John Constantine: Hellblazer #7
DC Comics
Written by: Simon Spurrier
Art by: Aaron Campbell
Colors by: Jordie Bellaire
Letters by: Aditya Bidikar
John Constantine: Hellblazer #7 may be Simon Spurrier’s best work on the title yet. These self-contained matters put in Constantine’s path have all been grim tales, but this one is the darkest yet.
And what’s perhaps most impressive about this story is how Spurrier is able to tell a riveting story without relying on Constantine heavily. He’s not unnecessary by any means, but he’s more of a vehicle that helps move the story along rather than the focal point. As someone who cares more about the character than the actual plot, I’m not always a fan of this approach. But when done right, it can make for some of the most impressive work.
If you want to start reading John Constantine: Hellblazer but (for some reason) don’t want to start with the first issue, this is a good place to jump in.
(WARNING: Spoilers for John Constantine: Hellblazer #7 ahead.)
The relationship highlighted in John Constantine: Hellblazer #7 did take some predictable turns, but that’s not a big deal. That’s in large part thanks to the ending.
Throughout John Constantine: Hellblazer #7, we’re learning about this relationship, waiting to find out what went wrong. Meanwhile, there’s another issue right in front of us that doesn’t seem to be as high of a priority, until we are given every detail — specifically one very important bit of information.
Spurrier’s misdirection makes it easy to invest in the story’s narrator. After reading John Constantine: Hellblazer #7, one of my first thoughts was: there better be at least one more chapter to this specific story (ideally in John Constantine: Hellblazer #8).