John Constantine: Hellblazer: Dead in America #1

John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America (Single Issues)

by Simon Spurrier (Writer), Aaron Campbell (Artist, Main Cover Artist), Jordie Bellaire (Colorist)

At last, as you The celebrated creative team of Si Spurrier and Aaron Campbell have returned to Hellblazer! John Constantine has cheated death once again-but his heart’s not beating, his body is decaying, and he, his friend Nat, and his son Noah are on the run in America, wanted for murder. Naturally, it’s all John’s fault-it always is. But as it turns out, Dream himself needs John’s help. Something terrible has taken root in America, and it’s using the sand from Dream’s pouch to impose its will. If John can put a stop to it, he might be able to parlay that favor into a chance to save all their lives-but he’s going to need help from someone he hasn’t spoken to in years. Someone he wasn’t always…all that kind to. Someone…or some…Thing? Spurrier and Campbell’s first run on Hellblazer was the best-reviewed comic of 2020, reintroducing the character to a new generation, and their second act, told in extra-length 28-page issues, is ambitious and unmissable!

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Horror, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Supernatural

33 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 16, 2024

Reviews

[John Nygma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid start to another promising Hellblazer story by Spurrier and Co. The art is stylistic and gritty, the dialogue flows really well and is full of dark humour and interesting political commentary. Some cool secondary characters are turning up as well. I honestly can't wait to see how the story continues!

[Colin Post · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spurrier and Campbell follow up on their previous showstopping Hellblazer story with an incredibly compelling issue #1. They’ve laid the seeds for another darkly funny, caustic social critique albeit of America this time around. More than that, they’ve tied this story in masterfully to Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing, Gaiman’s Sandman, and the Dreaming reboot. We’re in for a good one here.

[Frank Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dieses Review bezieht sich auf die deutsche Ausgabe, die unter dem Titel "John Constantine: Hellblazer - Tot in Amerika: Band 1" im Panini Verlag erschienen ist.

John Constantine kennt der Kundige aus dem Sandman-Universum von Neil Gaiman. Dort tauchte er als lebender Ermittler aus Liverpool auf, der sich in London aufhielt. In diesem ersten Teil der Dilogie flüchtet er, wie der Titel schon sagt, tot nach Amerika. Dort trifft er auf Dream, der ihn beauftragt, nach seinem verloren gegangenen Beutel mit Traumsand zu suchen.

Das klingt nach vielen Bezügen zum Sandman-Universum, weshalb sich vermutlich jeder fragt, ob er die Graphic-Novel-Reihe von Neil Gaiman kennen muss, um diesen Band zu verstehen. Ich denke, dass es nicht schadet, aber zwingend voraussetzen würde ich es nicht. Denn Constantine widerfährt auf seinem Weg durch die USA sehr vielen unterschiedlichen Figuren, die alle jenseits jeglicher Normalität agieren, wie man auch immer in den USA den Begriff der Normalität anwenden mag.

Teils sind die Erlebnisse der Hauptfigur sehr abgehoben und abgedreht, so dass ich mich so manches Mal gefragt habe, worüber sie wohl reden. Einen durchgängigen roten Faden gibt es nämlich nicht. Bis auf die Suche nach dem Sand versteht sich. Dadurch versammeln sich in diesem Band viele interessante Ideen. Die witzigste war die der Comic-Welt, in denen die Figuren über die Comic-Stripes greifen, was mich an die „Unschlagbar“-Comics erinnerte, in denen dieses Stilelement großartig umgesetzt wurde.

Die Zeichnungen sind durchweg sehr dunkel gehalten und auch die ein oder andere brutale Szene findet sich darin. Eine Graphic Novel, die ich nicht für Kinder bzw. Jugendliche unter 18 Jahren empfehle. Ich denke zudem, dass zu junge Leser der Story nur schwer folgen können. Es lohnt sich auf jeden Fall, das Buch mehrmals in die Hand zu nehmen, denn schon beim zweiten Lesen werden einem Dinge und Bezüge auffallen, die beim ersten Lesen durchgerutscht sind.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

First comic I've bought in a long time. I liked Si's previous run on Constantine so picked this one up at Forbidden planet. I wasn't sure how well he'd work in the US being such a British character. But this worked. There were big name cameos. But I still enjoyed it. Will probably wait until the trade gets released to get more. But I'm glad DC saw the error of their ways and hired him back again.

