Jamie Delano, John Ridgway, DC Comics. (304p) ISBN: 9781401230067. Fantasy, read 01/06/26, Graphic Novel ★★★★☆
Hellblazer Vol.1 Original Sins
It’s been a while since I read Hellblazer, and thought it was time to start again especially since I’ve three months free on Kindle Unlimited.
This collection is the start of the journey collecting John Constantine’s early appearances in Swmap Thing #76-77 along with Hellblazer #1-9, and right from the start we find out what kind of person Constantine is.
Bit of a bastard really.
This collections sets the tone for the rest of the 299 stretch, we get him dealing with demons and dodgy humans, there are hints of dark secrets from his past especially what happened in Newcastle, Chas shows up early and his debt to Constantine is made clear.
We also see what happens to people that get close to him, they get shat on and often end up as more ghost in his entourage, especially in Hunger and Ghosts in the Machine, two mates less.
There is a definite dig at Thatcher’s Britain and how it links with Hell and demonic behaviour, London never looked more post-apocalyptic.
Looking forward to the threads of some of these tales getting more entwined and the return of Nergal and the explanation of the demon’s importance to Constantine’s early life.
This was a great little taster into this world and as good as I remember.
