Hellblazer, Vol. 22: Regeneration

Hellblazer: New Editions

by Peter Milligan, Simon Oliver

Confronting the demons of one's past should be familiar ground for John Constantine. But some vicious memories are so horrible and buried so deep that digging them up could leave no one to pick up the pieces.

Dreams of what could be and the nightmares of what is clash in John Constantine's mind as he slips in and out of fevered consciousness while past and present collide. A journey through the darkness of his heart discovers fear, regret, and the most terrible emotion of all--love.

As strange as it sounds, seducing a 2,000-year-old demon with a grudge isn't the riskiest stunt John Constantine has ever pulled. But tipping the supernatural scales for a chance at love will exact a cost higher than he ever thought possible. And try as he might, is this something that devil-may-care Constantine can walk away from?

Don't miss out on the start of an intense, mind-bending new era for John Constantine in John Constantine, Hellblazer Vol. 22. Collects Hellblazer #250-260 and Hellblazer Special: Chas--The Knowledge #1-5.

Genres: Comics, Horror, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book, Fiction

260 pages, Paperback

Published January 21, 2020

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Peter Milligan is a British writer, best known for his work on X-Force / X-Statix, the X-Men, & the Vertigo series Human Target. He is also a scriptwriter.

He has been writing comics for some time and he has somewhat of a reputation for writing material that is highly outlandish, bizarre and/or absurd.

His highest profile projects to date include a run on X-Men, and his X-Force revamp that relaunched as X-Statix.

Many of Milligan's best works have been from DC Vertigo. These include: The Extremist (4 issues with artist Ted McKeever) The Minx (8 issues with artist Sean Phillips) Face (Prestige one-shot with artist Duncan Fegredo) The Eaters (Prestige one-shot with artist Dean Ormston) Vertigo Pop London (4 issues with artist Philip Bond) Enigma (8 issues with artist Duncan Fegredo) and Girl (3 issues with artist Duncan Fegredo).

Series:
* Human Target
* Greek Street
* X-Force / X-Statix

Reviews

[Scott Rhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Constantine has a new girlfriend. Her name is Phoebe, and she’s a doctor. She’s actually normal, which is new and scary for him. He’s used to having relationships with demons, dead chicks, or fallen angels. There’s usually lots of blood and pentagrams involved in his relationships. So, yeah, a normal human chick without anything squirming around in her closet (both literal and figurative) is certainly a change.

So, of course, you know he’s going to fuck it up.

“Regeneration”, Volume 22 of the Hellblazer graphic novel compilations, revisits a common theme of the series: Constantine is a really bad date.

Also in this volume: Constantine gets a weird scabrous infection all over his body, which causes itching and makes his girlfriend, Phoebe, grow scab-babies (don’t ask, just read it); the ghost of an old plague doctor haunts the site of the London Olympic Games scheduled for 2012, and Constantine is called in to “cleanse” the area; a love potion created by an alchemist friend of Constantine’s backfires horribly when he uses it on Phoebe; Constantine’s mate, Chaz the cab driver, is forced to take matters into his own hands when Constantine is out of town and a demon threatens all of London’s cab drivers.

Peter Milligan and Simon Oliver contribute as writers while a bevy of amazingly talented comic book artists—-Giuseppe Camuncoli, Stefano Landini, Goran Sudzuka, Rodney Ramos, and Simon Bisley—-draw some of the best fucking comic book art in any series, ever. Seriously, there’s a reason why Hellblazer is my all-time favorite comic book series.

[Shadowdenizen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
Not quite as compelling as the last volume, but still a fun, relevant read even today.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The final run of the original Hellblazer series has its beginnings collected here, as Peter Milligan takes over writing duties and we begin the march towards #300.

We open with issue #250 which is a Christmas/New Year special. Most of the stories are throwaway holiday tales by previous Hellblazer creators, but they're fun enough. The poem by Brian Azzarrello is probably the best one.