[Daunte Gaiter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well if it isn’t my favorite Londoner getting a good old fashioned American welcome, by being held at gun point and getting called racial slurs. Doesn’t get anymore American than that 🇺🇸🦅. It does kinda suck that he’s not in London tho, feels weird.

[Thomas A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Constantine is dead and he’s not loving it

A dead scouser is on the loose in the USA and if that wasn’t bad enough he’s brought a mad jock with him and a lad who could be his son.

Constantine is back, he’s as tricky and deceitful as ever, and it looks like he’s going to make someone pay.

[Teemi Shaata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moi moi
Its been some months, since i have had the pleasure to read any comic related to DC & the reason was that i had felt no ⚡️ in the recent stories and i hate redundancy.
But reading this first issue ( tying in the lord of dreams⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️) has made me positively happy.
Highlights:
Johns BRUTAL BRITISH HUMOUR
i mean i knew he would use that (sand)
Calling previous dream a Goth 💀💀⚡️✨😂
Riding a double decker
That starting though 😝🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️😂😂⚡️

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seems like this is going to be classic John Constantine. Spurrier is a good writer, so I expect some fun.

[Mysticreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love spurriers hellblazer dude. I may reread this again soon as im quite tired finishing reading and reviewing but even still his writing with vocabulary, characterisation of john and the other characters, political views and profanity is top notch.

As well as that aaron campbells art is so good my only big gripe with the previous sandman iteration of Johnny was when they switched the artist but so far this is awesome and worth the extended wait. If you like constantine or read any spurrier stuff then get on this !

[Will Fenton · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad this has seen the light of day! Johnny is back and while he doesn't quite sound like himself (seriously - it's as if Guy Ritchie is taking a stab at righting Constantine in this first issue), it's still John. The story is a direct continuation of the Sandman Universe arc that was abruptly canceled 1.5 years ago, and I don't quite remember everything that happened, but Noah and Nat are still with John, and John is, per usual, up to tricks. Old characters are already popping in and up and it's off to a cracking solid start! Also, the art is tremendous!

[David Turko · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES, YES, YES! Simon Spurrier is back with our boy John and things couldn't be more exciting. This single issue alone brings back all the political commentary, dark humor, mysticism, and deceit that we love John Constantine for. Hands down this is the best interpretation of the character since Garth Ennis and I can not wait to see what Spurrier has in store for us in the next few issues.

[Jeffrey E · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be completely honest, I did not finish read this one. Needlessly dark and depressing. You can have a despicable lead but you have to surround them with likeable characters. If everyone is miserable, then it just isn't fun to read.

[Ziyad Baksh · Rating 3 out of 5]

John's finally back.

Great return and a fun twist on expectations with old Johnny conjob.

Constantine can work in the DCU but he works better out of it.

[lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

CRYING. SCREAMING. THROWING UP. (positively)

[Judy! · Rating 5 out of 5]

WGEC3GWVEGRGEGEUWHS4GRVDVS

[Neil Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Profanity, filth everywhere, people helpless against inexorable forces... It's, it's just like going home again (sniff)

[Frost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fucking, finally.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could read about Constantine shit talking America forever and never get bored

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am excited for this!

[James B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know I needed this comic in my life, but wow, this was brilliant! The art, the writing, Nat.. something new to look forward to every month.

[Mel]

Oh man, Constantine is so back and I'm so here for it.

[Kastie Pavlik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fuck. Shit. Bastard. Piss.

Yup. Constantine is back, and he picks up where he left off. Tone, art, colors - perfect.

[Rob Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! What a great first issue!

[alejandro galvez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good.

Haven't lost a step since the last series. A very good read. Excited for this series. Great art as well.

[Aron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usually not a big Hellblazer fan, but this was pretty entertaining.

[Christian · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you are able to suspend disbelief and find genuine storytelling ambition within this, you might enjoy it. I have read 100+ comics with the same characters and the same juvenile political and societal analysis, so forgive me if I'm getting tired of it.

You already know the gender of his (Constantine) badass, no nonsense bodyguard, and you already know the race of his son. You already know there will be capitalist critique, and
when a random cop shows up in the middle of the story, you already know
how the cop will treat his son. And if you didn't understand the writer's subtle
political messaging yet, he helps you out. The cop screams:
"Keep your [insert color of skin here] [insert cuss word here] hands where I can see them"