Hellblazer: Papa Midnite

Hellblazer: Miniseries

by Mat Johnson, Tony Akins (Illustrator), Dan Green (Illustrator)

The King of Voodoo has a long history, but where did it all begin? The answer can be found in HELLBLAZER: PAPA MIDNITE, collecting the acclaimed 5-issue Vertigo miniseries that follows the story of the curse that made Midnite immortal, from its origin in 1712 through the failed slave rebellion of 1741 and into the present day, where he continues to pay the price for his original sin.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror, Fiction, Fantasy, Graphic Novels Comics, Supernatural

128 pages, Paperback

First published April 5, 2006

About the author

Mat Johnson is an American writer of literary fiction who works in both prose and the comics format. In 2007, he was named the first USA James Baldwin Fellow by United States Artists.

Johnson was born and raised in the Germantown and Mount Airy communities in Philadelphia.

His mother is African American and his father is Irish Catholic. He attended Greene Street Friends School, West Chester University, University of Wales, Swansea, and ultimately received his B.A. from Earlham College. In 1993 he was awarded a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship. Johnson received his M.F.A. from Columbia University School of the Arts (1999).

Johnson has taught at Rutgers University, Columbia University, Bard College, and The Callaloo Journal Writers Retreat. He is now a permanent faculty member at the University of Houston Creative Writing Program. Johnson lives in Houston.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being more of a Marvel guy, I wasn’t overly familiar with Papa Midnite (spelling ‘midnight’ like that makes me want to grind my teeth to powder, but I digress) but this book served as a really good introduction to the character and his history.

Papa Midnite being an immortal who lived through slavery in the US, this book packs quite a punch emotionally and the artwork’s nice, too. If I had one criticism it would be that the dialogue is a little stilted in places, but that’s nitpicking; I really liked this one.

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Impressive, in a cruel and gruesome way. We get to learn the origins of Papa Midnite, rising from simple fraudster to the present king of voodoo. He's had a lot to sacrifice along this journey, but such is the price of greatness.

[Thomas Edmund · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this mini-series diversion from J. Constantine, you can learn the origins of Papa Midnight. The story is gruesome and painful, linked the the history of slavery in the U.S. (think Hellblazer meets Django unchained)

I was slightly disappointed with the character development of the story. Midnight begins the historic tale as a trickster manipulating and mistreating the people around him including slave and owner alike. Aside from a brief and intense outpouring of emotion in one scene, the authors essentially do a time-skip over Midnight developing from a selfish child to the genuine mystic he is today(?)

Also the story races through the past, leaving very little time to get attached to anyone, and leaving little development for modern Midnight. In fact the modern-times section of the story seems to exist solely for John C to make a appearance and give a plug for the next Hellblazer plotline.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 5 out of 5]

O vilão de John Constantine: Hellblazer, o feiticeiro Papa Meia-Noite é o protagonista desse segundo especial da série que explora personagens secundários do universo do cínico mago da DC Comics. Escrita por Mat Johnson, do premiado quadrinho Iconegro, e desenhada por Tony Akins, de João das Fábulas, a minissérie especial mergulha fundo nas cruezas e horrores da escravidão negra, durante o periodo colonial dos Estados Unidos. Foi durante esse período que aconteceu a ascensão de Papa Meia-Noite, mas não sem inúmeros percalços que, poderiamos dizer, custaram a sanidade do feiticeiro e lhe garantiu ao mesmo tempo a imortalidade. Numa narrativa entre presente e passado, Johnson traz uma narrativa forte e pujante, impactante e muito bem definida, princiaplamente calcada nas questões raciais estadunidenses que perduram até hoje. Já o desenho caricatural e cartunesco, e ainda assim realista, usa essa diversidade de estilos para conferir a dinamicidade que a história exige, entre o sério e o farsesco, entre o mágico e o real. Esse quadrinho pode ser lido tanto por iniciantes em Constantine, quanto por seus grandes fãs. Certamente todos saberão apreciar.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A walk through a history. Betrayal and suffering. An alternate interpretation to a curse.

[Justin Labelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hellblazer: Papa Midnite provides a deep dive into one of the most iconic characters to grace the Hellblazer-Sandman universe.
Johnson provides a truly haunting and unique backstory to this mysterious-haunted figure and while the arc might have gaps or jumps in narrative worth criticising, the main question is, does it do Papa justice and the answer is a resounding yes . The Arc provides depth and despair and dark dreamscapes for this character and rather than take away any sort of mystery, it aggrandises the scope and possibility as to where this goes next.

[M.i. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed Midnite's backstory. Just like Constantine, the ambiguity in their morals makes for a very interesting character.

[Beatrix Tung · Rating 4 out of 5]

damn. what a bastard. great addition of dimension to an old foe.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this more because Papa Midnite is such a great character, but...

