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Hellblazer: New Editions
Hellblazer, Vol. 25: Another Season
John Constantine's niece is out for revenge for an assault she holds him responsible for.
As this second to last collection of the original John Constantine, Hellblazer series begins, Gemma Masters, John's niece, is out for revenge for an assault she holds him responsible for--but in her quest for vengeance, she summons a demon she can't control. Then, she auctions off his beloved trenchcoat to the highest occult bidder, but the garment has powers of its own, and wherever it goes, it leaves a trail of death and madness in its wake.
Collects John Constantine, Hellblazer #276 - 291.
As this second to last collection of the original John Constantine, Hellblazer series begins, Gemma Masters, John's niece, is out for revenge for an assault she holds him responsible for--but in her quest for vengeance, she summons a demon she can't control. Then, she auctions off his beloved trenchcoat to the highest occult bidder, but the garment has powers of its own, and wherever it goes, it leaves a trail of death and madness in its wake.
Collects John Constantine, Hellblazer #276 - 291.
352 pages, Paperback
Published August 10, 2021
1 person is currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Peter Milligan
1,297 books390 followersLibrarian 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
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
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 7, 2024
Another solid but not spectacular volume of Hellblazer. I’m not really digging Constantine being married or the developments with his niece. I did really like the trench coat story, though.
I’m not a huge fan of the regular artists, which makes the Simon Bisley guest spots most welcome.
I’m not a huge fan of the regular artists, which makes the Simon Bisley guest spots most welcome.
January 1, 2022
The penultimate volume of Hellblazer deals with the aftermath of John's wedding to Epiphany Greaves, and that's much further reaching than you might think.
We open with a one and done issue about John and Epiphany's housing situation that's just typical Constantine being a bastard. There's a second one and done between the first two arcs that puts Constantine in a prison to deal with an old enemy as well - both of these act as breather issues between the heavier stuff, and feature some lovely art from usual cover artist Simon Bisley.
The opening arc is Phantom Pains, in which John tries to sort out his missing thumb (which he cut off last volume), only to run into problems with Epiphany's father, and the vengeance of his niece Gemma who thinks John raped her at his wedding. This arc goes through a lot of changes, with the meaning of phantom pains changing across the five issues.
Then there's The Devil's Trench Coat, which sees John trying to track down his missing coat which Gemma sold on ebay to screw with him, while at the same time dealing with the fallout from Gemma's misplaced attempts on his life. There's a page in here that actually made my jaw drop, and that doesn't happen often in comics, so that's saying something. I'm honestly surprised it's take 275+ issues before someone thought to tell a story like this given how iconic John's trench coat is.
And then finally there's the titular Another Season (In Hell), in which John travels to Hell to see if he can save his sister. This one's got your typical John wheeling and dealing as he tries to outwit both Terry Greaves and a very familiar face, as well as going to show that even when John wins, he loses. There's some conclusive feelings to this arc, with a very definitive The End at the end, but with 9 issues left of the title, I'm sure that's not the case.
Oh, there's also a previously uncollected story called Exposed from a 9-11 anthology, but it's only four pages long. It's nice to have, but it's nothing overly important.
What I really enjoy about Milligan's run is that it's always building and setting the stage for the next thing, rather than just being closed off arcs with little to no relation to one another. The Devil's Trench Coat is seeded during Phantom Pains, while Phantom Pains was seeded last volume. It's done in such a way that smaller plot points grow into something larger later on without taking away from the bigger arc that's going on, it really feels like an organic progression, like an actual human life rather than just John having to deal with whatever's thrown at him this week.
On art for the vast majority of these issues is Giuseppe Camuncoli on layouts with Stefano Landini on finishes. Cammo's made a name for himself on the series at this point, and these issues fit right into the mould. There are also some fill-in issues here and there by Gael Bertrand, whom I've never heard of, but reminds me of one of my favourite Hellblazer artists, Marcelo Frusin, who also shows up here too for the Exposed story.
Milligan's Hellblazer mega-story continues at full speed, running head long from one arc to the next and making sure that the tracks are in place to move forward. Nearly to the end now.
