Hellblazer 90

Short Review: Good, not outstanding, issue

With this issue, Paul Jenkins finishes his first story with the title, and returns John Constantine to Merry England after picking him up where Eddie Campbell left him, in Australia. As a matter of interest, this is the first time that I can remember a new writer honouring a change like that by a previous short-term writer, when he could just have started where the previous had started. It's an interesting speculation as to whether Paul Jenkins had a story for John Constanine that involved Australia, or just decided not to waste the chance, and wrote one for the occasion. Either way, the story makes great use of the Aboriginal dreamtime, with Constantine facing down the Rainbow Serpent, and cutting a deal to save the Aborigines from Land Acquisition. It's well thought out and has some nice insights into at least one of the characters, but when all is said and done, it's another "John Constantine thinks his way out of trouble" story. Not that there's anything bad about that: Jamie Delano's initial run was built out of those, with ever-decreasing range of threats, until we were left with a man in conflict with himself. Still, Paul Jenkins will have to do more than this to make his mark on the title. Next month, perhaps. Until then, this is still a good tale.