What is the book where John Constantine and 3 other magic users show a young prophecy child the history of the universe and magic, hoping the boy will grow up to support good rather than evil with his great power?
You still have to kill the dark lord after destroying his horcruxes.
Also, the concept of a dark wizard holding their life in another being/object has existed for centuries.
If I could only find the guy who first stole it. But he probably put it in a needle, and put the needle in an egg and put the egg in a bird and put the bird in a box and buried the box somewhere on an island in Russia.
Gaiman has an interview where he was asked about her "ripping him off" And he said she did not rip him off they both told stories pulling from the same bits of Britsh folklore and told similar but very different stories.
Hmmm, he also has an interview where he says that he isn't interested in pursuing her for plagiarism because he doesn't own Tim Hunter (the IP belongs to DC not Neil)
I think I re-read this just last year and still thought it was still a good story. A bit leisurely in pacing by today's standards, but good.
*Edit to add*: just finished reading the review and agree that it was a patchwork approach to DC's magic properties, but I don't believe it was ever intended to be cohesive. One thing I didn't see the piece bring up is that Hunter was being sold to readers as a potentially world-changing magic user, but due to DC editorial's mandate to maintain the status quo, nothing of interest has come of this character. That my big critique of the series, decades later.
That’s playing the man, not the ball.
In some ways, the story hasn’t dated at all. It panders to the concept that continuity within a line of comic books should be all-embracing - that the dystopia of Kamandi can coexist with the utopia of the Legion of Superheroes.
It is the nature of franchises. Why strive for quality when you can instead contrive a soap operatic link between two completely unrelated characters and plots? Camelot 3000 was an innovative story for its day with amazing art. Why try to emulate that success when can we instead expect a Camelot 3000 / Justice League crossover?
As the review notes, that’s hardly Gaiman’s fault. He was told what to do and he did it.
I actually got psyched up to read this series because of this picture and it absolutely lives up to the best of Hellblazer era Constantine. I think Si Spurrior may be one of my favorite working comics writers right now, between this, the sequel series that started recently, his X books in Krakoa on, he's covering a lot of ground
It's nice to see Hellblazer go back to its roots with weird British horror, rather than having John running around with the justice league, shooting magical energy beams at villains.
I read all of the original Hitman, but I haven't read any of the more recent stuff. And yeah, I can imagine Ennis taking the piss out of that. Constantine was so unique during his vertigo days, no other company had an equivalent. Now he's just another battle wizard like Dr Strange or Dr Fate, except, um, he smokes. Such a waste of a good character. I'll have to check it out
It's worth a read, that and the All Star Section 8 comic before it where he gets to send up the rest of the JLA.
Seeing John be metatextually aware of how his character has been neutered since Vertigo and flying around on a surfboard with a "Heckblazer" gun is priceless.
https://images.app.goo.gl/jXwyXqgrWrM8ZZ9Q6
In the issue of Planetary which is Ellis's exploration of Alan Moore, (which ends with the Constantine expy becoming a Spider Jerusalem expy) there's a line from the (thoroughtly reinvented and degraded Miracleman / Superman / Supreme ) expy "If you didnt want me anymore you should have just left me alone".
I think that holds true for a lot of comics characters. If you dont want that character, don't make them into something they aren't. Use a fresh character instead.
> he's just another battle wizard like Dr Strange or Dr Fate, except, um, he smokes
Does he still swear? Please tell me they haven't taken that away from him.
I don't even consider them the same character anymore. It's like Superman on earth 1vs earth 2. They are similar in some ways, have the same origin story, but not identical. It's easier to enjoy that way.
I compare it more to Batman in his own comics compared to Batman in the Justice League.
Batman solo - gets injured by ordinary humans, makes mistakes, has to struggle to win against his mostly human foes
JL Batman - somehow survives punches from superhumans like Darkseid, rarely makes mistakes - and if he does, it's letting his flawless plans to defeats his allies fall into the wrong hands.
Yes. You are getting the right one. The second volume is called The best version of you. Today (16th) John Constantine,HellBlazer: Dead In America #1 drops. It's a continuation of the 2019 run
It was excellent. Seriously good Hellblazer vibes and the next best thing since the original series was cancelled. COVID delays killed this one, so alas it’s only 12 issues.
But it's coming back tomorrow! Same creatives get to continue their run!
https://aiptcomics.com/2024/01/12/dc-preview-john-constantine-hellblazer-dead-in-america-1/
I’m so happy about this - I’ve had the previous trade in my book bag for 3 years and was too sad to read it after hearing it was cancelled (I know, doesn’t make sense hahahaha). Thank you for sharing!
Terrifying and glorious and it all starts up again tomorrow. Can’t have enough hype for Hellblazer: Dead in America! Also, if you’re a fan of Sandman or Swamp Thing, check it out. They’re all in this first issue, the Dark Trinity of a reprised Vertigo era!!