[Ανδρέας Μιχαηλίδης · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I really like the art and historical depictions, I have to say I expected to like this a bit more on the whole. Though I can appreciate that mainstream comics today would never allow the depiction of such an unapologetically evil black character, who repeatedly betrays his own people, I am not a fan of Papa Midnite at all. In short, he is an irredeemable douchebag, and I have to say the choice of beard shape only confirms and exacerbates this.

Parts of the story are truly gut-wrenching, with a few funny moments peppered here and there (especially with Constantine's ancestor).

It is not a bad comic book per se, but as far as getting to know a character's backstory, possibly to illuminate their motives, I didn't need to: Papa Midnite was evil as a child and the centuries did nothing to improve him.

[Robert Hudder · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time following this story. I couldn't always tell what time frame and what POV was occurring. It feels like a me problem. This largely feels like backstory for a larger story that didn't happen. I get the connecting of the past with the future but maybe I am just too old for flashbacks. The addition of John Constantine and his forefather seems gratuitous as a way of keeping the connection to John.

I do wonder about the source material and maybe that points to why there was inclusion. Anyway. I liked the take but not how it was told.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Hellblazer story after a fashion - the origin of a nemesis and maybe some of Constantine’s history.

[Dom Nuno · Rating 2 out of 5]

Far too “political”, not enough of the character , just pandering to lobbies, really.

[Kay ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no idea who this character is. I am just making my way through my graphic novel pile. Apparently this was a backstory of a big character. Interesting story with decent graphics.

[Juan Fuentes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Orígenes de este curioso personaje con un ahistoria de antiesclavismo.

[Jennifer Juffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read every single issue of Hellblazer. I have them. I tried. I simply couldn’t find that connection a reader needs to relate to the protagonist.
So, when the tbs of Papa Murphy came to my door and sat staring at it for about a month and thought, “what’s the worst?” I may enjoy it?

If you’ve never read Hellblazer, this can be a stand alone. It was good. It was very good.
I may even try delving back into the series again.

I enjoyed looking into the past and seeing how this seemingly flawed, vulnerable person became known as “Midnight” or Papa Midnight Murphy (I may have it in the wrong order).
It was fascinating to read about his youth and to witness how he became the man he is today. As for experience and evolution of thought, who knows what he will be in the future.
It made a compelling read.

Loved the art. It was completely different than most issues. While I appreciate all art, the ‘90’s is hit and miss with me.

[Jaimie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always wondered where Papa Midnite got his power, so I'm really glad that they decided to give him a mini-series and a proper backstory. His story traces all the way back to the origins of the New York settlement, where as a child magician he betrayed his own people who wanted to revolt against the slave masters. As a young boy who had taken his freedom thorugh the power of his magic Midnite clearly had no concept of the suffering of his people, so he earned himself the curse of everlasting life until he could reverse the world order. His attempt to do so a mere 10 years later was met with absolutelt disaster and his first "death;" he may have gained immense power by that time, but his arrogance and misunderstanding of the situation are not lessons easily learned. Even with the additional power and knowledge that he has gathered by the modern age he still has not freed himself of his curse - though black people in America no longer live in slavery. Maybe Papa Midnite has become content to be the powerful magician with neverending life, since he doesn't seem to be working on anything close to a major plan. Or maybe it's the long game?

[Stephen Theaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting miniseries prompted by the character's appearance in the Constantine movie (like many characters before him, he's given a makeover to better match the movie version), telling of his involvement with a black Manhattan Spartacus. If Barack Obama wins the presidential election, will we see a sequel showing the effect that has on Papa Midnite?

[Fee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Papa Midnite is a messed up dude. I guess it is hard to judge someone who survived the civil war. We cry in recessions when we should be glad we did not live during the civil war. Fuck that, living paycheck to paycheck aint that bad when you think of ancestors and what they had to go thru! Peace everyone. Hope my Reviews help!

[Lauri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Täiesti mõttetu spinoff täiesti mõttetust Constantine'i saaga alguspoole tegelasest. Neegrite mäss kuskil Ameerika Ühendriikide alguspäevil 1740 või midagi, blablabla. Totaalne igavus, mõttetus kuubis, ja lisaks on pliiatsijoon nagu lasteaialastele mõeldud. Kaks miinus.

[Dr. Barrett Dylan Brown, Phd · Rating 2 out of 5]

So sad. The art is mediocre, the storyline is interesting enough, but they could have done so much more with Papa Midnight as a Hellblazer character. And he just looked cooler when he was fatter.

[Dony Grayman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miniserie especial recopilada en castellano. Todavía no se sabe si ECC la reeditará en la nueva colección de 17 libros o de algún otro modo.

[Randall Sobien · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story overall - an origin story of the Papa Midnite character, with a focus on slavery and vengeance. Not quite what I had expected, but a great read, and one I couldn't put down.

[Campo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's about time you knew about papa. It's an interesting story about slaves in New York and who their struggle to be free enslaves others. It has some funny moments (specially from a Constantine).

[Drizztl · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10