Review: John Constantine: Hellblazer #8
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Simon Spurrier
Artist: Aaron Campbell
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Letters: Aditya Bidikar
Reviewed by: Alex McDonald
Summary
John Constantine: Hellblazer #8: Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned-especially one with gills, claws, and the teeth of a shark. Will John Constantine protect the fishermen who are in the siren’s sights? Or will he lead them right to her?
Positives
What more really needs to be said at this point? Each month Simon Spurrier kicks it so firmly into the back of the net you question if there was ever a keeper in the goals at all. This issue concludes the two part “Britannia, Rules the Waves.” Most of the issue is a Constantine dramatic monologue and thanks to Spurrier’s script it’s one of the best on shelves today.
The horror is brought to the forefront. Not just in the visuals sense, although Aaron Campbell’s artwork is horrific in its detail. The reveal of what has been happening throughout this double issue story. Jordie Bellaire’s colours add to the discomforting nature of Campbell’s artwork. Especially as the crimson blood contrasts with the dour blues of the fishing port.
This point has probably been driven into the ground over the course of the last seven reviews, but John Constantine: Hellblazer is one of if not the best comic DC is putting out at the moment. For so long the character has been in a sort of limbo as the publisher tried to rekindle the glory of the Vertigo days. But with Spurrier’s words Constantine is finally in stories that live up to the Hellblazer name again.
Negatives
It feels a little redundant to go from saying this is one of the best series that DC publishes to list the negatives of the issue. Which is why this paragraph will look a little sparse this month. There are really no negatives to talk of. Maybe some people would want more than a lengthy monologue, but they probably won’t because this creative team can make anything poignant but more importantly they can make anything entertaining.
Verdict
This is one of the best ongoing comics in 2020. Do yourself a favour and pick it up if you don’t already. Everything about it from script to artwork is fantastic. This should be required reading for aspiring writers. Beyond that it should be required reading in high schools. Few comics really get a feel for contemporary life. If they do it’s usually too late and the comic talks about issues so on the nose to events of the previous months, it feels like wasted potential. That’s not the case with this. John Constantine: Hellblazer is one of the most ‘current’ comic books on shelves today and any reader in Britain should pick it up.