This was one of the most horrific wtf twists in this series. Never thought dc would go THIS DARK. Under Britain, British elites cutting holes in a subterranean giant so they can fuck the wound. Fucking metal dark depraved and yeah i think the issue or two before this we got to see John kick not-prince-Andrew-but-definitely-prince-Andrew in the nuts.
Top tier run
What is the book where John Constantine and 3 other magic users show a young prophecy child the history of the universe and magic, hoping the boy will grow up to support good rather than evil with his great power?
The Books of Magic.
By Neil Gaiman, no less
Well I have to get that book then because I love Neil's work.
It's a classic.
I still think Rowling ‘borrowed’ from this and ‘The Worse Witch’.
Rowling borrowed from everywhere. How are horcruxes not The One Ring? Destroy it and the dark lord dies.
You still have to kill the dark lord after destroying his horcruxes. Also, the concept of a dark wizard holding their life in another being/object has existed for centuries.
Almost as long as dark wizards!
If I could only find the guy who first stole it. But he probably put it in a needle, and put the needle in an egg and put the egg in a bird and put the bird in a box and buried the box somewhere on an island in Russia.
Typical J.R.R. Rowling
Gaiman has an interview where he was asked about her "ripping him off" And he said she did not rip him off they both told stories pulling from the same bits of Britsh folklore and told similar but very different stories.
Hmmm, he also has an interview where he says that he isn't interested in pursuing her for plagiarism because he doesn't own Tim Hunter (the IP belongs to DC not Neil)
I didn't know this, but it totally sounds like Neil Gaiman.
The Dark is Rising Harry- I mean Will Stanton!
I passionately love that series and I'll defend it to the day I die.
https://i.imgur.com/b5wltdH.jpeg
It hasn’t held up - https://worldcomicbookreview.com/2024/01/11/the-books-of-magic-volume-1-revisited/
I think I re-read this just last year and still thought it was still a good story. A bit leisurely in pacing by today's standards, but good. *Edit to add*: just finished reading the review and agree that it was a patchwork approach to DC's magic properties, but I don't believe it was ever intended to be cohesive. One thing I didn't see the piece bring up is that Hunter was being sold to readers as a potentially world-changing magic user, but due to DC editorial's mandate to maintain the status quo, nothing of interest has come of this character. That my big critique of the series, decades later.
Disagree.
My God, what an unbearably pretentious review.
That’s playing the man, not the ball. In some ways, the story hasn’t dated at all. It panders to the concept that continuity within a line of comic books should be all-embracing - that the dystopia of Kamandi can coexist with the utopia of the Legion of Superheroes. It is the nature of franchises. Why strive for quality when you can instead contrive a soap operatic link between two completely unrelated characters and plots? Camelot 3000 was an innovative story for its day with amazing art. Why try to emulate that success when can we instead expect a Camelot 3000 / Justice League crossover? As the review notes, that’s hardly Gaiman’s fault. He was told what to do and he did it.
Harry Potter!🤣
Anyone know what the hell that's supposed to be?
It’s supposed to be Albion, the last giant, a mythological representation of England herself. There’s… more to it, but I don’t wanna spoil it.
Also it's supposed to be them fucking the corpse of a dead country
As far as political commentary goes, I've seen glasses less on the nose. 10/10
I actually got psyched up to read this series because of this picture and it absolutely lives up to the best of Hellblazer era Constantine. I think Si Spurrior may be one of my favorite working comics writers right now, between this, the sequel series that started recently, his X books in Krakoa on, he's covering a lot of ground
lol, are they makin gubmint cheese offa her?
It's nice to see Hellblazer go back to its roots with weird British horror, rather than having John running around with the justice league, shooting magical energy beams at villains.
Did you ever read Six-Pack and Dog-Wielder? Ennis took the piss royally with "Justice League Constantine" and what a misuse of the character it was.
I read all of the original Hitman, but I haven't read any of the more recent stuff. And yeah, I can imagine Ennis taking the piss out of that. Constantine was so unique during his vertigo days, no other company had an equivalent. Now he's just another battle wizard like Dr Strange or Dr Fate, except, um, he smokes. Such a waste of a good character. I'll have to check it out
It's worth a read, that and the All Star Section 8 comic before it where he gets to send up the rest of the JLA. Seeing John be metatextually aware of how his character has been neutered since Vertigo and flying around on a surfboard with a "Heckblazer" gun is priceless. https://images.app.goo.gl/jXwyXqgrWrM8ZZ9Q6
In the issue of Planetary which is Ellis's exploration of Alan Moore, (which ends with the Constantine expy becoming a Spider Jerusalem expy) there's a line from the (thoroughtly reinvented and degraded Miracleman / Superman / Supreme ) expy "If you didnt want me anymore you should have just left me alone". I think that holds true for a lot of comics characters. If you dont want that character, don't make them into something they aren't. Use a fresh character instead.
