Sunday Trade: Lady Constantine

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John Constantine, Hellblazer: Lady Constantine

Written by Andy Diggle, Art by Goran Sudzuka, Colors by Patricia Mulvihill, Letters by Robert Solanovic

Johanna Constantine is one of the many magus ancestors of John Constantine. The avatar of the Doomed Laughing Magician for her time. At the start of the story she is penniless and about to be cast out into the streets. Again. When the British government hires her to recover a large box lost at sea. She agrees, with the understanding that she'll be paid by the restoration of the Constantine titles and lands. Which is small payment since she must strive against Lady Blackwood, an immortal sorceress who originally owned the box and now wants to open it and risk the destruction of the world. Of course Johanna keeps an ace up her sleeve by recruiting the assistance of the then current incarnation of the Swamp Thing, Jack-of-the-Green...

The story contains all the classic elements of a Constantine Hellblazer story. Deals with demons, betrayal of allies, outsmarting the bad guys and of course, Constantine Fucks Up...

What makes this trade such a find, is that Diggle is current and critically acclaimed writer on Hellblazer as well as the recently ended Losers espionage/thriller series. Plus Sudzuka, Mulvihill and Solanovic's art do an excellent job of evoking the necessary imagery of both wonder and horror...