Lucifer #11 - A Review

There is much to admire about this issue, but - if asked to choose only one page to hook you all as I have been hooked - I would have to choose the image below. In it, The Guardian of Hedgehogs explains the history of Lucifer's life. I should perhaps mention that one of the characters in this series is a goddess whose only job is watching out over hedgehogs. If that fact doesn't make you want to read this book, I don't know what will.


I'm increasingly afraid that I won't be able to review Lucifer. It's a shame because I love this book. Holly Black has continued the original stories by Neil Gaiman and Mike Carey perfectly and the artwork by Lee Garbet and Antonio Fabela is some of the best to come out of Vertigo Comics in years.

So why can't I review it?  Because the enormity of this series is so grand and intricate that my simple reviews cannot do them justice. There is no way for me to easily much less eloquently summarize the multiple subplots and story-lines this series contains.  Lucifer is no more comic book - this is a legend.

One Good Thing And One Bad Thing About Red Sonja #50

GOOD THING: We get a lot of bang for our buck with this issue. Six stories and a brief essay by Mike Carey on Robert Howard and Red Sonja. Three brand new stories and three reprints, running the gamut from a classic story by Roy Thomas to a more recent one-off story by JT Krul, which features Red Sonja fighting pirates.

BAD THING: One story, The Frost Giant's Curse, suffers from the same problems that plagued the recent Wrath of the Gods mini-series. It is not so much a Red Sonja story as it is a viking myth comic into which Sonja has been artlessly shoehorned. Indeed, Sonja is absent for over half of the pages of the story! And what is worse, her role is limited to standing around and listening a story for what few pages she IS in.

The Final Verdict: A few weak stories do nothing to stop this book from being the best comic you can get for $4.99 this week. A fine jumping-on point for those who have yet to enter the world of the First Lady of Fantasy.

Looking To The Stars - Hellblazer Episode Guide, Part Six

For those playing catch-up, here’s
PART ONE, PART TWO, PART THREE, PART FOUR and PART FIVE.

And once again, here’s all the things we’ll keep track of as we go along. Just for laughs, eh?

Plot - What happens in the story worth noting, without giving away too much. Our job isn’t to tell you the story. It’s to help those who read the story keep track of the details. Go buy the comics and read them yourself, you lazy, cheap wankers!

Prominent People - Characters whom we see more than once. First appearances, mentions of reoccurring characters, anything on the hierarchy of Hell and real life figures drawn into the story and anyone else who deserves noting.

Deaths - Any deaths of prominent people or any particularly gory and interesting ways of dying. This is a horror book, after all. Also, a running tally of all the times John has directly been involved in a friend or family member’s death. Deaths of enemies, except where John directly murdered the person in question, are not counted. Instances where it is unclear if the person died (Talbot in Issue #22) or where they probably would have died with our without John showing up (i.e. Una in Issue #25) are not counted.

John Screws Up - This happens quite a bit, but anytime John is directly or indirectly responsible for some bad thing or another happening, we note it. We advise not making a drinking game of this for two reasons – first, you’ll get pissed very quickly and be unable to keep reading and second, because you might spill lager on your comics!

Pub Trivia - Anything else worth noting that doesn’t fit one of the other categories.

Simple enough, right? And now to the last, and most recent, of the extended 40-issue Hellblazer runs...

The Mike Carey Run

Hellblazer #175-215

It was a time of rebirth for Vertigo Comics in late 2002. Sales were down across the board and many of the flagship titles that started the line were floundering or dead. Brian Vaughn, not yet the darling of fanboys everywhere, had ended a two-year run on Swamp Thing that was a critical disappointment. Hellblazer was in similarly dire straits, both with fans and critics. And even Sandman continued on only in a series of specials of varying quality and in a spin-off series staring Neil Gaiman’s Lucifer. This later book, easily the finest quality book Vertigo had at the time, was written by man named Mike Carey.

Perhaps Vertigo placed Carey on Hellblazer because of his success in creating a Sandman spin-off that was accepted by fans (who were notoriously harsh about anyone trying to follow up Neil Gaiman) and beloved by critics and hoped he could do the same to Hellblazer following the much-loathed Azzarello run. Perhaps it was because of his background in British comics, having created original series for 2000AD - which had proved to be a common factor in the background of the all the “great” writers of John Constantine. Or perhaps it was because Carey was, like John, a man of middle-years born-in-Liverpool and living in London.

Whatever the case, Carey’s first story on Hellblazer was a literal and figurative homecoming for the character after three years of being dragged around The States. It even featured artwork by Steve Dillon, considered by most to be the definitive Hellblazer artist. But would this prove to be enough to win back the fans? Only time would tell that tale...


Hellblazer #175 – High On Life (Part One of Two)

Plot - Newly returned to England, John sets about making contact with his family only to get dragged into a magical mystery involving the aura of evil that envelopes his sister’s new flat and a series of murdered young women.

Prominent People - First appearances of Angie Spatchcock (a waitress and amateur magician), Gladys Wren (a witch), Nigel Wren (Gladys’ skinhead son) and another unnamed man, who calls Gladys “mom” in the next issue. Appearances by Cheryl Masters (John’s older sister) and Tony Masters (Cheryl’s husband).

Pub Trivia - We find out that Cheryl and Gemma did receive word of John’s apparent death in an American prison (Hard Time). Gemma also apparently left home and become a teaching assistant in France and she sends postcards home though she never calls.


Hellblazer #176 – High On Life (Part Two of Two)

Plot - After seeing Angie to the hospital (and giving her a healing dose of his demonic blood), John sets about getting some answers from Mrs. Gladys Wren.

Prominent People - Cameo appearance by Watford, a policeman colleague of John’s from the Warren Ellis run.

Deaths - 38 on the death tally. Gladys dies of shock after being attacked by the ghost of one of the girls she was indirectly responsible for killing. It is possible, but unclear, that John may have killed the hood that attacked him with a broken bottle and that Angie may have killed Nigel with her attack on him. While such attacks aren’t usually lethal, it looks like the two murderers may have been left for dead and nothing is said about taking them to the police. The resolution here is somewhat unclear.

John Screws Up - John injects some of his demonic blood into Angie’s IV tube in the hospital in order to speed her recovery time so he can question her about her attackers and what she found out about Gladys’ apartment. He notes later that this was a mistake as Angie is just a dabbler and may not be ready to pursue the life a magus.


Pub Trivia - A hint of trouble to come – despite using an alias when talking to her, Gladys Wren calls John “Constantine” at one point, tipping off John that someone is messing with him. She also gives John a name – “Scrape”


Hellblazer #177 – Red Sepulchre (Part One of Four)

Plot - Returned to London and looking for Scrape, John finds himself stuck in the middle of a magical turf war with old friends and old enemies urging him to join their side.

Prominent People - First appearance of Domine Fredricks (a major player in the London magic community), Nicholas “Scrape” Gillis (a dealer in magical artifacts) Misha (a Russian sailor and Scrape’s lover) and Parker (owner of the Tate Club, last seen in Haunted). Cameos by Chas (who seems to be the only person not shocked to see John alive and well), Clarice, Albert and Map (all three John’s allies from the Warren Ellis story Haunted) Joshua Wright (the villain of Haunted, now a thug in Fredricks’ employ) and Gemma Masters (John’s missing niece).

Deaths - Scrape is killed, along with his Russian sailor lover, some six months before John comes looking for him.


Hellblazer #178 – Red Sepulchre (Part Two of Four)

Plot - Finding that Fredricks has the means to kill Gemma anytime he wishes, John is forced into aiding his search for The Red Sepulchre – a magical item apparently possessed by Scrape’s sailor lover that has a connection to John’s bloodline. Meanwhile, Fredricks’ thugs attack The Tate Club, forcing Clarice and Albert into hiding.

Prominent People - First appearance of Ghant (an elderly magician in the employ of Fredricks)

John Screws Up - John calls Angie asking for her to come to London to help him. Because of his smart-ass treatment of her two issues previous, she turns him down.

Pub Trivia - It is revealed in this issue that Clarice is responsible for having handed Gemma over to Fredricks and putting her in danger.


Hellblazer #179 – Red Sepulchre (Part Three of Four)

Plot - As John sets about digging through a warehouse full of artifacts looking for the Red Sepulchre, Clarice and Albert ready an attack against Wright and Fredricks.

Prominent People = Cameo in flashback of Aloysius Quinn – a relative of John’s on his mother’s side of the family, whose soul was apparently taken by The Red Sepulchre in the 1840s.


Hellblazer #180 – Red Sepulchre (Part Four of Four)

Plot - With Clarice and Albert in his debt thanks to a masterful con and some aide from Map, John has managed to get away from his captors. But it’s going to take a lot more magic and conning to rescue Gemma away from Fredricks.

Deaths - 39. 40 and 41 on the death tally. Thanks to John’s actions here, one of Fredrick’s thugs (Godall) becomes possessed by the spirit of Kali. He then goes on to kill Joshua Wright, another thug (Peake) and Fredricks himself. John then uses a spell on Godall that banishes the spirit and leaves him alive in the wreckage of Fredrick’s mansion before leaving with Gemma.

