Sunday Trade: Hellblazer

John Constantine Hellblazer: Original Sins written by Jamie DeLano, art by John Ridgway and Alfredo Alcala, colors by Lovern Kindzierski, letters by Annie Halfacree, Todd Klein and John Constanza

DeLano to me has always been the unappreciated work-horse of the early Vertigo line. Especially here, in the first issues of John Constantine's solo title. Which puts him right in between Alan Moore on Swamp Thing and Garth Ennis on Hellblazer. Which is a shame, since DeLano has a perfect grasp of ol' Conjob. The way he'll save the world, even if it costs the lives of friends and allies. Or his ability to hustle his supernatural enemies into taking themselves out...

Plus DeLano presents some genuinely creepy horror tales. The first two stories, "Hunger" involving a bottle imp and a junkie friend of Constantine and "Go for it" about soul buying yuppie demons are especially eloquent and gruesome tales. And he even adds more than a dollop of the series trademark black humor (or humour). Like the flesh-crafted monstrosity made of skin head soccer holligans. Or the final pages where John breaks off a piece of the Swamp Thing to use in making a cigarette roll-up. Yep, Jamie DeLano the Oh Yeah That Guy of the Vertigo line...l