Then we get Scab, a three parter about unions and blackmail and UK politics that didn't really interest me, but Constantine's involvement and his new love interest keep things interesting enough. Giuseppe Camuncoli jumps on for art, and his thick lines really sell the horror - his creepy expressions work wonderfully well for John, and remind me of Marcelo Frusin's in previous volumes.

The titular Regeneration comes next, a two-part story that focuses on the 2012 Olympic Games and how that ties in to a 19th Century plague doctor. Yes, you read that right. It's a little more topical than the political stuff, but it's still definitely of its time. Goran Sudzuka takes over art here, and it's fine, but feels a little pedestrian for Hellblazer.

Hooked, the three parter that follows, is probably the most Constantine thing John has done in a very long time. The story deals with the fallout from Scab, as well as John's newest flame Phoebe, but with a love potion and an angry Ekimmu running amok, it's no wonder that it all ends terribly. John's selfish at the best of times, but this is him really going out of his way to fuck people over - it's super uncomfortable to read, to be honest.

Finishing off the main Hellblazer issues are two one-and-dones, The Cottage, and The Long Crap Friday. These two issues attempt to round off the main overarching story of the volume with limited success. It's hard to feel sorry for John this time around since most of these problems are his own doing, whereas before he's always kind of been a victim of circumstances and tried to do the best thing even when it hurts people, and that's just not the case here. The art is by Simon Bisley, he of Hellblazer cover art fame, and that can't be faulted however. It's very Juan Ferreyra, if you need a more modern counterpart.

Also included is the five issue Chas mini-series, by Simon Oliver and Goran Sudzuka (who has a different colourist to his Hellblazer issues, so it looks much, much better). With Constantine out of the country, Chas has to deal with an ancient spirit released from the London Stone while trying to save a friend's son and not ruin his marriage (again). There's probably not enough plot here for five issues, so it feels a bit overly long, but it's a good little story and it's nice to see Chas in the driver's seat (literally, as well as metaphorically) instead of just getting tied up in Constantine's messes.

The stories in this volume aren't bad at all - but there's one big story misstep that makes Constantine almost entirely unsympathetic, which tars the rest of the story almost irrevocably. I know he's a bastard, he always has been, but this just feels a little too far if you ask me. Hopefully Milligan can recover as his run continues.

[Frank Privette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This compiled edition of (mostly) new writers to the Hellblazer series was first published in 2008-2009 and consists, essentially, of three loosely related sections.

A brief, fast-paced, holiday special kicks off the volume and features veteran Constantine scribes including Dave Gibbons, Jamie Delano, Brian Azzarello, and others take an individual stab (gasp) at it again, to a satisfying and solid effect. Each "chapter" of the Christmas section clocks in at under ten pages and is a common story pitching John against ghosts of past, present and future, and against monsters carnal and spiritual, political and economic. Meanwhile a mostly blind and apathetic -one could be tempted to call them unobservant- London, Chicago, and Africa public celebrate the Season of Yule as best they can. Which is not anywhere near being "best" at all. They drink to each others' health, fuck each other, and fuck each other over. The strong exploit the weak, politicians are depraved more so now than at other times of the year, and common folk (aka idiots) merrily and unthinkingly summoning demons while the laughing magician walks a razor's edge and debates internally whether he should or should not get involved. It's all presented in gloriously nineteen-eighties style, theme and, especially in the covers, artwork. The last two stories wrap most of the loose ends up and one gets that feeling of empathetic satisfaction of watching the working class win a little while "New Labour" polis get somewhat screwed, and Scrooge-like masters of industry get their due. Even if that due is maybe not what they truly deserve.

