John Constantine has a history of trying to escape his problems and drawing those close to his orbit to their inevitable doom. Following a close call with death, Constantine hides out in America with his recently discovered son Noah and friend/”bodyguard” Nat due to the three being blamed for a good number of murders in London from the previous run. However, it becomes clear that maybe John did not successfully cheat death again and has to do a job for Dream to save not only himself but also his friends and family from the mess he caused.
John Constantine Hellblazer: Dead in America #1 picks up after the events of 2019’s Hellblazer by writer Si Spurrier and artist Aaron Campbell. The pair reunite for this miniseries, and even though over three years have passed, they do not miss a beat when returning to the cynical and magical world of our favorite British warlock. More importantly, the series also continues John’s adventures from Vertigo’s The Sandman outside of their previous run. Although the comic has a great recap page, readers would enjoy the story better by reading the first time Dream and Constantine met to understand the context of their relationship and the critical backstory involved.
Spurrier demonstrates his knack for bringing that classic Vertigo Hellraiser vibe while updating it for the modern day. Even in 2023, it still contains that acidic punk rock political tone historically associated with the book and character without appearing stale or trite. I could quickly tell that I would enjoy this issue after seeing a talking corpse discover a porn set and fall down the hills by the giant Hollywood sign while Spurrier later critiques the current-day matters in America. Yet the stakes also feel much higher considering how much older Constantine is and how he may not have survived his latest dance with death. Despite this, the excellent mix of commentary and British humor should not be surprising for Spurrier, considering his previous work in 2000AD or even his recent Damn Them All.
Outside of the strong writing, Campbell’s art serves as the other high point. His work would feel like it would be in the same place as classic Vertigo due to blending the fantastical and the ordinary world. He perfectly represents the blue-collar nature of Constantine, who also exists in the magical and horror spheres. Even in the brighter setting of America, he highlights the grime and darkness that hides beneath the surface. Jordie Bellaire proves again how much deserved praise she receives for her work as a colorist. Aditya Bidikar’s lettering work needs to be highlighted, considering how well it translates the tone and personalities of the characters in the written dialogue of the speech bubbles.
John Constantine Hellblazer: Dead in America #1 exceeded my high expectations and proves how Spurrier and Campbell are in the hall of fame for Constantine’s creative teams. Considering the deeper ties to the original The Sandman and a fan-favorite character showing up at the end, the pair demonstrate their passion for the overall series and the necessity for telling the story right now.
Story: Si Spurrier Art: Aaron Campbell
Color: Jordie Bellaire Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
Story: 8.75 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Read
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
