Batman Who Laughs #1 - A Review

Now we come to the last of the Dark Knights. Their leader. The Bruce Wayne who gave himself over to madness after his final battle with The Joker created a monster far worse than The Clown Prince Of Crime... The Batman Who Laughs!


It's no surprise that this final one-shot detailing the origins of The Batman Who Laughs should involve The Joker's victory over Batman even in defeat. What is astonishing is how utterly creepy James Tynion IV' makes this comic despite the audience having some vague idea of what is coming. Riley Rossmo - Tynion's artist on Constantine, The Hellblazer - proves the perfect partner in bringing this horrific tale to life, his skewed yet lively art being a good fit for the tale at hand, particularly once Ivan Plascencia's colors are added into the mix.

The Final Analysis: 10 out of 10.

Constantine The Hellblazer #9 - A Review

The Demon Neron is getting ready to make a power play for every soul in New York City! But that's of little concern to John Constantine and Papa Midnite, who are literally trapped in Hell.  An old contact of John's may be able to get them out but it will require a deal John can't well refuse.


I'm not sure if there was intentional collusion on the part of the creative team to turn The Demon Neron into a grotesque parody of Donald Trump. Given his new hair-cut and this issue's subtitle The Art of The Deal, I'm pretty sure there was. Either way, it's a fine example of how well the creative team works together in adding lots of little details for the reader to enjoy.
Despite this being a fairly standard tale (by Hellblazer standards, at least) of treacherous people forced to trust each other despite their better judgement, Ming Doyle and James Tynion IV keep the readers guessing. The artwork of Rilley Rossmo has truly grown on me over the past few issues and Ivan Plascencia's colors leaving everything looking devilishly good.

Constantine The Hellblazer #8 - A Review

John Constantine and Papa Midnite have a long history together. It is not a happy association for either of them. So it is with the utmost reluctance that Papa Midnite enlists John's help.  Even when said enlistment involves him threatening the life and soul of John's latest lover.

John's not too thrilled about the arrangement either. But he can't fault Midnite's logic in recruiting him. For Midnite has lost his place of power to a demonic scheme. And John's the only person who has successfully stolen from Midnite and escaped with their body, mind and soul intact. But crashing the VIP Room of The Damned to win it back for Midnite will test even John's base cunning and bravado.


The artwork by Riley Rossmo, Brian Level and Ivan Plascencia is the star of the series this month.  Much of the comic is made up of a series of amazing two-page spreads that are fantastic to look at but hell to scan if you're a comic book critic. Everything looks amazing, though one of the spreads requires the book to be turned sideways - a gimmick from the 1990s I don't miss a bit.

The script by Ming Doyle and James Tynion IV proves equally vivid and detailed. I've never been crazy about the decision to turn Papa Midnite into an arch-enemy of John Constantine but I do like the way the character is handled here. And props to Doyle and Tynion for bringing back The Demon Neron in style and throwing out a reference to Underworld Unleashed.

Constantine The Hellblazer #6 - A Review

John Constantine is back in New York and, for the first time in a long while, free of his ghosts. Unfortunately, things haven't been quiet on the supernatural side of The City That Never Sleeps while he was out of town. And since an honest night's work dealing with the worst of the supernatural world is marginally less taxing than doing the Jedi Mind Trick to convince his landlord that he already paid this month's rent, John is out to make the restless dead a bit more restful... even if he has to hit them over the head with a magical tire-iron to do it!


I'm somewhat torn on this issue. As a Hellblazer purist, the idea of John Constantine indulging in honest work and living anywhere besides London is a borderline blasphemy. And yet the scenes of John's "honest work" are so hilarious and true to form (Only John Constantine would be called upon to deal with the haunted buffet at a strip club!), I'm inclined to forgive James Tynion IV and Ming Doyle the faux pas.


I wasn't originally fond of Riley Rossmo's artwork but it's starting to grow on me. John doesn't look quite so much like Astro Boy here. And if nothing else the various ghoulies and ghosties that John fights throughout this issue are well-illustrated and imaginatively designed.

Constantine The Hellblazer #5 - A Review

Some people are haunted by their old loves. In John Constantine's case, it's no metaphor. His first love Veronica has been transformed into something else, having become unstuck between worlds. And if John is going to put her to rest he'll need the help of the one person he least wants to deal with - Georgina, the prim and proper wizard whom Veronica dumped for John back in their misspent youth.


In a few short issues, Ming Doyle and James Tynion IV have captured the essence of John Constantine in a way that no other comic writers have managed in recent memory. This issue proves a fitting capstone for an opening arc that may be the best introduction to John as a character ever written.

Riley Rossmo is a good artist but I think Ming Doyle, Chris Visions and Vanesa Del Rey are better suited to the material stylistically. That's just a matter of personal preference, mind you. The artwork on this issue does look good. Yet I keep thinking of Astro Boy when I see John's hair in some of Rossmo's work!

Constantine The Hellblazer #2 - A Review

Owing to shortages and just plain forgetfulness on my part, it's taken me the better part of a month to get my hands on a copy of Constantine The Hellblazer #2. Thankfully, this issue proved worth the wait. Indeed, I dare say this is a far stronger comic than the first issue and a far better representation of your typical (in so far as John's adventures can ever be called typical) Hellblazer tale.


With this issue, James Tynion IV and Ming Doyle have captured the essence of John Constantine. The plot centers upon John's efforts to track a supernatural menace that proves capable of killing ghosts - something that John believes to be impossible. But John is wise enough to know that he doesn't know everything yet remains arrogant enough to believe there is nothing he can't overcome on his own with a little investigation and fishing around.


The artwork on this series has grown on me, after a seemingly erratic first issue.  Riley Rossmo's design for John looks a little less cartoonish and a lot less like Astro Boy this time around.  And the color palette utilized by Ivan Plascencia seems more varied and less washed-out than last time.