That ties the "special" into the main story line, with "Scab". A veteran 1980s trade union leader sells out to the ever-more-lame-duck Blairite government. News breaks that, in fact, he had sold out with Thatcher and that "plus ca change..." Our antihero John Constantine turns out to have caused the original sell out, albeit inadvertently, but is unrepentant. This arcs is entertaining, well-planned and properly executed. Artwork, lettering and designs are all on point. It feels the team showed up for it, in general. The main highlight is John apparently falling in love with a physician-cum-his-personal-therapist, Phoebe. He seems to care for her but as pages turn the reader is slowly drawn into a "just-you-wait" sense of dread. Dread does manifest itself. First in the way John tries to cure the scab (get it?) that has recently manifested itself on his chest (and growing) after the betrayal of trade unions in the eighties comes to light. Then as recurring alchemist and temptress Epiphany Greaves (and dad) pressure him and, well, tempt him. And finally in the form of Julian, an ancient trans-gendered and very sexual goblin-sprite-spirit magician. Julian ends up wanting to marry and consume John and hi-jinx and jinx not so high ensue. While predictable, the reader hates John for what he tries to pull over Phoebe, which succeeds in part. It's certainly a classic arc. With classic Constantine execution. And a classically and disappointingly (by design) predictable outcome. This predictability is interestingly offset by a look-back story on the 1666 plague (more salient in 2021 than it must've been in 2009) as the trade union part of the "Scab" story-line concludes. Sex is had. Drugs are consumed. Temptresses tempt. Mob bosses threaten. Demons are summoned. And we all know the possibilities Phoebe has in store for her. However, and this is fresh and well-received: she suspects as much right from the start. And she consciously goes ungentle into that night. As to what happens: the short term resolution may again have been predictable but the long term one will certainly differ.

Despite Phoebe's arc being compelling as a new character that actually has some depth to her, the last
section, "The Knowledge" is the best one. It features good guy and tough taxi driver Chas, not John, as the hero and main character. The title refers to the test that aspiring London chauffeurs have to take, and retake, in order to fulfill the requirements that'll make them licensed taxi drivers and "butter boys." John is off to Ibiza, literally chasing a demon and, well, you know what. He eventually gets dumped by the twenty-something girl (bear in mind John is very well into his fifties by now). However, he can't make it back to London in time to save the city from a demon that feeds off hate - there's a footie tournament going on, too, so stakes are high. Again, predictable, but pleasantly solved by Chas as the main narrative agent. A side, but interwoven into the main, arc is Chas supporting a kid do his knowledge test, while he recalls better times past when he himself took it (and when his marriage was happy). A cliched gorgeous American blond helps Chas along -and tempts him, no spoilers here- as they have to sort the problem out themselves. Pairs work best in Hellblazer as they do in more traditional comics as well. Tales of plague-ridden 1666 construction sites appear here again and provide a nod (and a reason to buy past comics) for readers. The last pages are paced as best as any Constantine story line has ever been written and could even be good animated material at some point.

To the best of my knowledge, Hellblazer turned 20 with this edition. However, it remains as fresh, dark, and bloody as always. A good balance is achieved between dark magic and moving the story forward. There is, as ever, limited reliance on deux-ex-machina solutions. Constantine's stubbornness, wit, presence of mind, and planning ahead are all more relevant factors than his own knowledge. Of course, we wouldn't care had he not that knowledge. This volume also brings back the Hellblazer world to its working class roots which creator Alan Moore would appreciate, if he cared. That is not to say previous editions have not been proletarian enough (some haven't, honestly): what I mean is this particular volume does a good job of showing, once again, how little has changed twenty years on. And that most of what has changed, has been for the worse. It's no surprise the next compiled edition is called "No future" and has a punk John on the cover.

[Hugo Emanuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to loathe Peter Milligan's run. I allways felt he didn't get the character at all, and had alot of continuity issues. He writes John Constantine as an over-the-edge old man, losing his touch, to the point where he contemplates using magic to get laid, which would basically be the magical version of rape-drugging someone. A bastard Constantine may have allways been, but that is something he is allways have been well above of. Milligan justifies that option with the fear of ending up alone in his old age, and feeling like he is losing his touch. But honestly, it just doesn't feel right at all.

It seems especially out of place considering it follows Andy Diggle's run, in which JC had actually got some of his bearings back, and got a bigger grip in his destiny than ever before. Milligan's run was a major step back from that, and conveniently ignores it altogether.

