best left untouched. 12 years ago in Liverpool, there was a bloody dockers' strike. Things fell apart when a union leader caved-in to the bosses. Today, John Constantine has a new girlfriend and an extraordinary, horrible new skin complaint: A weeping, dark, knobby scab covers part of his body. And it's growing. What's the
bizarre link between this skin fungus and a largely forgotten chapter of British Trade Union history?
In this latest volume in the graphic novel series, Peter Milligan (BATMAN, HUMAN TARGET, X-Statix), one of Vertigo's most popular and prolific scribes writes the adventures of Constantine for the first time. John digs his fingers deep into his bumpy past and discovers that old wounds and new loves are both best left untouched. 12 years ago in Liverpool, there was a bloody dockers' strike. Things fell apart when a union leader caved-in to the bosses. Today, John Constantine has a new girlfriend and an extraordinary, horrible new skin complaint: A weeping, dark, knobby scab covers part of his body. And it's growing. What's the
bizarre link between this skin fungus and a largely forgotten chapter of British Trade Union history?
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Welcome aboard, Peter
10 Nov 2009
Format:Paperback
There is always a tinge of excitement, especially considering its' lofty and star studded pedigree, whenever a new writer comes on board the legendary Hellblazer series, and this latest trade is no exception as it heralds the arrival of Peter Milligan's tenure on the title. Every writer thankfully brings their own distinct and nuanced style to the character, thus being a key to its' impressive longevity, so what better time to explore a slightly different direction with our favorite cynical misanthrope then by placing him squarely in the middle of a decidedly unmisanthropic convention, a standard love relationship, with John the one unconventionally bitten hard by the love bug. In his mystical and macabre milieu, this can possess a particularly nasty sting with some serious sinister side effects. Throw in two more love interests, one a sassy young alchemist who also happens to be the local Don's daughter, and the other a bizarre unisexual Babylonian imp, and things begin to really get interesting, all within the context of a unique and horrific perspective on labor relations as only Hellblazer can. Milligan's methodical design is to scatter smaller subplots throughout while simultaneously weaving everything into one larger tapestry, therefore leaving the reader anxious for more. What follows next time will tell, but for now he has deftly laid the foundation for what will assuredly be another superb run on this superlative book.
A little rushed
11 Feb 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Maybe it's a younger generation that they are aiming at, but I find that Constantine story arcs are getting shorter, and plots are moving faster to the point where fantastic ideas, cool characters and complex themes are being rushed and breezed through by the writers. Scab is yet another story from the last few years that progressed so quickly that the back story is sorely incomplete (the labor dispute), where only one character is developed (Constantines loves interest), and the actually metaphysical mumbo jumbo is glazed over so much that the origin of the Scab isn't fully explained in a convincing way. I find myself while reading "Scab" missing some of the more aimless dialogue and weaker drawn drawn early volumes that i wasn't till now all that nostalgic about.
Peter Milligan's Run Begins Well
20 Dec 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This volume collects the first issues of Peter Milligan's work on the long-running Hellblazer title from DC's Vertigo imprint. I have been a fan of the character many years, and the only run that I've not read any issues from are the Mike Carey and Paul Jenkins runs. Like the various James Bond actors, each new writer brings their own perspective and - often - their own baggage to the character, resulting in a prism of work that explores many facets of one of comics' most fascinating characters.
The past works of Milligan's I've read was often quirky - not as off-center as that of Grant Morrison, but still Peter showed himself to be a storyteller not interested in the mere prosaic repetition of familiar tropes. I wondered what sensibility he would bring to Constantine and he does not disappoint, introducing such instantly memorable characters as Constantine's new flame Phoebe - a strong woman who almost manages to knock John off balance - and Julian, a Babylonian ekkumu who ranks (to me) as one of John's most disturbing and memorable supporting characters.
This trade paperback covers Milligan's two initial stories. The first, the title story, concerns the growth of a large "scab" across Constantine's chest and the development of his relationship with Phoebe, a medical doctor who is one of Constantine's most normal girlfriends. Milligan's take on the Constantine character as is perfect - he seems to understand that while John can be capable of doing good things, he's more often pulled astray by the need to feed his demons and fulfill his own desires (contrast this by some who seem to see John as some kind of antihero), with the good that comes from his actions more incidentally. The second story involves John being haunted by a vision of a plague "doctor", and flashbacks reveal to him (and us) a crime that occurred during this dark time in London's history.
The art on the first story is handed by Giusieppe Cammuncoli, who had pencilled the book with a different inker during the Azzarello run; Cammuncoli's work here is sketchy and earthy, which suits the story and the tone of the book and character well, save for a few facial shots where the characters seem to be biting their lips (in a distractingly unlifelike manner). However, his work on the ekkumu Julian is memorable and scary. The second story is illustrated by Goran Sudzuka in a clean but unremarkable style.
All in all, a strong promise of what might be a great run on this classic character. Definitely worth checking out for Hellblazer fans, as well as those interested in a starting place to enjoy the character.
The past works of Milligan's I've read was often quirky - not as off-center as that of Grant Morrison, but still Peter showed himself to be a storyteller not interested in the mere prosaic repetition of familiar tropes. I wondered what sensibility he would bring to Constantine and he does not disappoint, introducing such instantly memorable characters as Constantine's new flame Phoebe - a strong woman who almost manages to knock John off balance - and Julian, a Babylonian ekkumu who ranks (to me) as one of John's most disturbing and memorable supporting characters.
This trade paperback covers Milligan's two initial stories. The first, the title story, concerns the growth of a large "scab" across Constantine's chest and the development of his relationship with Phoebe, a medical doctor who is one of Constantine's most normal girlfriends. Milligan's take on the Constantine character as is perfect - he seems to understand that while John can be capable of doing good things, he's more often pulled astray by the need to feed his demons and fulfill his own desires (contrast this by some who seem to see John as some kind of antihero), with the good that comes from his actions more incidentally. The second story involves John being haunted by a vision of a plague "doctor", and flashbacks reveal to him (and us) a crime that occurred during this dark time in London's history.
The art on the first story is handed by Giusieppe Cammuncoli, who had pencilled the book with a different inker during the Azzarello run; Cammuncoli's work here is sketchy and earthy, which suits the story and the tone of the book and character well, save for a few facial shots where the characters seem to be biting their lips (in a distractingly unlifelike manner). However, his work on the ekkumu Julian is memorable and scary. The second story is illustrated by Goran Sudzuka in a clean but unremarkable style.
All in all, a strong promise of what might be a great run on this classic character. Definitely worth checking out for Hellblazer fans, as well as those interested in a starting place to enjoy the character.
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