Guilty Until Proven Innocent
Gemma springs her plan of vengeance into action against her uncle John.
The Good
I really like the cover Simon Bisley turns in for this issue. It's very straightforward but effective. The seething anger lying just beneath the surface of Gemma's face and the way her bloodshot eyes are shadowed by her bangs perfectly summarize how she's been feeling and displays what she's been going through lately.
To say that John Constantine has a less than picturesque life would be one hell of an understatement. Constantine's a bastard through and through. And I must admit that more often than not the sorrow's he experiences are poetically just. However, those closest to John often end up caught in the crossfire. Unfortunately his niece Gemma's been the latest victim in a long line of those who's only crime was being close to John Constantine.
I'm not a fan of how the topic of sexual assault/abuse is generally handled in comics. But Peter Milligan handles it with the class and sensitivity that it deserves. The impact of Gemma's rape at the hands of Demon John and its affect on her psyche have been perfectly handled from 275 til now. What happened to her is especially terrible considering just how much she's already been through. She was starting to feel like she was getting a handle on her life, beating the "Constantine Curse".
The breakdown of the relationship between John and Gemma has really been heartbreaking to watch for me. Gemma idolized her uncle John and in her eyes he was the father she never had. I don't think it'd be going too far to wager that he's the only man in her life that's she's had a positive relationship with. Milligan perfectly gives voice to the conflicted feelings she has towards her uncle throughout this issue.
The flashback to her childhood and how she looks at all her memories of John through the lens of what Demon John did to her was very powerful and heart-wrenching. I've known young women who've been raped or molested by family members or close family friends. The way Gemma's memories have been tainted is very similar to what they've described.
John is genuinely oblivious to what's been going on with Gemma and when she confronts him he's genuinely taken aback and at a loss for words. Even if he can explain what happened, it doesn't change the fact that it happened and that things will never be the same between them again. On top of that, Demon John could be said to represent John's Shadow aspect. This begs the question, can John reconcile with the fact that Demon John's actions have their roots within himself?
The Bad
My only real complaint about this issue was that I felt that guest artist Gael Bertrand's pencils just didn't fit this series for me, especially this issue's heavy subject matter. She also drew John way too youthful in appearance. Nothing about him looks like the scruffy old, war wound addled dog he is.
The Verdict
Buy This Comic!!!
Despite the art being a bit distracting Milligan's writing is too deft, emotionally resonant, and compelling for this issue not to be great. I'm totally new to the Hellblazer title and the first and last time I read John Constantine was during his brief appearance in Gaiman's Sandman. Well I can say without a doubt that Peter Milligan has made me a soon to be lifelong fan of the title and Character.