Pub Trivia - Gemma is reportedly angry and John for butting in and trying to get her out of his world. Also, we find out from Clarice at the end of the issue that Fredricks wanted the Red Sepulchre for a ritual to open a door between the living and the dead and that he had reoccurring nightmares about a very big dog.


Hellblazer #181 – The Game of Cat And Mouse

Plot - Warned of a magical assassination attempt by the ghost of an old friend, John is forced into a merry chase around London as he is perused by three of the most dangerous hunters in Hell.

Prominent People - Cameos by Watford, the ghost of Gary Lester, Clarice, Chas, Chas’s wife Rene and Chas’ granddaughter Trish. First appearance of The Lukhavim, demons specializing in hunting down souls.

John Screws Up - John sacrifices the ghosts of several mental patients in order to buy him time to spring a trap on the two Lukhavim that are chasing him.


Hellblazer #182 – Black Flowers (Part One of Two)

Plot - Angie and John are both separately pulled into investigating a magical disturbance in a Bedfordshire mental hospital.

Prominent People - First appearance of Angie’s brother Jason Spatchcock and Kev, a friend of Chas’ who works at the same garage who offers John a lift on his bike when Chas is forbidden to so much as light a cig for John. Also, first reference to King Arawn Pen Annuvin – The Celtic King of the Dead


Hellblazer #183 – Black Flowers (Part Two of Two)

Plot - With a doorway to the realm of the dead opened and his guards, the Gironnved, hunting down the spirits of old Celts seeking the pleasures of the flesh once more, it falls to John and Angie to close the door.

Deaths - 42 on the dead tally. John stabs one of the Gironnved to death as a sacrifice in order to close the portal to the realm of the dead.

Pub Trivia - There are dual flashback to #180 and #181 here, where John remembers Clarice’s words about what Fredrick’s hoped to do and the Lukhavim’s message about a dog pushing against the first door and Fredrick’s nightmares about some form of dog.


Hellblazer #184 – The Wild Card (Third Worlds: Part One)

Plot - John and Angie go on the road to find out more about the mysterious dog that threatens the world. But for John to get information from an old friend, he’ll have to risk his soul in a very dangerous game of Poker.

Prominent People - First appearances of Paho Bokhari (a magician) and Senor Gotereez (another magician). Cameo by Swamp Thing.

Deaths - 43 on the dead tally. John and Paho’s con results in Senor Gotereez’s getting stabbed to death to settle his bet.


Hellblazer #185 – Ordeal (Third Worlds: Part Two)

Plot - Traveling to Iran and a portal to Eden in search of answers about the mysterious dog, John is forced to stand trial for his theft of a sacred scroll.

Prominent People - First appearance of Salmi (an Iranian cab-driver with some form of magical tattoo), Ghursoon (leader of the Children of Cain) and Beriti (one of the Children of Cain, whom John seduced to steal a scroll) Cameo by Swamp Thing.


Hellblazer #186 –The Pit (Third Worlds: Part Three)

Plot - In Tasmania, John goes dream-walking to find a native Tasmanian to talk to about the mysterious dog. But it is Angie who will have a close encounter with the spirits of some very hostile natives.

John Screws Up - In making his dream-walk into the concentration camp, John forgets that the ghosts of the Tasmania natives are not likely to hang about someplace they were unhappy in the afterlife.

Pub Trivia - This issue marks John and Angie’s “first time” together. We also learn a bit more about Angie’s brother Jason, and his time in jail and apparent mental disorder.


Hellblazer #187 – Bred In The Bone: Part One

Plot - Sought out by Ghant, who has gone independent in the wake of Fredricks’ death, Gemma Constantine is recruited to take John’s place on a journey of some sort to a place where John and Ghant once fought something evil.

Prominent People - First appearances of Delilah (a prostitute), Paul (leader of a community of children), Beth (one of the girls in said community) and Bantham (a retired detective, with ties to Ghant and John).

Pub Trivia - We find out that Gemma has taken to using the surname Constantine. This is another of the rare issues without John as the main character. Indeed, he doesn’t appear at all except in flashback.


Hellblazer #188 – Bred In The Bone: Part Two

Plot - On Gruinard Island, Gemma finds herself trapped between some monstrous children and some diabolic humans as she tries to put right one of Uncle John’s past wrongs.

Prominent People - First appearance of Jinx, a bum.



Deaths - Bantham is ripped apart by The Demon Children in a rather gory display.

Pub Trivia - This is the issue where Gemma decides she really doesn’t want to follow in John’s footsteps. This is another of the rare issues without John as the main character. Indeed, he doesn’t appear at all except in flashback and at the very end.


Hellblazer #189 – Staring At The Wall: Part One

Plot - Back in London, John begins gathering allies to prepare for the arrival of The Shadow Dog. Meanwhile, Angie pays a visit to her brother to find that he is quite sane and having visions of The Dog himself.

Prominent People - First appearances of Nat Kuhn (aka Nathan Arcane – “the sane member of the family”), Alba Suria (a sorceress) and Donatus Chalice of the Closed Order of The Alexins (a man of God). Appearances by Map, Clarice, Angie’s brother Jason and, from The Sandman – The Ravi. Cameo by Swamp Thing.

Deaths - Chalice is killed by Alba’s magic after she is possessed by the Shadow Dog’s aura of madness. Thankfully, Map is able to subdue her before she kills anyone else.

John Screws Up - Chalice wouldn’t have died if not for John’s gathering of magicians – a fact that John will blame himself for out-loud next issue.


Pub Trivia - We find out Map’s real name – Ken Ondaatie.


Hellblazer #190 – Staring At The Wall: Part Two

Plot - An alliance is made as the magicians separate to do their respective duties. But is their course of action the right one?

Prominent People - First appearances of The Shadow Dog (a guardian of Man) and The Beast With No Name (the one creature that Adam did not name in the Garden of Eden and as such, the only one not limited to a single form).

Deaths - Though he has apparently been dead and possessed for a while now, we only just learn in this issue that Jason Spatchcock was possessed by The Beast With No Name.

John Screws Up - Without giving too much story away, it is made apparent that John has been tricked beautifully into destroying the means of his salvation.



Hellblazer #191 – Staring At The Wall: Part Three

Plot - With the partnership of magicians broken and The Beast With No Name feeding upon the minds and souls of humanity, John is forced to bring Gemma back into his life to create another plan.

Prominent People - Cameo by The Phantom Stranger. Gemma Masters returns.


Hellblazer #192 – Staring At The Wall: Part Four

Plot - With a little help from Chas and Swamp Thing, Gemma begins putting a comatose John’s plan into place.

Prominent People - Appearances by Chas Chandler, Gemma Masters and Swamp Thing. Cameos by Lucifer and Mazikeen (from Vertigo’s Lucifer book, also written by Mike Carey) and Tim Hunter (from Vertigo’s Books of Magic)


Hellblazer #193 – Staring At The Wall: Part Five

Plot - With all of his allies incapacitated, it falls to John to save the world. But can he save himself in the bargain and at what cost?

Prominent People - Appearances by Angie Spatchcock, Chas Chandler, Gemma Masters and Swamp Thing

Deaths - The Beast is devoured by the new Shadow Dog that Gemma conjures up.


John Screws Up - John’s plan, while saving humanity, costs Swamp Thing his soul and leaves John with amnesia.

Pub Trivia - The loss of Swamp Thing’s soul would be the centerpiece of the first six issues of a new Swamp Thing series that started shortly after this issue came out. These first six Swamp Thing issues were written by Andy Diggle, who would later go on to write Hellblazer.


Hellblazer #194 – Ward 24

Plot - Wandering the streets of London, an amnesiac John tries to help a burned little girl to the hospital. But though he is freed of his memories, John is hardly free of his fate as a psychic killer and a strange new enemy make themselves known to him.

Prominent People - First appearance of Peter Gill (a psycho killer, who someone learned the details of everyone in the world’s lives through The Beast With No Name) and Rosacarnis (a demon and daughter of Nergal), in the form of the girl Rose.


Hellblazer #195 – Out of Season, Part One

Plot - As Angie and Gemma get to work on tracking John down, Chas and family go on holiday and John blunders into an encounter with a new friend and a new enemy.

Prominent People First appearance of Rosacarnis in her demonic form and her butler Druoth. Appearances by Angie, Gemma, Chas, Chas’ wife Rene, Chas’ daughter Geraldine, Chas’ granddaughter Trish, Jinx (the bum John helped back in #188) and Peter Gill. Cameos by The Phantom Stranger, The First of The Fallen, The Demon Constantine and Triskelle, Queen of the Succubi.

Deaths - 44 on the death tally. Jinx dies because of his friendship with John.


Hellblazer #196 – Out of Season, Part Two

Plot - Things go from hot to hotter, with Peter Gill holding Chas and family hostage and Rosacarnis offering John the return of his memories in return for his allegiance to her.

Prominent People - First appearance of Agilieth, sworn brother of Nergal.

Deaths - 45 on the death tally. John shoots Peter Gill at point-blank range to save Chas and his family.


Hellblazer #197 – Stations of the Cross, Part One

Plot - Still suffering from amnesia and taunted by Rosacarnis, John stumbles into the machinations of another old associate in a most unusual church.