We open with a one and done issue about John and Epiphany's housing situation that's just typical Constantine being a bastard. There's a second one and done between the first two arcs that puts Constantine in a prison to deal with an old enemy as well - both of these act as breather issues between the heavier stuff, and feature some lovely art from usual cover artist Simon Bisley.
The opening arc is Phantom Pains, in which John tries to sort out his missing thumb (which he cut off last volume), only to run into problems with Epiphany's father, and the vengeance of his niece Gemma who thinks John raped her at his wedding. This arc goes through a lot of changes, with the meaning of phantom pains changing across the five issues.
Then there's The Devil's Trench Coat, which sees John trying to track down his missing coat which Gemma sold on ebay to screw with him, while at the same time dealing with the fallout from Gemma's misplaced attempts on his life. There's a page in here that actually made my jaw drop, and that doesn't happen often in comics, so that's saying something. I'm honestly surprised it's take 275+ issues before someone thought to tell a story like this given how iconic John's trench coat is.
And then finally there's the titular Another Season (In Hell), in which John travels to Hell to see if he can save his sister. This one's got your typical John wheeling and dealing as he tries to outwit both Terry Greaves and a very familiar face, as well as going to show that even when John wins, he loses. There's some conclusive feelings to this arc, with a very definitive The End at the end, but with 9 issues left of the title, I'm sure that's not the case.
Oh, there's also a previously uncollected story called Exposed from a 9-11 anthology, but it's only four pages long. It's nice to have, but it's nothing overly important.
What I really enjoy about Milligan's run is that it's always building and setting the stage for the next thing, rather than just being closed off arcs with little to no relation to one another. The Devil's Trench Coat is seeded during Phantom Pains, while Phantom Pains was seeded last volume. It's done in such a way that smaller plot points grow into something larger later on without taking away from the bigger arc that's going on, it really feels like an organic progression, like an actual human life rather than just John having to deal with whatever's thrown at him this week.
On art for the vast majority of these issues is Giuseppe Camuncoli on layouts with Stefano Landini on finishes. Cammo's made a name for himself on the series at this point, and these issues fit right into the mould. There are also some fill-in issues here and there by Gael Bertrand, whom I've never heard of, but reminds me of one of my favourite Hellblazer artists, Marcelo Frusin, who also shows up here too for the Exposed story.
Milligan's Hellblazer mega-story continues at full speed, running head long from one arc to the next and making sure that the tracks are in place to move forward. Nearly to the end now.
January 4, 2024
The Milligan stuff continues to be terrible. The women are stupid and emotional and irrational and get fridged for the sake of the hero's development. It's ugly reading. Sexual assault and incest tossed in to be edgy and dark.
A far cry from the best of the Hellblazer stuff.
Constantine is supposed to be troubled and a bit of a dick and can use people to further his own ends or to save the world. But Milligan's version of the character is pointless in his rudeness and selfishness? Idk. I don't know how to express it. But if this was the character when I'd started Hellblazer 25 volumes ago I never would have kept reading it.
A far cry from the best of the Hellblazer stuff.
Constantine is supposed to be troubled and a bit of a dick and can use people to further his own ends or to save the world. But Milligan's version of the character is pointless in his rudeness and selfishness? Idk. I don't know how to express it. But if this was the character when I'd started Hellblazer 25 volumes ago I never would have kept reading it.
July 4, 2022
Christ on a bike!
I'm rereading Peter Milligan's Hellblazer run for the first time. First time I read I hated it. I dont think I actually finished it. But decided to give it another go to "celebrate" completing my Hellblazer trade collection.
It's as bad as I recalled.
First issues arent awfull. Despite the terrible JC characterization (John is a over the hill geezer that contemplates resorting to black magic to get laid - actually using a magical "roofie" with someone), and weak attempts at social commentary, its kind of a bearable read, in a fan-fictiony, black comedy sort of way. Its bad, but not unbearably so.
But after the wedding issues, it gets so much worse.
