John Constantine, Hellblazer Vol. 1: Marks of Woe
Simon Spurrier, Kat Howard, writers; Aaron Campbell, Matías Bergara, Marcio Takara, Tom Fowler, Craig Taillefer, artists; Jordie Bellaire, Cris Peter, Jordan Boyd, colorists
DC Black Label, 2020
John Constantine's Black Label debut is largely a return to his Vertigo days. He's back in London, and still willing to sacrifice his friends to achieve his goals. The standalone that reintroduces the character is set in an apocalyptical future, the final magical war against Timothy Hunter that has been foretold for so long. John comes to in the psychiatric hospital Ravenscar--so there's some question about the reality of what he has experienced--but at the same time we see a future Constantine who is like a ghostly presence.
A Books of Magic issue shows Constantine trying to kill Hunter, because he thinks the young mage is too dangerous to remain alive. But the kid surprises his mentor by cheating on the test, displaying unexpected ingenuity.
The new Hellblazer series finds John recruited by a London gangster for what looks like an exorcism. Turns out to be much more complicated than that, although in the process he acquires a new driver to replace Chas. Aaron Campbell illustrates this arc in classic Hellblazer style, an impressionistic visual aided by Jordie Bellaire's colors. In the second arc "Scrubbing Up" Constantine has to put up with a would-be protégé (with an appearance by mage Clarice Sackville, and the discovery that Map has died); Matías Bergara contributes a more cartoonish style than usual, but it works for the story.
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