Prominent People - Cameo by Ghant. First appearance of Suzie, Terry and Margaret (disciples of Ghant’s cult)


Hellblazer #198 – Stations of the Cross, Part Two

Plot - Completely at Ghant’s mercy, John find an unexpected ally. But with his memories and his usual cunning still unavailable it may prove to be too little, too late.


Hellblazer #199 – Stations of the Cross, Part Three

Plot - With a horde of demons bidding on his soul, John faces a tough choice regarding Rosacarnis’ offer.

Prominent People - The First of The Fallen and Agony and Ecstasy are among the demons who show up to bid on John.

Deaths - 46 on the death tally. Suzie is killed for her attempts to help John by the other cultists.

John Screws Up - By agreeing to Rosacarnis’ offer here, John sets into motion the tragic events that will lead us throughout the rest of Mike Carey’s run on Hellblazer.

Pub Trivia - Agony and Ecstasy, presumed dead since the Garth Ennis run, are seen alive and well. Presumably The First of the Fallen revived them having felt he made his point. Also, it would seem that John’s request for God’s intervention at the end of The Paul Jenkins run took since The First of The Fallen’ made no mention of already owning John’s soul after having handily claimed it during “How To Play With Fire”.


Hellblazer #200 – Happy Families

Plot - Trapped into one day’s service under Rosacarnis, John lives several years in three alternate lives in one day and sires three demonic children.

Prominent People - First appearances of Adam Constantine (a young boy), Saul Constantine (an older male teenager) and Maria Constantine (a younger female teenager). There are cameos in the dreamed-up alternate lives of Kit Ryan (John’s lost love from the Garth Ennis days), Zed (John’s lover and accomplice from the Jamie Delano run), Angie Spatchcock, Gemma Masters, Abby Cable (Swamp Thing’s wife) and Swamp Thing.

Pub Trivia - John gets his memories back at the end of this issue.


Hellblazer #201 – Event Horizon

Plot - Three thugs break into John’s lock-up of magical artifacts and come into contact with a cursed bracelet.

Pub Trivia - This is one of the few stand-alone stories during Mike Carey’s run on the book and the only one that is not directly tied into another story.


Hellblazer #202 – Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part One

Plot - John’s demonic children are set loose on the world and begin to tear his life apart, friend by friend.

Prominent People - Cameos by Alba Suria, Albert, Clarice and Map.

Deaths - 47, 48, 49, 50 and 51 on the death Tally. Maria Constantine kills Alba Suria with her own power. Albert is killed during Adam’s attack on the Tate Club protecting Clarice. And thanks to Maria’s seduction of a truck-driver while on the road, everyone in Chas’ family is burnt to death in a fiery explosion, though Chas himself is somehow spared.


Hellblazer #203 – Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part Two

Plot - John’s children continue to work against all of his friends and allies as John finds a mysterious ally in Hell, who now possesses Chas Chandler’s body.

Prominent People - Nergal, though we won’t know it’s him for a while yet, makes his first appearance in a long while through first a rat and then Chas Chandler’s body. Cameos by Straff and Straff’s Mother (from the Jenkins run) and the ghost of Sir Francis Dashwood (from Eddie Campbell’s brief run). We also get an update on the whereabouts of Angie and Gemma. First appearance of Simon, a boy dating Gemma who is approached by Saul Constantine about killing her.

Deaths - 52, 53 and 54 on the death tally. Straff and his mother are both cut apart by telekinetically manipulated flatware. And the ghost of Sir Dashwood is dashed out by Adam Constantine.

Pub Trivia - Nergal drops a hint to his identity here, saying that he has known John for even longer than Chas has known him.



Hellblazer #204 – Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part Three

Plot - As John and his uneasy ally begin to try and rescue some of John’s loved ones, Angie is tormented by the nightmares from her childhood and Gemma prepares for what could be a very deadly date.

Prominent People - Cameos by Tony Masters (Gemma’s father), Helen (an old girlfriend of John’s), Mange (the magician trapped in a rabbit’s body from Hellblazer #63), Robbie Brooks (the amateur magician who John pretended to curse in Hellblazer #62) and Uncle Fred, Cousin Terrell and Brother Kyle (from Dani’s family in ‘Up The Down Staircase’)

Deaths - We are told that a hecatomb of people who loved, mistrusted or had even met John Constantine are killed behind the scenes in this issue. The only confirmed deaths we get for the tally are 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60 for Helen, Mange, Robbie Brooks, Uncle Fred, Cousin Terrell and Kyle.

Pub Trivia - Nergal drops another hint to his identity here, knowing about John’s time in Ravenscar and also noting that Angie’s blood tastes like John’s – as John’s original demonic blood downer, he would presumably know. It is interesting to note that nothing is said specifically about any of the women in John’s life in all this cleansing, though you’d think Kit or even Marj or Zed would be among the first targets John’s children would go after.


Hellblazer #205 – Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part Four

Plot - With Angie safe, John and his mysterious new ally burn pavement to save Gemma from John’s children, little knowing they already have a new target in mind.

Prominent People - Cameos by Tony and Cheryl Masters (Gemma’s parents)

John Screws Up - John makes a major error in judgment here, going after Gemma before Cheryl – not trusting Gemma to take care of herself against a relatively mundane threat when Cheryl was in just as much, if not worse, danger.

Pub Trivia - Nergal reveals himself to John in this issue, raising the question of how he escaped the torments we saw him enduring back in Hellblazer #60.


Hellblazer #206 – Cross Purpose

Plot - Free from Negral’s possession but not from his influence, Chas Chandler wanders the streets with Maria Constantine close behind.

Pub Trivia - This is another of the rare issues where John is not the focus of the action.



Hellblazer #207 – Down In The Ground Where The Dead Men Go, Part One

Plot - With Cheryl technically dead and her soul dragged into Hell, John and Nergal form an uneasy alliance to storm Hell’s gates together.

Pub Trivia - Reference is made to Gladys, the soul-stealing serial killer from “High On Life”.


Hellblazer #208 – Down In The Ground Where The Dead Men Go, Part Two

Plot - As Angie and Gemma come to terms while waiting with Cheryl’s body, John is confronted by his old friend and his Demonic “better” half.

Prominent People - First appearance of Stercorax, brother of Nergal. Cameos by most of The Ghostly Horde, which now includes everyone killed in the last few issues, including Alba, Straff, Straff’s mom, Helen and Albert. Gary Lester appears, now in the service of The Demon Constantine.

John Screws Up - In order to win a fight with the Demonic version of himself, John allows Nergal to possess him.


Hellblazer #209 – Down In The Ground Where The Dead Men Go, Part Three

Plot - Nergal relates to John the story of how he had come to know John and how Rosacarnis had come to rule his House.

Prominent People - Cameo by The First of The Fallen, in flashback.

Pub Trivia - Most of this issue is a flashback that relates the events of the first year of Hellblazer from Nergal’s perspective. This is another of the rare (but increasingly common during the Carey run) issues where John is not the focus of the action.


Hellblazer #210 – Down In The Ground Where The Dead Men Go, Part Four

Plot - As John and Nergal continue their journey to Rosacarnis’ estates, Nergal tells John of how he came to be reborn in Hell. But is there something Nergal is not telling John?

Prominent People - Chantinelle The Succubus, last seen being tortured in “How To Play With Fire”, makes an appearance apparently having served her time for betraying The First of The Fallen.

Pub Trivia - It is revealed, although not made apparent, that Cheryl’s soul is in Nergal’s possession.


Hellblazer #211 – Down In The Ground Where The Dead Men Go, Part Five

Plot - Having reached the keep, Nergal and John part ways to launch a two-pronged strike against Rosacarnis. But Nergal has something up his sleeve for everyone. Luckily, so does John.

Prominent People - Cameo by The First of the Fallen.

Pub Trivia - It becomes obvious that Nergal’s whole goal has been to get revenge on his daughter and he uses both John and Cheryl as tools (literally in the later case) to get himself into the invincible body of his brother Stercorax.


Hellblazer #212 – Down In The Ground Where The Dead Men Go, Part Six

Plot - With an angry and invincible Nergal at the door, it falls to John, to save the demonic family that exists only to destroy him if only to save his sister Cheryl’s soul.

Deaths - 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 and 66 on the death tally. The First of the Fallen, in order to deny John a noble and heroic death, kills Rosacarnis, Adam and Saul Constantine. He rips apart Nergal to get Cheryl’s soul free and then, already possessing the soul of the damned Tony Masters (suicide + his wife’s murder), convinces Cheryl to stay in Hell so that Tony’s punishment will be halved.

John Screws Up - All of John’s planning here, and he still loses. Cheryl is damned to hell and Gemma’s trust/love for her cunning uncle is completely shattered.


Hellblazer #213 – The Gift

Plot - A flashback tale, John tells Angie of the first time he conned somebody into thinking he was a more powerful magician than he really is.

Prominent People - First appearances of Kenny Nelson and Anita Nelson.


Hellblazer #214 – R.S.V.P. , Part One

Plot - John tries to get his life back into some semblance of order and patch things up with his best friend. But it won’t be nearly as easy to get back into routine as he hopes and indeed John is spurred to make a very big decision about his life.

