World Famous Comics: John Constantine, Hellblazer: Staring at the Wall
John Constantine, Hellblazer: Staring at the Wall
By: Mike Carey Publisher: Vertigo Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Vertigo Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 168 Publication Date: January 04, 2006 Release Date: January 04, 2006
Product Description: The apocalypse that has been looming finally arrives, and John Constantine must marshal the most powerful magicians in the world to face the threat. However, once again it turns out to be his friends and family who really save the daybut for a change, its Constantine who pays the price.
Constantine gets conned Picking up where Black Flowers left off, Staring at the Wall continues Mike Carey's excellent run on Vertigo's premiere horror title. This time around, our favorite chain smoking master of black magic is up to his neck like he hasn't been in quite some time. He teams up with his best mate Chas, his new love Angie, and his niece Gemma who continues to follow in his footsteps, in an effort to stop a renegade demonic spirit birthed from the Garden of Eden. There's more to the story, but Carey manages to pull out some surprises among the chaos, including an ending that finds Constantine without his memory and desperate to get it back. Veteran Hellblazer artist Marcelo Frusin provides his usual solid and moody style of dark art; all of which helps make Staring at the Wall another solid chapter in Mike Carey's run on Hellblazer. All this sets the stage for the excellent Stations of the Cross, which culminates in a landmark moment for Constantine.
Finally Constantine causes the end of world At long last the loose ends from Black Flowers are tied together and we learn that Constantine has caused the end of world by being tricked by a powerfull entity which has haunted humanity since Adam.
The trickster gets the upper hand in the end, but looses his mind.
Carey's run continues in its impressiveness. Mike Carey, John Constantine, Hellblazer: Staring at the Wall (Vertigo, 2006)
Carey's big story arc rolls into its third volume here, and things are heating up quickly. Constantine has been following the trail of the shadow dog for some time now, and with the help of new flame Angie Spatchcock, he gathers together a number of powers who might be able to help him net the thing. Also along for the ride is Angie's brain-damaged brother, who's been having prophetic visions and painting them. After the powers sort themselves out, John starts a ritual to contain the beast-- and, of course, everything goes hideously wrong, with John desperately trying to figure out how to put things back to rights.
First off, the big negative with this volume. You're going to hate the too-pat cliffhanger final frame. Okay, that aside, this is good old-fashioned bloody fun. John is in fine form, Carey indulges in his love for bringing in heroes from other series, tosses in a plot twist here and there, and sends things along at a much higher speed than was to be found in Red Sepulchre and Black Flowers. Be sure, however, to have the fourth volume (Stations of the Cross) close by when you dig into this one; you will not enjoy waiting for it. *** ½
IT'S THE APOCALYPSE AGAIN! Hellblazer: Staring at the Wall is the latest Hellblazer collection that gathers issues 187 - 193 of the regular comic series. I have to admit to being stunned that Hellblazer is now going on 20 years. It makes me feel old because I remember buying that first issue, and it surprises me because I never would have thought the title would have lasted this long. Not that it wasn't good, but it's definitely a niche book. It shows what you can do when you have some of the best writers around.
Staring at the Wall is a five part story arc where once again John Constantine is facing the Apocalypse and this time it's all his fault...or maybe that is AGAIN it's all his fault. Constantine has gathered a group of powerful sorcerers to an old, abandoned hotel to enlist their aid against this latest threat. This time it is the (somewhat ridiculous sounding) Shadow Dog also known as the "Kua I'ipa" that has been around since the beginning of man and is referred to as the beast that Adam did not give a name to. The group also includes Constantine's girlfriend Angie and her brother Jason, just released from a mental institution who has some insight into the Shadow Dog. The Shadow Dog has broken through two of the three doors it needs to come into our world. Constantine and the other sorcerers intend to use the collective souls of London as a barrier against the beast but something goes terribly awry as you might guess, resulting in the death of one of the sorcerers.
Turns out the Shadow Dog was just a diversion and Constantine was played like a cheap deck of cards by a threat far more sinister and deadly...the original beast, long kept in check by the shadow dog. Constantine's mistake has allowed the beast to infiltrate the minds of the world's population, sending them into a dizzying madness of rage and murder. Constantine does the only thing he can do...sacrifice his own life so that the Beast cannot affect him and try to save the day. He'll have help in the form of his niece Gemma as well as Swamp Thing. Constantine also has a brief but explosive confrontation with the Phantom Strange who is none too happy with his carelessness.
It's a good story. We've seen these apocalyptic threats before in Hellblazer so it's not altogether original but writer Mike Carey does such a good job with the character that you can manage to overlook this flaw. It's also nice to see others such as Gemma step in as Constantine grudgingly has to admit to needing help from his niece. Great art as usual from Marcelo Frusin whose style perfectly captures the dark atmosphere of the story.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Not Available Comics
Trevor
