Sunday, February 24, 2008

Hellblazer #240 - Vertigo


So that last issue . . with the Shaman if Africa sending one of his people out to find Constantine with a root? That was all a set-up for this new story-arc, the Laughing Magician. John learns this issue . . . he learns, but doesn't accept . . that he's been a constant in the realm of magic for a very long time. "You are the Laughing Magician. You have always been the Laughing Magician. Many times I sent my spirit back and forth, from the dawn of man to the palace at the end of all things . . and always I saw you there . . shouting defiance at the gods of Man's own creation. The thumb on the balance . . you are the constant one." This is also where he learns about Mako the war mage. He's also a magiphage, a devourer of magicians. Right now he's begun to hunt Constantine, with the goal of feeding on his powers. The problem is, John is a man who believes in free-will. So he's not one to give in easily to "destiny". "You wanna know the truth? There's no big mystery to it . . I'll tell you the ultimate secret of Magic. Any cunt could do it!" But whether he believes what the Shaman is telling him or not . . . Mako has still come to ground in England, and has a taste for the powers John may or may not have. Regardless of whatever John believes, Mako, apparantly, does believe it. This is a fantastic beginning to what looks to be a really cool story-arc. I feel like we're getting John back to his roots . . or back to the beginning as it were. Andy Diggle is really doing a fantastic job with this title, for the short time that he's been on it. There's a lot of good stuff in this book. Plus, as I've said before, Leonardo Manco really seems like he's stepped up his work. Ever since Andy took over the stories, it really seems like there's a renewed effort on this book. This, again, is the book I fell in love with 20 some years ago. Simply fantastic.

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