Prominent People - Appearances by Chas and Chas’ cousin Norma. Cameos by Map and Clarice.

John Screws Up - We find out that thanks to John’s involvement with Nergal and what Chas did while he was still under the influence, Rene has left Chas and his own daughter refuses to speak to him anymore, having cost Chas his family as sure as if John had killed them himself.


Hellblazer #215 – R.S.V.P. , Part Two

Plot - John readies himself to end his magical career with style, giving a speech at The Tate Club that will turn every magician in London against him.

Prominent People - Cameos by Clarice and Swamp Thing. We briefly see Angie and Gemma at Cheryl’s funeral. The Ghostly Horde of John’s dead friends also make an appearance.

Recommended Reading

Quite honestly, if you’re going to read any of Mike Carey’s Hellblazer you’d best be prepared to read all of it. More than any writer, even including Garth Ennis, Carey’s entire run is one big story that demands to be read in order. Indeed, while one does not have to have read the entirety of Hellblazer before reading any of Mike Carey’s stories, it does make the experience all the richer.

Thankfully, more and more of Carey’s run is becoming available in Trade Paperback format and the single issues are still relatively easy to track down on-line or at a decent comic book shop. Even more thankfully, there is not a single bad issue in the lot, by my reckoning and only two stories in the whole run that do not relate or tie into another part of the overall arch.

The Final Analysis

Mike Carey was precisely the shot-in-the-arm the Hellblazer franchise needed to guide it after some very, very dark days. Unlike Warren Ellis and Brian Azzarello, who completely ignored John’s past and the rich creations of the writers who came before them, Carey picked up and built upon the mythology of the series just as Garth Ennis and Paul Jenkins did before him.

But Carey was no slouch when it came to his own creations and he created the ideal mate for John Constantine in Angie Spatchcock. Angie was, in all honesty, the first equal John had ever had romantically. Not to disparage the great Kit Ryan but while she was capable of handling herself, she was never truly capable of handling all of John’s life. Angie, for better or worse, was able to stand by John’s side in the midst of all the supernatural weirdness and be more than just a girlfriend.

To put it simply, I do believe that Mike Carey is my favorite writer to tackle John Constantine. Ennis was the funniest. Delano was the most hearfelt. Ellis’ was the most dangerous. And Jenkins was the most fun. But Carey managed to take the essence of all four takes on John Constantine and distill it into something different and yet wholly familiar.

I think Neil Gaiman said it best when he said that Mike Carey wrote “the quintessential Constantine.” For what it is worth, I agree with Mr. Gaiman.

Tune in next week. Same Matt time. Same Matt website.

Looking To The Stars - Looking To The Reviews!

A word of warning: Here Be SPOILERS! Turn back, lest ye learn more than ye ever wanted ta be knowing.

Action Comics #837
Company Name: DC Comics
Writers: Geoff Johns & Kurt Busiek
Art: Pete Woods

I wasn’t much of a Superman reader before but damn me if Johns and Busiek haven’t succeeded where lesser writers failed in making the mysteries of this book seem more like invitations than a device to keep us reading just to figure out what is going on. How did Superman loses his powers? Who is this new Toyman who looks like The Animated Series version as opposed to a creepy old man? When did Metallo regain a more human body? And what the heck is Lex Luthor up to anyway? These are questions this author will stick around to find out the answers to.

Grade: A

All-Star Superman #3
Company Name: DC Comics
Writer: Grant Morrison
Art: Frank Quietly

Grant Morrison once said (and I am paraphrasing here) that he wishes he could be half as crazy as everyone thinks he is because only some of the great minds of the Silver Age could come up with the ideas that they did. With tongue NOT in cheek, Grant borrows one of the more infamously ludicrous classic Superman stories to create this – a story of Lois Lane’s birthday where Samson, Atlas and Superman compete for the pleasure of her company. If that last sentence didn’t make you smile a bit, not even a little inside, then you may as well skip this book; there is nothing for you here. But for those of us who still believe that a man can fly, this is one heck of a good read.

Grade: A

Fantastic Four #536
Company Name: Marvel Comics
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Art: Mike McKone & Andy Lanning

Despite the cover, this is not truly an Illuminati tie-in. And thank goodness for it, because I’d much rather see a good-ol-fashioned Doombot smackdown in this title than another issue of Bendis’ Talking Heads Theater. JMS, rather infamous for his own grasp of flowery dialogue, knows when to let his characters talk and when to let the action and the concept speak for itself. And when you are dealing with a concept such as Dr. Doom making a bid to get the Hammer of Thor and wield it, there is preciously little else to say except “That is cool!” Sadly, we don’t actually get to see the good Doctor wield the hammer this issue… merely his declaration of intent to Reed Richards. Such is the power of Doom that he can monologue BEFORE securing ultimate power – he is that good.

Grade: B

Green Lantern #10
Company Name: DC Comics
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Ivan Reis and Marc Campos

This title was a little slow to get started but now that the framework is laid, Johns is bringing up the subplots full-tilt. One Year Later, we find that Hal Jordan’s relationship with the Green Lanterns is as strained as ever, he’s in hot water with the global superhero community on Earth and even Ollie Queen is accusing him of being a dangerous maverick. If nothing else, I love this book for the irony and perfect portrayal of the Hal/Ollie dynamic – that the eternal iconoclast is now in a position of authority and the good soldier is now rebelling against authority in the name of a higher cause. All this, and the creation of The Sinestro Corps.

Grade: A

Lucifer #72
Company Name: Vertigo Comics
Writer: Mike Carey
Artists: Peter Gross and Aaron Alexovich

Reviewing this book seems a tad pointless now. With the final issue months away and the current storyline being devoted to summation and tying up loose ends, there is not much for me to say. Except that if you were a fan of the old Sandman series or like mature magical comics, start tracking down the Trades or the old back issues of this series. Lucifer is as worthy a successor and sequel to Sandman as if Neil Gaiman had penned it himself, and this author will sorely miss it once it is gone.

Grade: A

New Avengers – Illuminati #1
Company Name: Marvel Comics
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Alex Maleev

Against my better judgment, I read this book in the store. And I learned nothing except that Tony Stark is a jerk. A real jerk. Everyone says Superman is a jerk but he should take lessons from Tony Stark. You know he’s a jerk because Namor tells him he’s a jerk (not in so many words) and when Namor says someone is being a jerk, then you know it MUST be bad. And I’m not saying this because he spurred the creation of the secret He-Man Girl-Haters Club For Jerks. Not because he is so ready to sell out the vast majority of the superhero population to save his own butt. No – it’s because he gives away the whole plot of Civil War (such as it is) under the guise of “seeing-the-future”. Because only a jerk would give away the plot of a story without warning. That is why Tony Stark, and Brian Michael Bendis by extension, are jerks.

Grade: D

Superman/Batman #24
Company Name: DC Comics
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Art: Ed McGuinness & Dexter Vines

Me am enlightened by this comic. Me think it make lots of sense. Me think it confusing now we know Joker am not behind whole thing. Me not wondering at all why Bizzaro am involved. Me think this comic not make more sense in one sitting, in kept hardback. Like comic am on time for three months now. Still, while Darkman am liking unconfused writing, he am hating cartoonish artwork. He am hating it so much on serious, dark book like this one he want to hurt it very much.

Grade: C

Tune in next week. Same Matt time. Same Matt website.

Visit our blog at: http://www.livejournal.com/users/looking2dastars/

Looking To The Stars: It Keeps You Reading...

With all the talk in this past week’s The Roundtable filling my mailbox as I’m trying to focus on constructing a website devoted to graphic novels for children, I found myself thinking a lot about the books I don’t enjoy. And saying more than I intended about the writers whose works I don’t enjoy.

It is easy, working in a comic shop, to develop a negative attitude towards the hobby itself. Constant exposure to whinny fanboys, speculators, Marvel Zombies and the DC equivalent that I’ve never heard a corresponding nickname for and all the Comic Book Guys everywhere – it can really make you question why you bother with the hobby at all.

That is why, in an effort to put a little more good will and positive thought out there, I put forth this list of twelve writers who keep me reading comics whenever I think about quitting.

1. Neil Gaiman

While this list is in no particular order, Neil would probably be at the top if I had any desire to organize the writers I like by “first favorite” and “second favorites” like a schoolgirl organizing her crushes. Simply put, I have yet to read anything bad this man has written which is more than I can say for most other comic writers. I do not believe it is possible for Neil Gaiman to write a bad story. That is the best compliment I can pay, I think.

2. James Robinson

While he hasn’t written a comic in a while, his influence is still felt throughout DC Comics. His Starman was the first book to spark a movement among DC Comics writers to take the long-neglected and ignored parts of the worlds’ oldest comic company’s universe and try and breathe some life back into them. At a time when DC was content to let the Justice Society die out, Robinson kept their legacy alive with his Golden Age mini-series and the many Times Past comics of Starman.

3. Geoff Johns

If Robinson is Socrates, then Johns is Plato- the philosopher who built upon the works of an earlier master to achieve even greater acclaim. Johns is pretty much THE Man at DC Comics today and it is well-deserved. A fan who made good, Johns is almost single-handedly responsible for correcting the biggest continuity snafus of the past ten years, with his work on countless titles. What is all the more amazing is his gift for characterization and telling the history of the comics he loves without boring the reader with statistics as some writers do.