However, having read so many stories with the considerably less interesting and more magically-proeficient post-new52 version, I seem to be have become more forgiving of MIlligan's take.
I still hold that the character is badly charaterized for its most part, and his attempts at political comment and allegory miss the mark altogether, but it IS fun to read.
It kind of reads like a black comedy version of Hellblazer - slight, and not much in keeping with how the characters have been depicted in the previous HB outings, but still fun to read.

The artwork is actually very good. Artists Guiseppe Camuncoli and Simon Bisley do the artwork for the most part, and they do a very good job depicting the character and the world he inhabits.

There is also a mini-series included in this volume titled "Chas-The Knowledge", written by Simon Oliver, with artwork by Goran Sodzuka, which is alright, but nothing to write home about.

So overall, its a decent read, if one chooses to ignore the sketchy Constatine characterization.

Onwards to the next volume.

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straight up, this review is a lie. I don't own Regeneration, but Milligan's run is near and dear to me, and I'm doing a reread of it right now. I just finished the issues contained in this book and don't feel like breaking up my thoughts into smaller pieces, and although I haven't read the Chas miniseries that's also included here, this empty internet box seemed like the best spot to put some notes down.

Like many Hellblazer stories (and most of Milligan's body of work), this run starts in media res, as Constantine has begun dating Phoebe, probably the most normcore lover he's ever had. Milligan's first arc, "Scab," treds on some familiar 'Blazer territory with a thinly-vieled political pro-union allegory. This aspect of the story is a little dry (lol scab, dry, get it? okay whatever), but Camuncoli's art is just destructive out of the gate. HB has had some solid creative teams over the years, but hot damn did they finish in style.

Through the stories that follow, we also get introduced to Milligan's brand of the horror supernatural. Unlike a lot of other HB writers, Milligan doesn't confine himself to euro-Christian devils, nor does he just make John a magically-enhanced trickster. One of the best qualities of a good Costantine story is, again, the media res storytelling structure -- the feeling that John has lived such a complex life that he's always sort of circling back around to things, and filling you in on parts of his life you've never heard before (despite the character being in print near-constantly since his inception). Milligan uses this aspect of HB and extends it both to John's magical abilities and his supernatural acquaintances; we're introduced to Babylonian demons and hotshot young alchemists just as easily as we meet John's usual cadre of gangsters and aging punks, and Milligan often tosses off Constantine's skill with deep magic as an afterthought, giving everything John does a sense of mystery, chaos, and weathered age.

The other thing I really like about what's here is that there are multiple explanations given for the erratic ways that Constantine behaves in these issues. It's very unlike him to fall in love so easily, and so obsessively, and the unique nature of his relationship with Phoebe drives the story in a way that's pretty unhinged (even for him). Milligan, in his Milliganistic way, both acknowledges this and doesn't, steering the broader storyline with a delicate touch, and dangling different possibilities for John's choices throughout.

It's just a fucking good story, in other words, and one of my most beloved. The only bullshit here is that this collection seems to be missing Milligan and Camuncoli's Hellblazer one-off from Halloween Annual #1, which not only has a very specific spot in the run (between issues #258 and #259), but also adds an important plot point for the aforementioned Babylonian demon wandering through these stories.

How does a collection this ridiculously completist forget the obvious, you say?

Well that's easy, kids: comics are bullshit. You can ask anybody.

[Nate]

It’s been some time since I read the last Hellblazer collection. To be honest, I haven’t been as excited about reading this series as I once was; the quality has been decidedly up and down since Ennis, really. But I’m not going to stop now, especially since this is the start of the final run by Peter Milligan. He’s an inconsistent writer so I didn’t know what to expect. Well, if these first issues are any indication, I’m going to be disappointed.

Milligan’s first few arcs mostly center around John’s new love interest, a doctor named Phoebe. She’s smart enough to stay away, but John, now over fifty, bafflingly attempts to use a love potion on her. C’mon. He would not do that at this point in his life, especially considering all his past relationships. John even talks about how much of an idiot he is while carrying out said plan. Elsewhere, Epiphany is introduced as John’s friend, who is probably the most interesting character here. We also meet Julian, a Babylonian shapeshifter who stocks various skins in his flat. All told, this was was below average Hellblazer. Readable, sure, but not as exciting as the series at its best.

