Happy Holidays and reopend wounds to the heart(land).
This issue is for the fans. Nods to the past with a Gary Lester appearance. Nods to the first real Heart-Break when John Constantine sends an invite to the Heartland (Kit). Nods to the remaining bloodline with Gemma... but no Tefe which sucked.
This issue is a great set up to the upcoming Marriage next month and also a nice tie up to the whole Shade Madness (So far at least). I love that the art continuity continues with Simon Bisley doing the past, while Giuseppe Camuncoli and Stefano Landini do the chore for the present day. This visual break really becomes symbolic where John questions why he cannot remember the past version of himself that he just met. The questions arise of multiple versions of John and do they all exist or not. With all versions of John in the Original Graphic novels (Dark Entries, Pandemonium and All His Engines), as well as City of Demons John (who has different effects with his demon blood), as well as the movie version and the once DCU John; it seems as if Peter Milligan is trying to explain how they are all the same man just different time lines. That is why the visual continuity is nice, since it is a different time-line.
Kit Ryan was pretty in Glenn Fabry covers, ugly in Steve Dillon interiors and aged slightly in this issue. Last time I remember seeing something new with Kit Ryan in it was in 1997`s One-Shot: Heartland. Heartland was an excuse for Ennis to return once more to Kit and show us how happy she is without John Constantine. 13 years has past and if anything Kit Looks younger or fairly youthful unlike John, Chas, Renee and Gemma who are closer to showing their real age. Maybe it is just the one teaser picture and it does not really matter, or maybe Kit has work done, it is not a problem, I was just happy to see her. Only in Hellblazer can a lady like Kit receive a Wedding invitation ten days before Christmas, yes I was laughing at her when I saw her advent calender, even if I missed her. I am laughing more at the Christmas connection that Hellblazer keeps over the years.
I would like to point out that the Gary Lester scene looks like Demon John, established when Paul Jenkins was on Hellblazer, maybe back as well. There was talk about the Lord of Flies (Beelzebub), flies love shit and then Him... a John with white eyes and a scar that is on the wrong side, he also has both thumbs. Looks like Demon John to me, now the party is really going to be fun.
For the last year Peter Milligan really has been really placing his mark on Hellblazer. The first year was slower and plot was developing, but once Shade came all Madess and it has been set loose in the pages of Hellblazer. It is possible the team is finally that well oiled machine I was hoping for, once Biz joined or after the year of Groundwork. One thing is for sure Milligan is going to war on the book, take no prisoners kind of thing. I am looking forward to the Wedding and seeing who will show up. Hellblazer really has been a solid read since Peter Milligan became sheriff. This issue is another example why I am proud Hellblazer fan.
Happy Holidays, Cheers!
- Silkcuts