4. Dan Slott

Marvel needs to give this man a lot more work. His Spider-Man/Human Torch mini-series has been the best limited series this year by sure virtue of the fact that he did something that only Mark Waid and Paul Jenkins had managed in recent years- he made a fun Marvel comic. Not just funny, but fun. Slott is a man who knows his fun and packs more into everything he writes before 9 am than most writers manage all year.

5. R.K. Milholland

Some may blanch at me including a web-comic writer/artist in with all these professional writers. But make no mistake; the author of such on-line comics as Something Positive, New Gold Dreams and the brand new Midnight Macabre is very much a professional by any standard. Not only are his comics the funniest thing on the Internet, but they are delivered on-time at the same high level of quality on a regular basis. What is more, he managed without even trying seriously to become a fully-paid artist following a half-hearted pledge drive made in response to complaints about misspelling and late comics. He told his readers that if they thought it was that important, that they could donate money so he wouldn’t have to work so many hours and that if they matched his salary for one year, he would quit his job. The fans put up, and Milholland has been living the dream of many an amateur since.

6. Mark Waid

The one writer who can get me to try any book, no matter what, simply because of the way he always puts a spin on it. The man who has done the impossible twice this year; he got me to read a Legion book and he made the free City of Heroes comic readable.

7. Mike Grell

I’ve been a fan since reading Green Arrow: The Wonder Year after retrieving the series from the dollar bin of my first comic shop in Victoria, Texas. He was by far the best writer ever to tackle Oliver Queen and one of the best writers to every work in comics period. With a new regular John Sable: Freelance series out from IDW and the original series slowly coming out in TP format after a relative eternity, I am as happy as a pig in mud. You will be too if you give Mr. Grell’s work, old or new, a chance.

8. Stan Lee

I know it’s a cliche, but if you ever find yourself hating comics- not modern comics, but just comics in general, pull up a collection of old Stan Lee. Fantastic Four or Spider-Man – pick your own poison. It’ll cheer you like nothing else.

9. Gail Simone

If Sting hadn’t already written Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic some two decades ago, comic fans might have to write that song about Gail Simone and her work. I’ve gushed over Gail enough in the past, so rather than tell about my own experiences, I will tell the story of my friend Scott. Scott is one of a dying breed- an old school fanboy who still hasn’t forgiven DC from depowering Superman after the original Crisis. Scott has had few kind words for anyone who has written Superman since 1985 and he holds an especially deep loathing for John Byrne. Imagine my surprise then when, upon my recommendation, Scott picked up the latest Action Comics with John Byrne’s name on it (though just doing artwork) and declared that it was actually good.

10. Mike Carey

From Lucifer to Red Sonja, from Spellbinders to Hellblazer, Mike Carey is perhaps the most versatile writer working in comics today. He has proven capable of writing every genre there is, from sword-and-sorcery to modern magic and mythology. He’s also handled urban drama (in his Ultimate Elektra series) as well as, this week, old-fashioned superheroics with Ultimate Fantastic Four.

11. Kurt Busiek

If I’m going to mention the co-writer of Red Sonja, I have to mention the man who writes the best Conan since Robert Howard himself. His superhero work is not that bad, either. And by not that bad, I mean superb.

12. Brian K. Vaughan

Last, and definitely not least… well, if you aren’t reading Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina or Ultimate X-Men by now, anything complementary I have to say will probably not drag you out from under the rock you live under.

Tune in next time. Same Matt time. Same Matt website.

Red Sonja #0 - A Review

Written by: Michael Avon Oeming & Mike Carey
Penciled by: Mel Rubi
Inked by: Mel Rubi
Cover by: Greg Land, Matt Ryan & Jason Keith
Colored by: Caesar Rodriguez & Richard Isanove
Lettered by: Richard Starkings and Comicraft
Editor: Luke Lieberman
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Something I discovered this week as I worked the comic shop; it is deceptively hard to sell something that is only a quarter. Even to the regulars who usually take my word on books that are good. And make no mistake about it True Believer; Red Sonja is good.

I can see why some fans would be turned away by the cover, featuring a beautiful woman in a skimpy outfit as rendered by Greg Land. Greg Land, who can draw a beautiful woman like no other but whose name seems to suggest “We’ve got nothing else to sell this book, so we’re going to give you cheesecake and hope you’ll buy this book anyway!” And the fact that some of the premier pin-up artists of the genre are doing alternate covers for upcoming issues of this title can’t be doing much to dissuade this attitude.

The art by Mel Rubi doesn’t do much to help the case that Red Sonja is meant to be taken as serious fantasy. The opening shot, focusing upon Sonja’s shapely backside as she saunters into town like Clint Eastwood, seems to be entirely detrimental to the idea that she is a true warrior. After all, she wears armor that fails to protect her vital spots and serves merely to titillate those who look at her. She is just a piece of eye-candy playing at being an amazon. And that, my friends, is the brilliant part of the artwork here.

Similar to Conan #0 (which also opened with a 25 cent special), this story serves not to show our hero through their own eyes and words but through the eyes of others. So in Conan #0, we see Conan as a king and warrior whose deeds were recorded and remembered by the world at large. In Red Sonja #0, we see a woman who is regarded as alternatively as an oddity, a threat and a sociopath.

The opening pages capture this point without words. Sonja is spotted by many assailants who see her as one more victim to rob, one more shapely woman to throw on a sacrificial altar… and without words, Sonja senses the danger and reacts, causing her would-be murderers and rapists to have second thoughts, as do all predators faced with prey they think is a predator.

This is handled in a very subtle manner by writers Carey and Oeming, whom I think will surprise their regular fans with this issue. Carey in particular is famous for his flowing dialogue and yet there is barely any text at all in this issue. I’ve already heard complaints from several Carey fans about how disappointed they were in this book because it lacked so much dialogue. Conversely, I heard complaints from several of those who usually favor books like “Lady Death” or “Vampirella” that this book was too hard to read and that there needed to be more splash-pages and less dialogue.

So what does this prove? Perhaps nothing, save that we all had loaded expectations coming into this book. Some wanted nothing but an art-book full of bimbos with broadswords. Others wanted a finely-written epic ala Lucifer. What we have, instead, is what I expected- the return of one of the comic industry’s first feminist figures in a story that all too briefly establishes the brutal world she lives in; one where women are nothing but chattel to strong men. I expected a story about a woman who strives to make something better for herself, cutting down all those who would tell her otherwise. Read past the violent fight scenes. Look past the skimpy costume. And you will find a story as good and as interesting as anything involving a certain muscle-bound barbarian.

Looking To The Stars: Mike Carey, He's So Very...

Mike Carey is fast on the way to becoming the best writer working in comics today.

An explanation: When I say best, I mean most versatile. The position of "favorite writer" is not one that I have ever been able to fill, simply because there are so many writers I like for many different reasons. I like Gail Simone for her humor, strong characterization and ability to write a good action sequence. I like Brian Vaughan for his creativity, concepts and unusual dialogue. I like Geoff Johns for his use of history and ability to weave new tales seamlessly into history. I have yet to read a bad story by any of these writers and yet I can't name a single one my favorite, because it is impossible for me to quantify goodness in such terms.

But Mike Carey, by sheer dent of versatility is proving himself to be a great writer of whatever book he works on. I was first introduced to him through Lucifer and that was enough to get me to try any project his name was on. It was enough to get me to read Ultimate Elektra, which was a minor miracle considering how odious I found Greg Rucka's Ultimate Daredevil, which the former book at spun-off from. But it was good. And though it doesn't sound like my kind of book, I'm going to give the upcoming Spellbinders book a shot simply because of Carey's good name.

This week, I read two Carey stories and heard word of another new project he has in the works. All of these only show the great versatility of Mike Carey; one of the few comic writers who can handle action, romance, horror, drama and comedy with equal skill.

Hellblazer: All His Engines

This hard-back graphic novel came out this week and proved to be quite the potent antidote to extensive exposure to more and more bad news regarding the Constantine movie. Ironically, the story of All His Engines puts our favorite bastard in the setting of the bastardized film based upon him: Los Angeles.

The City of Angels, ironically enough, is under siege by several demons. The demons are turning Hell into a franchise business, creating their own small hells within the city. John Constantine, con-man and magician, gets involved after the granddaughter of long-time sidekick Chas Chandler is kidnapped by one of these demons. The demon, it turns out, knows about John and wanted to enlist his cooperation in eliminating his business competition.

Neil Gaiman says it best, in a blurb on the cover of this book.

"Mike Carey has written the quintessential Constantine story. If you want to see what all the fuss is really about, you should read this book."

This is a great Constantine story. Maybe not the best, but it is the only story I have seen that has totally summed up one of the most complicated characters in graphic literature in one go. It has all the hallmarks of your typical Constantine story; an innocent endangered, a dangerous enemy and John Constantine having to save the world through his own personal magic combining slight-of-hand and true magic.