Aside from the poor JC characterization, you get a terrible interpretation of Gemma, Angie, and completly wrong references to Constantine's past (Astra is still in hell, the twin Constantine strangles in the womb is said to be a girl, amongst other shit Milligan gets wrong).
Only saving grace is Camuncoli (who draws a very cool looking JC) and Bisley's art (captures the grime and dirt of the world he inhabits).
What the hell happenned? Were editors not giving a toss about the title anymore at the time?
I am finishing the run, but only out of a sense of duty, since I bought the last volume, and dont remember how it ends.
But I can oficially state that Milligan's run is absolute bollocks, and that reading the next and last volume will be a veritable crucible. But I've already bought the trade, mind as well finish the bloody thing.
I'm rereading Peter Milligan's Hellblazer run for the first time. First time I read I hated it. I dont think I actually finished it. But decided to give it another go to "celebrate" completing my Hellblazer trade collection.
It's as bad as I recalled.
First issues arent awfull. Despite the terrible JC characterization (John is a over the hill geezer that contemplates resorting to black magic to get laid - actually using a magical "roofie" with someone), and weak attempts at social commentary, its kind of a bearable read, in a fan-fictiony, black comedy sort of way. Its bad, but not unbearably so.
But after the wedding issues, it gets so much worse.
Aside from the poor JC characterization, you get a terrible interpretation of Gemma, Angie, and completly wrong references to Constantine's past (Astra is still in hell, the twin Constantine strangles in the womb is said to be a girl, amongst other shit Milligan gets wrong).
Only saving grace is Camuncoli (who draws a very cool looking JC) and Bisley's art (captures the grime and dirt of the world he inhabits).
What the hell happenned? Were editors not giving a toss about the title anymore at the time?
I am finishing the run, but only out of a sense of duty, since I bought the last volume, and dont remember how it ends.
But I can oficially state that Milligan's run is absolute bollocks, and that reading the next and last volume will be a veritable crucible. But I've already bought the trade, mind as well finish the bloody thing.
Read
September 2, 2021The penultimate volume.
It's been a long and winding road, but a worthwhile one, IMO.
Review to come when completed reading.
***
Post-Read:
Another solid entry into the Constantine canon.
All I can say?
Bring on the finale! :)
It's been a long and winding road, but a worthwhile one, IMO.
Review to come when completed reading.
***
Post-Read:
Another solid entry into the Constantine canon.
All I can say?
Bring on the finale! :)
October 22, 2021
Not quite seminal Hellblazer, but largely still solid Hellblazer
September 30, 2024
Ok, entiendo por qué mucha gente detesta todo este arco hecho por Peter Milligan pero a mí me parece de lo más coherente y me encanta que vuelva a los orígenes para ir anticipando el final. ¿Es un toque boludo y medio misógino? Sí, pero por ahí los que crecimos fuimos nosotros.
April 9, 2022
This volume of Peter Milligan’s run is an improvement, but still a bit tainted by the earlier problems with his run. There some particularly fun issues here, and he does a pretty good job of putting his own spin on the same trick most writers do with John making deals with demons. The female characters still seem mishandled at times and the majority of the supporting cast is female. The art remains the best part of this run.
April 2, 2023
Anteúltimo tomo de la serie. Esta vez Bisley dibuja sólo dos guiones de Milligan. En el primero, John hace gala de sus dones de con man y pergeña un "programa" para engañar a un trader y mantener su hogar. Historia bien narrada, simple y autoconclusiva. Sin embargo, no se puede decir lo mismo del segundo número de la dupla. El argumento es súper ganchero: John encerrado en una prisión con un demonio que se la tiene jurada. A pesar de eso, el resultado deja bastante que desear.
Lo mismo sucede con los dos primeros arcos argumentales del tomo: Phantom Pains (en el que John trara de recuperar el pulgar que perdió) y The Devil's Trenchcoat (en el que John trata de recuperar su trenchcoat característico, embebido de todos sus encuentros mágicos a lo largo de los año). Ambos arcos se extienden demasiado (5 y 4 números respectivamente) para lo poco que tienen para contar. Encima, el estilo de dibujo de Camuncoli empeorado notablemente por la paleta de colores estridentes elegida por Mulvhill le imprime un tono de historieta superheroica a estos arcos.