Also collected here is the Chas miniseries by Simon Bisley and Goran Sudzuka. I liked this more than Milligan’s stuff. It’s a standard Hellblazer story, in that a demon escapes ancient bonds and wreaks havoc on London. John is off vacationing so it’s up to Chas to fix things. Along the way, we see him confront his duties as a husband, father, and friend, which adds a nice depth to the story. I’ve always liked Chas and it was great seeing him in the spotlight for these five entertaining issues.

[Eric Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoiler alert!

So this is more like 3.5. Some classic Hellblazer stories here especially with the solo chaz stuff. And the art by Simon Bisley is amazing and so detail oriented. Like he gave Epiphany bed head after her coma. Who does that? Awesome. What I struggle with is John using a love potion on a woman and mentioning contemplating dark magic to get another woman in bed. I can possibly see young John doing this but old John has fairly set morals about women and how they should be treated. Also love potions border/are rape and I honestly don’t think John would be down with that. Once again, young John maybe but current John, no. Also they sort of paint the woman’s friend who is calling him out for this stuff as a shrew when, really, she is right.

[Rumi Bossche · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hellblazer vol 22 is a the biggest trade so far, and of course John is in trouble. The working class magus always is. In this trade most of the stories are writen by Peter Milligan with a varity of artists and a couple great ones ! Rafael Grampá, Sean Phillips and David Loyd from V for Vendetta are excellent weird choises, most is done by Giuseppe Camuncoli thought, which is not that well known but a good artist. Also included in this trade is the Hellblazer Winter Special with a couple short stories set at Christmas. Spoiler alert John Constantine hates Christmas.. all in all some great fun.

[Philip · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the weaker of the Hellblazer collections I've read so far. Instead of John messing with bad magic as a means to an end, he engages in pure stupidity for the sake of plot contrivance. Even he knows better than this. Regeneration left a bad taste in my mouth.

[AJW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Milligan takes on the dirty trenchcoat mantle and does a fine job on continuing the Hellblazer stories. At the end of this volume, there’s a story revolving around Chas written by Simon Oliver which I also enjoyed.

[Brandon Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Milligan’s run is off to a bumpy start, but he’s got a tough act to follow. His ideas are interesting, but it feels a bit rushed. The Chaz mini at the end of this collection by Simon Oliver is not one to skip. He’s got a solid handle on the character’s and it’s a fun little self contained story.

[Matt Harrison · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful…just staggeringly dull and poorly executed from start to finish. If I wasn’t so close to completing a read of the entire series this would definitely be where I’d be bailing.

I honestly can’t think of a single redeeming feature of this collection .

[Paul Harper-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every volume Of the collected Hellblazer has been put together with such dedication. It is the ultimate collection for any fan of John Constantine. Do yourself a favour and start picking these up.

[Will Fenton · Rating 5 out of 5]

More of the classic type of Constantine stories, including falling in love with yet another awesome woman, only to see her come to... Well, you'll just need to read to find out.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved most of this, though a few issues fell a bit flat. 4.5 stars rounded up.

[Thomas Bruso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad to see Chas get his time in The Knowledge.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeah, okay, I was hoping Milligan would win me over here but I don't think he has yet. It's not that anything here is bad... it's just very "been there, done that".

[Robert Hudder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of this arc suffers from magic trick of the week but when it settles, it is some good stuff. The edition I read had more than the 290 pages. It had the Chas story in it. Lots of fun

[Jon Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Combination of some patchy storytelling and far too clean digital art kind of marred this for me. Why did everyone keep getting naked?

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

John is extra despicable in this, therefore: 3 stars for Chas Chandler and Chas Chandler only.

[JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some holiday cheer (nothing deep but they’re neat enough), a new girl gone very very wrong, and Chas getting to be the hero. A good volume.

Full review:
https://blog.jverkamp.com/2022/04/04/...