While Carey's writing is the highlight for me, the artwork by regular Hellblazer artist of Leonardo Manco is a perfect complement to the disturbing story told by Carey. Overall, I'd say this book is well-worth the $24.95 price tag and that it will make a worthy gift for anyone who has not yet been exposed to the wonderous world of Hellblazer and those who will need proof that there is something good about John Constantine after the film comes out. Those of you who like number ratings can call this one a perfect 10.

My Faith In Frankie

Frankie Moxon is a blessed young woman. Literally. She always seems to come out on top, no matter what disasters occur around her. Indeed, she only has one problem; she can't get a boyfriend. The cause of this disaster is the same thing that has steered her through so many disasters before; her own personal god, Jerivan.

Jervian, a teenage god himself, found Frankie at infancy and has been watching over her ever since. An all-too real imaginary friend who is all too jealous of any other man, divine or otherwise, getting near the woman he is totally devoted to. But things get more complicated for the unlikely duo, as one good deed comes back to bite them both in the ass.

I meant to read this one when it originally came out as a monthly comic, but my comic shop kept selling out of it before I had a chance to read it. But with the recent release of a Manga-size graphic novel, I finally got my chance to see how well Mike Carey can write a comedic romance.

Pretty darn well, it turns out. And I applaud the decision to publish My Faith in Frankie in a Manga-size format, as this story is perfectly suited to the genre. Twisted romance, supernatural powers and a whole lot of love triangles abound, with a suitable Vertigo twist added to the proceedings and Carey waves this tapestry of story beautifully.

True, the format does cramp the artwork and requires the loss of some color, but the story still comes across despite that problem. That said, I'd still like to see a full-color, trade-paperback printing of Frankie in the future. Let's call this a 7.5 out of 10, with lowered score due to the format cramping the style of the art.

Red Sonja

With the stellar success of Conan, it was only a matter of time before the comics community would look to adapting the other works of fantasy writer Robert E. Howard once again. And the most obvious choice of the next character to be adapted is also one of the most controversial; perhaps the most famous literary amazon of all time, Red Sonja.

Most fans are familiar with Red Sonja through her three comics series and a spattering of one-shots written by comics legend Roy Thomas over the last thirty years or from the infamous B-movie starring Brigitte Nielsen. The roots of the character lay further back, with a Howard story called "The Shadow of the Vulture". In this story, one of the characters was a red-haired warrior woman known as Sonya the Red of Rogatino. This was the only story Howard ever wrote with the character and it was likely she would have been forgotten except to Howard scholars had it not been for Roy Thomas.

Originally intending to adapt Howard's original Conan stories and then spin-off into his own tales, Thomas began looking into adapting Howard's stories outside of the Conan canon into stories for the comics. Permission was given, and Thomas was given freedom to take stories that had that special Howard spark and adapt them into tales of Howard's most famous heroes.

It was in this way that Thomas turned "The Shadow of the Vulture" into a Conan story and introduced Sonya (or Sonja as it would be spelled) to Conan. An aloof mercenary, Sonja has little interest in the barbarian hero outside of using him as cannon fodder in battle and a distraction in her own daring acts of thievery. She escaped from their first encounter with all of Conan's loot and perhaps a bit of his heart. Fans loved the character and this being at the time that Marvel was attempting to create more books with strong female leads, Red Sonja was given a chance at the lime light after several more appearances in Conan's comic.

Under Thomas's direction, Sonja took on a totally different history than the brief one given to Sonya. Sonja would be given a rougher past; her family killed and herself raped and left for dead in a fire. She would escape and be visited by a goddess who promised her magical sword-fighting skills if exchange for a vow of celibacy, save to the man who could beat her in a fair fight. This element, the vow of celibacy for power, while often a theme in mythology, was actually taken by Thomas from one of W.B. Yeats' Cuchulain plays.

Despite most of her titles lasting for only a year or two, Sonja still proved popular enough to continue on in solo works into the mid-80's and managed regular cameos in Conan until the early 90's when that title was canceled. The 90's were a lean-time for the Henna-Haired Harridan. She managed one Image-artwork heavy one-shot from Marvel and a Thomas-penned one-shot story from the Howard-devoted Cross Plains Comics in 1999.

Sonja has remained popular despite her various critics. Many Howard purists see Sonja as a corruption of Howard's work and are rather annoyed that a background character from a non-Conan story has been transmogrified into a warrior every bit the equal of the famous barbarian and indeed the second-most popular of Howard's creations. And while she wore the costume in relatively few of her comics, Sonja's chainmail bikini costume has become a universal joke in comic-book, gaming and fantasy art fandom as the ultimate piece of impractical and uncomfortable armor.

Still, you can't keep a good woman down and Red Sonja will soon be riding into adventure once again. Dynamite Entertainment, flush with success from their recent Army of Darkness series, has acquired the rights to publish a regular, monthly, Red Sonja comic book. And just when I, old-school Conan comic fan that I am, didn't think the news could get any better, it did.

One of the co-writers for the new series is Mike Carey. The other, Michael Avon Oeming, is more famous for his artwork on Powers but is reportedly wanting to start working as a writer. Carey, for his part, is trying to break his image as being "just a Vertigo writer". I, for my part, can't wait to read it.

As hyped as I am about the writing, I can't neglect to mention the all-star art team as well. The regular illustrators will be Mel Rubi (penciler on KISS & Aliens Vs. Predator), Ceaser Rodrigez (inker on Scion) and Richard Isanove (colorist on Marvel: 1602). If this weren't enough, Michael Turner, JG Jones, Joseph Michael Linsner, John Cassaday, Adam Hughes, Alex Ross, Art Adams and Michael Kaluta are all signed on to do covers for the book at some point in the future. Land has already finished the cover for a special Zero Issue to be released in April for just 25 cents! This special issue, with 15 pages of introductory story will be a teaser for the first issue, due out in June with an Alex Ross cover.

And for those of you hoping for more Sonja-related merchandise, wish no more. Dyanmic Forces has won the rights to create and produce trading cards, lithographs, giclees, acetate lithos, wall scrolls, statues, busts, bookends and other items based on Red Sonja and have reportedly already begun production on a few surprises. Keep an eye out at the Dynamic Forces Website for more goodies.

Previews of the Land cover, the first page of #0 as well as more information can be found here.

Tune in next week. Same Matt time. Same Matt website.

Hellblazer #203 - A Review

Written by: Mike Carey
Penciled by: Leonardo Manco
Inked by: Leonardo Manco
Colored by: Lee Loughridge
Lettered by: Jared K. Fletcher
Editor: Jonathan Vankin
Publisher: Vertigo > DC Comics

Wha… where the bloody hell am I?

Easy, Johnny. You’ve been through a lot.

John… is that my name?

John Constantine, yes sir. JC, C of E. Bit lapsed on the C of E, though. Very lapsed, come to think of it.

I… I don’t remember…

Well, that’s to be expected. You did give yourself amnesia trying to stop the end of the world.

I… I did? Am I some kind of hero?

Ha! Not by half, John. Not by half. You know a bit of magic, but get by on wits more than skill. You’ve managed to beat the Devil himself a few times, saved the world on a few occasions and caused a lot more trouble than anyone has any right surviving. But “heroic” is nowhere on the list of frequent adjectives applied to you.

So I saved the world and… lost my mind.

Simplifying it a bit, but roughly yeah.

Ugh… is that why I feel so wonky?

Partly. See, before I found you, you stumbled around a bit homeless and in a daze. Wound up in a bad situation, but a demoness got you out of it.

A demoness?

Female demon, yeah. Her name is Rosacarnis. She’s the daughter of a demon named Negral who… well, the short version is you did a lot to piss him off and eventually caused his demise. She wanted revenge and boy did she plan a doozy…

What… what is she doing? *COUGH*

Here. Take this. Carton of Silk Cut. Should make you feel more your old self.

I smoke?

Like a chimney.

Ah… starting to come back... So what’s this demoness doing?

Well, she offered to save you from certain death in exchange for one day of your life. One day magically became forty relative years, stretched out and she wound up having three children with you while putting you through nightmarish visions of life with three women in your past. Three children are out there now. Your children. Three who reflect the darkest parts of your soul.

Bloody hell, I remember it now… they’re still out there now, aren’t they?

Oh yeah. Trying to hunt down and kill all those you love. Well, all those you love who are still alive. Your loved ones tend to end up burned, stabbed or otherwise metaphysically inert.

Wait a sec? Who are you?

Just a friend. And a fan. Somebody who wanted to fill everyone in on who you really are and what’s going on in your life before it gets erased again…

Erased again? You mean… wait, something else… I’ve got it now! There was something even more twisted. More disturbing than a demoness bent on revenge trying to kill me with my own twisted children.

Got it in one, Johnny. Got it in one.

You mean the movie wasn’t a dream?

No. No, John I’m sad to say that it is not.

They really have Keanu bloody Reeves playing me?!?!

Yes, John. I’m afraid so.

…can I sell my soul to stop that from happening?

Uh… you already have done, John.

I have?

Your soul is on a third mortgage, that’s how much you’ve sold it.

Oh. Well, is there any chance that you could hit me in the head until I forget this again?

Sure. It’ll be the third time this month, though.