Pero Milligan y Camuncoli se redimen con Another Season in Hell, el arco que cierra este tomo. Varias de las subtramas que Milligan venía urdiendo tienen conclusión acá (así como también se abren otros puntos). El ritmo narrativo es frenético, intenso y la aparición de cierto villano clásico de John sube la apuesta a niveles altísimos. El dibujo de Camuncoli ahora sí brilla un poco mejor ayudado por una paleta de colores más apropiada para el tono de la historia.
Lo mismo sucede con los dos primeros arcos argumentales del tomo: Phantom Pains (en el que John trara de recuperar el pulgar que perdió) y The Devil's Trenchcoat (en el que John trata de recuperar su trenchcoat característico, embebido de todos sus encuentros mágicos a lo largo de los año). Ambos arcos se extienden demasiado (5 y 4 números respectivamente) para lo poco que tienen para contar. Encima, el estilo de dibujo de Camuncoli empeorado notablemente por la paleta de colores estridentes elegida por Mulvhill le imprime un tono de historieta superheroica a estos arcos.
Pero Milligan y Camuncoli se redimen con Another Season in Hell, el arco que cierra este tomo. Varias de las subtramas que Milligan venía urdiendo tienen conclusión acá (así como también se abren otros puntos). El ritmo narrativo es frenético, intenso y la aparición de cierto villano clásico de John sube la apuesta a niveles altísimos. El dibujo de Camuncoli ahora sí brilla un poco mejor ayudado por una paleta de colores más apropiada para el tono de la historia.
April 22, 2022
Another Hellblazer anthology showing John Constantine up to his usual tricks - going to Hell, tricking demons, betraying loved ones, fighting criminals, smoking, etcetera etcetera. It’s a formula that has kept me entertained for years and I happily turned the pages of this anthology. Only one more volume left to read…
December 16, 2022
I wonder when Hellblazer knew that it was going to end. These arcs are starting to tie up stuff that happened so long ago and push the memory. Also, there seems to be a push to give John a more regular life and seem more mortal.
He is beginning to look more vulnerable even with the constant whining of the fact that everyone who knows or gets close to, dies.
He is beginning to look more vulnerable even with the constant whining of the fact that everyone who knows or gets close to, dies.
August 25, 2022
The "Phantom Pains" storyline brought me some hope for this penultimate graphic novel, but then it was fairly well ruined by a whole storyline on Constantine's trenchcoat coming to "life" and wreaking havoc. Terrible.
December 15, 2022
I can't actually tell if this is an improvement over the last volume or not. I suppose I felt a bit more engaged but I'm not loving it. With only one volume left to go, I'm really hoping Milligan ends the series on a high note.
August 13, 2024
Ì must admit I've enjoyed Peter Milligan's stint as the author of the end of this series. I shall look forward to the final issue with some sadness. Of course, there's lots more Constantine books out there.
August 31, 2021
4.25
Solid
Solid
November 9, 2021
3-4 stars
March 18, 2022
So glad there were only a few issues with Simon Bisley's wretched art. Not loving married Constantine.
April 2, 2022
Fun with damned sisters and purloined coats.
April 20, 2022
Man Constantine’s life is a mess. Father in law has some use for him—which goes badly. He’s down a thumb and needs to deal with that—which goes badly. His coat’s gone evil walkabout—which goes badly. Gemma has it out for him (or at least his demonic twin)—which goes badly.
I think you get the idea.
A solid enough issue, but certainly an odd one.
Full review:
https://blog.jverkamp.com/2022/04/16/...
I think you get the idea.
A solid enough issue, but certainly an odd one.
Full review:
https://blog.jverkamp.com/2022/04/16/...
May 15, 2022
One of the best of the recent volumes
April 18, 2023
4 1/2 stars.
Read
April 22, 2024making note of giuseppe camuncoli bc his art rules
July 25, 2024
Not terrible, but definitely running out of steam and getting a bit repetitive.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews