John Constantine's coming home.
For years, DC seemed to struggle to figure out how to properly transition John Constantine from the Vertigo universe back into the DCU. They didn't really find the right formula until James Tynion IV and Ming Doyle's Constantine: The Hellblazer last year. Now it could be argued that, not only does Constantine not need the fresh start that comes with DC Rebirth, he's actually worse off for it. The Hellblazer Rebirth #1 offers a perfectly decent start to the wayward magician's newest series, but it lacks some of the spark of his previous book.
This issue is very much focused on bringing Constantine back to basics. As the book opens he bids farewell to New York and returns to his usual stomping grounds in London. There's a certain comfortable familiarity to the series, what with the dreary setting, the return of Chas and a plot that revolves around Constantine outwitting another powerful demon. The real problem is that this is all material fans have seen before in Constantine's past adventures. It's basically a return to the classic Hellblazer series, except with a more PG-13 tone and a pointless, shoehorned scene featuring several Justice League characters. There's little in this issue that stands out as being new or different. Even the conflict, which involves a threat to the entire city of London, is resolved too quickly and easily.
Still, at least DC found a fitting creative team to bring the franchise back to its roots. Writer Simon Oliver has no trouble capturing Constantine's sardonic voice and his distinctly British dialect. There are times when the characterization feels constrained by the lack of a mature readers label, but Oliver nonetheless conveys his protagonist as the amoral, self-centered con-man he is. Similarly, Moritat is adept at channeling the vibe of the classic Hellblazer comics. The tone is harsh and grimy, yet Moritat always finds room to cram in little flourishes and bits of whimsy when it comes to background characters and details. His experience blending the real world with the larger-than-life on All-Star Western serves Moritat well on this book.
The Verdict
Like a great many characters, John Constantine is getting back to basics for DC Rebirth. But unlike many of his colleagues, Constantine didn't necessarily need a refresh in the first place. This new series succeeds in returning to a more familiar status quo for the character, but so far there's not nearly enough about The Hellblazer that feels exciting or different.
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