Lucifer #53 - A Review

Written by: Mike Carey
Penciled by: Peter Gross & Ryan Kelly
Inked by: Peter Gross & Ryan Kelly
Colored by: Daniel Vozzo
Lettered by: Jared K. Fletcher
Editor: Mariah Huehner
Publisher: Vertigo Comics

Is it possible for something to be so consistently excellent that it destroys all sense of anticipation upon its' consumption? Can you be so certain that something will be everything you hoped for and more that the actual thing arrival is an anti-climax? Can even the highest heights seem like the plainest plains? If so, then Lucifer is soaring steadily at those heights.

The Universe is in dire peril. God himself has quit his job, following the example of His son, Lucifer - who quit his position as Ruler of Hell in order to wander around, enjoy himself for the first time in eons and then set about building his own universe in the void of creation. As God's presence is written across every molecule of the original universe, All That Is (save Lucifer's universe) is in danger of collapsing into nothingness. Lucifer has already begun making arrangements to bring all the regular mortals into his universe, intent on creating a paradise free of the religion, gods and immortals (himself excluded) whom just tend to make a greater mess of things.

That brings us to this issue, where the ArchAngel Michael attempts to use his own powers to replace God and hold the universe together a while longer. This is, as it turns out, a temporary measure at best. Fenris, the wolf of Norse mythology whose arrival will herald the end of the world, is even now on his way to the base of the Yggdrasil; the world tree that holds together all realities. This would mean the destruction of even Lucifer's realm, forcing the former Prince of Hell to align with his brother Michael one more time to stop Fenris and his associates from destroying the tree.

The art is equally magnificent. Gross and Kelly manage the rather neat trick of using a simple style to reveal complex characters. Every panel of their work looks somewhat like an engraved woodcut, as if the story before us were from another time. Vozzo's colors are perfectly chosen, with the Silver City of the Angels looking as pale and washed out as the angels that inhabit it. Michael Klauta's cover this time around is divine, if a bit posed for my taste. And Fletcher's letters are legible even when using the fanciest of fonts.

As much as I love the book, I am aesthetically torn by the paradoxes that it inspires. I have no idea what wonders await me as I open each issue and yet I can be certain that it will be enjoyable, come what may. I can be sure of a great story that will engage my interest with beautiful illustrations to match. And yet it saddens me a great deal at the same time that I am floored by the wonder of it all. Because the book is so consistently excellent that it is hard to believe that the level of quality can endure for much longer, nor that it can improve. This is the problem with flying, you see. At some point, we have to go down or so logic dictates.

Until then, I plan to sit back, enjoy the ride and hope that logic never catches up with me.

Lucifer #50 - A Review

Written by: Mike Carey
Penciled by: P. Craig Russell
Inked by: P. Craig Russell
Cover by: Christopher Moeller
Colored by: Lovern Kindzierski
Lettered by: Jared Fletcher
Editor: Shelly Bond
Publisher: Vertigo Comics

Usually, the 50th issue of a comic is reserved for a big event and the conclusion of some grand, epic storyline. Unusually, as everything Lucifer seems to do is, this 50th issue is involved with an ending but also a beginning. Specifically, this story is the origin of how Lucifer once called Samael, came to “fall” and became the ruler of the fallen angels and the children of Lilith, Adam’s other wife who mated with monsters rather than be subservient to Adam.

This is a rather brief summation of what is a very exciting and interesting story. Both on its’ own terms and a starting point and origin for one of the most enigmatic and mysterious of Neil Gaiman’s characters. Of course, the broad specifics of Lucifer’s story are well known. But Carey’s tale finally gives us the details in The Devil.

P. Craig Russell is hardly new to this world, having been one of the many wonderful artists who worked on Neil Gaiman’s original Sandman series. He is also perhaps the best angel artist in the comic business, having also done the art for Gaiman’s “Murder Mysteries” which involved the world’s first murder… in Heaven. His work is excellent as ever here, being finely detailed without feeling cluttered.

I have said precious little about this book as is my custom when I write about Lucifer. It is such a good title that for me to speak too much about it would rob you of the wonderful experience of reading it. And rogue that I may be, there are some things I will not steal.

Lucifer #47 - A Review

Written by: Mike Carey
Penciled by: Peter Gross
Inked by: Ryan Kelly
Cover by: Christopher Moeller
Colored by: Daniel Vozzo
Lettered by: Jared Fletcher
Editor: Shelly Bond
Publisher: Vertigo Comics

A quick summation: the former Archangel Lucifer, having quit his job as the ruler of Hell, had created a universe of his own in the Void, setting out to prove in some small way that he could run things better than God, precisely by NOT running things and not ruling over people. Protecting this world are the spirits of two girls, one of whom (Elaine) was responsible for saving Lucifer’s existence and one of whom, Mona, was Elaine’s best friend.

As this issue opens, Elaine, Mona and a handful of various series regulars are ridding this new universe of all the immortals, fey and other magical beings and gods who have taken refuge in this new Universe, due to a recent attempt by two titans with more cunning than good sense to usurp the power of God through this universe. While most are leaving willingly, there are a few who are refusing to go or trying to hide and it is up to our Devil-chosen band to get them evicted.

As noted before, Lucifer is one of the most involved books on the market today and can be quite the challenge for the new reader. Indeed, I wonder how much use my reviews of the book are for attracting new readers as all I can say is “This is a good book! Go read it, but get the back issues.”

Then again, perhaps that is all that needs to be said.

Lucifer #45 - A Review

Written by: Mike Carey
Penciled by: Ted Naifeh
Inked by: Ted Naifeh
Cover by: Tara McPherson
Colored by: Daniel Vozzo
Lettered by: Ken Lopez
Editor: Shelly Bond
Publisher: Vertigo Comics

If Lucifer has a flaw as a monthly book, it is that the sheer volume of information covered throughout the series is not easily conveyed from issue to issue. To miss a major story arc is to risk loosing track of all that follows. Thankfully, Carey has stories such as this one that take place between the major story arcs, giving us a short story centering upon a new character that does not directly relate to the epic events of each arc.

See John. John is a law-school drop out, trapped in a lousy job. His only outlet for escape is a punk rock band he sings in and his semi-squeeze; Puce, the guitar player. Both are on the skids though, after one gig that goes bad due to John’s poor booking skills (they wind up playing a Goth bar instead of a punk bar, where the fans prefer The Smiths to The Ramones) and things are looking pretty bad for Johnny boy. In fact, he is so far beneath notice as a person that certain members of the forces of darkness are using John’s soul as a meeting place; a neutral ground to plot how they should react to the recent news that The Creator (aka God Almighty) has followed Lucifer’s example and quit his job.

This is the only reference we get to the past story arc, and only in a book such as this could God quitting his job be reduced to a brief mention, when most titles would make use of a [See Lucifer #43] footnote or a full fledged flash-back panel. This far-sighted tone and assumption that the reader is already familiar with what has come before is the book’s greatest weakness and yet its most absorbing strength.

Sadly, while the book is as well written as ever, the art does leave a little bit to be desired. The cover, by guest cover artist Tara McPherson, seems to be depicting three pre-teens in gothic ware instead of the twenty-something characters introduced in this story. Naifeh’s work is good for the most part, depicting amazingly evil demons, drunken club patrons and even the occasional naked woman without making it seem exploitive or posed.

Our focus character of John seems oddly angular and out of place amongst the more rounded characters in the story – I assume this is an intentional effect and it works quite well in showing how out of place John is due to the “party” he his hosting. Still, the brief appearance of Lucifer leaves a lot to be desired, as the ex-Angel looks a lot more like Annie Lennox than his usual sleek self.

Lucifer #41 - A Review

Written by: Mike Carey
Penciled by: David Hahn
Inked by: David Hahn
Colored by: Daniel Vozzo
Lettered by: Comicraft
Editor: Shelly Bond
Publisher: Vertigo Comics

Okay you stubborn little SOBs…Listen up! For nearly every month since we’ve run this little hack rag called 411 comics, I have had the dubious honor of telling you all about the monthly comic called Lucifer. Without exception, every issue of this book has been a modern masterpiece, sure to go down as one of the finest contributions made to The Art. I have gone out of my way to describe the majesty of the writing, the beauty of the artwork and assure those nay-sayers who think “This is just another lame Sandman spinoff” that it is anything but lame.

And yet, somehow, despite this… the sheer generosity and goodness of my heart… some of you, and I include the other reviewers of this magazine in this, some of you… AREN’T READING THIS BOOK?!?!

What’s wrong with you all? I mean, I thought most of you were intelligent, discriminating consumers of fine literature! Several steps above the common fools who come into my shop, ask if there are any new #1 titles or anything that has sold really well before walking up, grabbing all the copies and a pile of mylar bags and boards, to seal away the books as some sort of protection against dying old and poor, never opening those tender pages to see the work that a poor team of creators slaved away to enlighten and amuse the world…

To these people I say, fine. I’m sick of it. Go and fritter away your money on Youngblood: Genesis. You won’t be missed, unless I am inspired to the generosity to give you a warning shot with my crossbow. I’m not going to tell you about this book anymore. I wouldn’t describe one detail of what happens in this issue of Lucifer if you got down on your LOUSY, FILTHY KNEES AND BEGGED ME, LIKE THE SCUM-SUCKING, TOADING EXCUSE FOR-


The management of 411 Comics would like to apologize. Mr. Morrison is not feeling well and-

THE HELL I’M NOT! AND YOU CAN TAKE YOUR APOLOGY AND-

*THWUNK*

Ahem. Mr. Morrison has in fact been found in the broom closet, bludgeoned over the head by his evil twin Trevor, who took his place in writing the first part of this review. Mr. Morrison will resume his regular reviewing duties next week. In the meantime, the rest of this review of Lucifer #41 will be written by Mr. Morrison’s 3rd grade English teacher, Mrs. Nesbitt.


