Dear Justice League: Dark,
I know it’s an often used expression but this time it’s true. It’s not you, it’s me. I promise, it’s me. In my original review of the DC Reboot, I barely gave you much of a chance. Why? Because I was afraid that you’d find a way to absolutely destroy one of my all time favorite characters: John Constantine. But I must give credit where credit is due; Peter Milligan can write a good Hellblazer. Sure, it’s not up to the caliber of Warren Ellis or the comic God that is Garth Ennis. While it’s nothing to write home about, it’s not something that I have the need to criticize fully.
Another thing I really like is Zatanna’s new costume. I am SO glad someone finally decided to get rid of that horrid magician outfit. It would just seem so out of place in these more modernized comics! So, I definitely dig the leather, corset, and fishnet biker girl look. So you definitely get an A+ on that.
But that brings us to my problem. This series is harnessing the great John Constantine!! Empire.com voted him the 3rd greatest comic character of ALL TIME behind Superman (#1) and Batman (#2)! He is a fan favorite for more reasons than one. It’s been proven that Peter Milligan can write him. So what’s the problem? It feels like they’re barely using him!
In the first three issues of JLD, Mr. Constantine has been featured on a total of seven pages. More space has gone to Shade, Deadman, and Madame Xanadu. There’s nothing wrong with developing these other characters; but at least give John his fair share of the comic. Such little usage of such a powerhouse fan-favorite character is like delegating Clark Gable to playing the quirky neighbor in a Jon Heder direct to DVD film. Let that example sink in for a second.
I beg of this comic to not leave the hellblazer on the sidelines. I’m not just being a fanboy. If Superman, Batman, Wolverine, and Spiderman were featured prominently on the comic covers, nobody would be pushing them to the background. Constantine is just as big of a character as them! I’m just failing to understand how Deadman is getting more page time.
The thing that I’ve found most interesting in this comic was the three pages in issue #3 that focused on Zatanna and Constantine’s relationship. This is by far the most intrigued I’ve been with this series! I’d love to see and learn more about them. Give them some more spotlight or their own spinoff! That would be absolutely awesome.
I don’t think that it is asking a lot. When a character is this massive, he deserves some more space than what is being allotted to him. I’m planning on getting a few more issues. But I think that myself and all the other Hellblazer fans that started this series to get more of their favorite Liverpuddian will be departing soon if he doesn’t begin to even get a fair share of page space.
It’s not you, it’s me. It’s not that you’re a bad series. It’s just that you’re not giving me what I really need.
Hoping this series gets better.
Love,
Chris X
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