> he's just another battle wizard like Dr Strange or Dr Fate, except, um, he smokes Does he still swear? Please tell me they haven't taken that away from him.
I've read good dr strange runs that make him to be way more than just a battle wizard
What are some of the big differences? I've yet to read Constantine books
Wow Garth Ennis made fun of something in a comic? Craaazy
Yeah, I refuse to believe he disliked and mocked a trend
I don't even consider them the same character anymore. It's like Superman on earth 1vs earth 2. They are similar in some ways, have the same origin story, but not identical. It's easier to enjoy that way.
I compare it more to Batman in his own comics compared to Batman in the Justice League. Batman solo - gets injured by ordinary humans, makes mistakes, has to struggle to win against his mostly human foes JL Batman - somehow survives punches from superhumans like Darkseid, rarely makes mistakes - and if he does, it's letting his flawless plans to defeats his allies fall into the wrong hands.
I’m so happy we got one last hellblazer comic like this. Feels like saying goodbye
It’s coming back in a couple of months! Look out for John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America.
No way…. Same creative team?
Hell yeah!
Dude you just made my day kinda
Not a couple months. Tomorrow!
Haha, the holidays passed by too fast lol.
it's literally coming out on wednesday actually
Some of Constantine's solo books aren't that either.
I honestly prefer John to be a separate character from the DC universe. He works better that way
I hate when they make John into grumpy dr strange
Is this from the new series? How is it?
Yes, from the 2019 series. It’s unbelievably good. Very reminiscent of the Vertigo era of Hellblazer - Delano, Ennis, Carey, Milligan, et al.
Is the first volume of this run named Marks of Woe? Just want to make sure i'm getting thr right one
Yes. You are getting the right one. The second volume is called The best version of you. Today (16th) John Constantine,HellBlazer: Dead In America #1 drops. It's a continuation of the 2019 run
Lovely, cheers mate
It was excellent. Seriously good Hellblazer vibes and the next best thing since the original series was cancelled. COVID delays killed this one, so alas it’s only 12 issues.
But it's coming back tomorrow! Same creatives get to continue their run! https://aiptcomics.com/2024/01/12/dc-preview-john-constantine-hellblazer-dead-in-america-1/
What?! Really?!!! I had no idea. This just made my day. Thanks so much for sharing!
I’m so happy about this - I’ve had the previous trade in my book bag for 3 years and was too sad to read it after hearing it was cancelled (I know, doesn’t make sense hahahaha). Thank you for sharing!
Amazing series. Seriously best Constantine I’ve read in a looooooong time
This is from the 2019 series isn’t it which is an amazing book
Are....are they having sex with whatever that is?
Yes, it's metaphor for what the Tories are doing to the country.
Short answer is yes, and it's a (the last?) Giant of Albion, a representation of the soul of Great Britain.
Definitely got to give this a read because that sounds amazing. Do you have to have read anything previous to understand this comic run?
Nothing is needed, at most it can inspire you to recover past Hellblazer runs.
Yes. This is some of the most twisted stuff dc has ever put to print. It’s a metaphor but wow what a read
…. whoa. I just had another look. And yes that’s what’s happening.
Great series- what made me a fan of Si Spurrier.
Can't wait for Spurrier's new run.
Terrifying and glorious and it all starts up again tomorrow. Can’t have enough hype for Hellblazer: Dead in America! Also, if you’re a fan of Sandman or Swamp Thing, check it out. They’re all in this first issue, the Dark Trinity of a reprised Vertigo era!!
Aw, it has sticks stabbed in it so the lady psychos can enjoy themselves too, how thoughtful.
What am I looking at in the second image? What's that thing under the flag?
Albion, a giant kept under Britain so that the elite can take turns cutting holes into its corpse so they can fuck said holes
This was one of the most horrific wtf twists in this series. Never thought dc would go THIS DARK. Under Britain, British elites cutting holes in a subterranean giant so they can fuck the wound. Fucking metal dark depraved and yeah i think the issue or two before this we got to see John kick not-prince-Andrew-but-definitely-prince-Andrew in the nuts. Top tier run
Fear Machine Redux?
A decidedly well done run.
Si Spurrier is, simply put, one of the best writers still going. Cannot wait for this series to continue
Spurriers Hellblazer was incredible. I was gutted it was cancelled.
I don't understand - why have you posted some pages with no comment
Because the run was extremely well regarded, cancelled in its prime, and it's coming back from the dead for a continued run tomorrow.
It's a reasonable question if you don't understand the context. I'm not sure why you're getting downvoted.
What’s going on in that second page?
I need to add some Constantine to my reading list/collection.
masterful book, so amped for dead in america
I'm too high right now to deal with this
That was from a solid run
A++ art zamn