Thank you. Now when I was asked to write Matthew’s review, I wondered why. I mean, he was the best student I had last year but I hardly have any qualifications to talk about comic books, being a fictional construct being used in a humorous context in an increasingly absurdist bit of writing. All I’ve ever done as far as comics go is pulled them out of young men’s hands when they should have been studying, looked at the covers to make sure there was nothing very naughty and then held it until the end of class.

Now, the cover to this book looks very naughty indeed. The name for a start… Lucifer. Now, I certainly hope nobody would ever make a comic about The Devil, but having the name there is not a good thing for healthy young men. And I’m not too crazy about the two ghostly girls, one of whom appears to be in very great pain indeed.

And then I opened the book, breaking my usual habit, and was shocked to see a topless woman. Nicely illustrated though it is, they could just as easily draw a blouse on her as draw out nipples. Probably be easier, actually! And I don’t care if she is a centaur and this is a mature title! That’s still no excuse for nudity- If you were really mature, you wouldn’t read such filthy things such as this. Why, I remember last year when I caught Matthew reading this book called Hellblazer-


Thank you, Mrs. Nesbitt. That is more than enough. I guess it is up to me then.

*ahem*

Lucifer #41 acts as an epilogue to the previous five-issue saga. In it, two ghostly girls are given a brief chance at life by Lucifer, before making up their minds on a reward that he owes them for saving his life. The story of “what would you do with your last hours” is an old, but true one and is played quite well here. Highlights include the novel solution towards escaping a bad situation when you are going to die soon anyway and an amusing blasphemous speech by the former archangel himself about how “If you’re going to have gods, you might as well have farcical gods that command no respect.”

The artwork, by guest artist David Hahn, is much brighter than is usual with this title but it does not disrupt the usual tone of the book; resembling that of Mike Allred with a slightly darker tone. The coloring and lettering are, as always, excellent and the overall package is quite satisfying.

Oh yes. And don’t forget that the New Fall Season premiers in four days time.

Lucifer #38 - A Review

Written by: Mike Carey
Penciled by: Peter Gross, Ryan Kelly & Dean Ormston
Inked by: N/A
Colored by: Daniel Vozzo
Lettered by: Comicraft
Editor: Shelly Bond
Publisher: Vertigo Comics


The biggest problem I have with turning people onto the merits of this title is one of complexity. Lucifer is perhaps the most involved comic published today and may even surpass Neil Gaiman’s original “Sandman” series in terms of foreshadowing, building on minor past plot elements and tying together that which is seemingly unrelated.

This attention to detail makes the book a joy to read for all those who have been following it since Issue One and an exercise in frustration for all the newbies who were late in getting into the theater. It is also frustrating for the critic whom has to explain nearly 40 issues worth of continuity and characterization in order to explain to people why the stories are so good and worth their time… but I will try.

Lucifer was the head angel, asked too many questions, was booted out of Heaven and became the ruler of Hell and all the other fallen angels and a number of beings called demons, just like in Milton’s Paradise Lost. He quit his job as ruler of Hell and gave up his powers in order to relax and enjoy himself, which translated into him opening a nightclub where he played Piano. He gave this up after finding a way to create his own universe and prove he could do one better than the Creator. He got nearly got killed by a sentient Tarot Deck that could alter reality but was saved after a girl named Elaine, who was herself an angel bred from Lucifer’s brother Michael, sacrificed herself to save him.

Now, Elaine’s soul is being tortured in some unknown place on the edge of reality and Lucifer has sent a crew of several series regulars to find Elaine as he deals with other matters having to deal with “his plans”. The crew travels upon the mythic Naglfar: the ship of Loki the Trickster, as Lucifer travels with Michael into the very mind of God him/her/it-self.

Of course one may ask WHY Lucifer needs help at all, but this point is addressed in this issue. One character wonders aloud why Lucifer doesn’t just go on this journey himself and it is explained that some realities are too fragile to hold one so powerful, so he has to send lesser beings to do his work for him.

This is one of the breaking points of the series. Very often the reader has no idea what Lucifer is working towards and the action is seen through the eyes of those he manipulates into helping him or those who oppose him and have no idea what they are up against. If you don’t mind the feeling of riding a roller-coaster with your eyes closed – knowing that you are moving somewhere, but cannot see the end - then you’ll enjoy it. If not, then you won’t. It’s that simple.

The artwork is excellent, displaying the gritty details you expect in a Vertigo title. Each character is uniquely defined, so even if you are new to the cast, you can tell the players apart… which is a lot harder than it should be with some artists. Still, Gross, Kelly and Ormstron show why this book did get nominated for several art awards in the past.

Overall, this issue is your typical middle chapter. I enjoyed it, but realize it is very inaccessible to new readers. My advice to all of you is to hie thee to a comic store and pick up the trade paperback collections or back issues of Lucifer. You’ll be glad you did.

Lucifer #36 - A Review

Written by: Mike Carey
Penciled by: Peter Gross, Ryan Kelly & Dean Ormston
Inked by: N/A
Colored by: Daniel Vozzo
Lettered by: Comicraft
Editor: Shelly Bond
Publisher: Vertigo Comics

My biggest complaint about this book in the past has been that it is very involved, has a huge cast of characters with complex relationships between one another and that it is very difficult for new readers to get started on “Lucifer” without reading all the back issues. Apparently someone at Vertigo is listening to me; the cover of this issue proudly says “New Storyline” and the very first page gives a list of some of the characters encountered in the series so far, their relationships to one another and a hint as to what is to come.

And what is to come, you ask? A heroic boat voyage on a scale beyond even that of The Odyssey and Jason’s quest on the Argo. Okay, granted the Naglfar (the ship of Norse Chaos God Loki) is a lot more impressive and temperamental than that famous ship, but what do you expect from a ship made of the fingernails of dead warriors?

Lucifer has gathered various misfits (including a half-breed angel, a ghost, two demonic cherubs and Loki’ half-brother) to take Narglfar and go on a quest of vaguely defined importance. Nothing is said outright, but the purpose of the quest and Lucifer’s reasons for sending others to act on his behalf instead of working alone is hinted at in a way that will tickle the suspicions of long time readers while still allowing a bit of mystery to the plot. And with the relationship tree on the first page, even the new readers may be able to guess at what is coming but is left unsaid.

The artwork, as usual, matches the grand and epic scale that this book sets the standard in defining. Each character is uniquely defined, be they human or monster or a mix of the two. I was particular fond of the scene in which Lucifer shows off his power in an impressive display which shows what he is capable of on a grand scale while showing why he usually works in more subtle ways.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: this is one of the best books on the market today. If you’re a fan of Neil Gaiman’s “The Sandman”, you should be reading this book as it is the best child of that legendary series. And even if you aren’t, check this issue out. Like the quest of the crew of the Naglfar, this book promises one hell of a journey.

Lucifer #35: A Review

Another week, another Sandman inspired spin-off.

One of the most intriguing characters to come out of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman, Lucifer has been the star of a solo mini-series which lead to this: a critically acclaimed, award-winning and fan favorite regular series which has been going on strong for nearly three years now.

Lucifer is, like The Sandman, is a mysterious figure that is working toward his own ends. His plans and goals are kept secret to all but his closest associates and are kept secret to the reader, who is brought along on the journey, seeing events transpire through the eyes of those Lucifer encounters in his journeys and quests.

Explaining the entire history of the series up to this point in a brief article would be impossible and pointless. No summary could do justice to Carey’s wonderful plotting and the details of the series do not lend themselves well to summarization. Besides, it would be a crime for me to rob you of the chance to read this most wonderful series, three trade-paperback volumes of which now collect the early issues of the series.

Therein lies the problem of reviewing this issue. Because this issue does suffer a bit in that unless you have read the last major story arc, there are some details that will go over your head. That’s not to say that the basic gist of things cannot be understood: merely that the finer details will not be fully appreciated by new readers.

The story in this issue follows two subplots. The first details Lucifer’s search for a magical boat, promised to him by Loki (yes, the Norse Trickster god, Loki), which Lucifer wants to borrow for a journey of some kind. The second (and more explored plot) details the adventures of a supernatural detective, who a) believes he gets his orders from God himself and b) is currently trying to find the killer of series regular Elaine Belloc, who has a parentage and upbringing that is a whole article unto itself.

About the artwork, I can say little except that it portrays the sheer epic scope of the writing well. All the characters have a distinctive look to them and all the unusual, fantasy creatures (demons, angels, giants, etc.) are portrayed with a surprising level of realism.

Despite the involved and often convoluted storyline, I highly recommend this book to all those who have the patience for a good, long story because Carey is definitely building this title towards something good.