"Grab it before someone else nicks it"
Issue #120 marked 10 years of Hellblazer. Crazy if you think about it, but Hellblazer reached #250 not to long ago. This series has been around for a long time. This year (2010) as well marked 25 years of John Constantine, this was celebrated by Vertigo with the release of the Original Graphic novel Pandemonium. As my little celebration for John Constantine, I wanted to mark my 120th review with this special to my heart issue.
Hellblazer 120 is my favorite of all Paul Jenkin's overlooked run. Paul Jenkin's may not be my favorite Hellblazer writer, but that is not a bad thing, there were so many greats, its it really a shame not being the fave? [Maybe if someone from DC reads this, the public need access to Jenkin's run.]
Hellblazer 120 is one of the most talked about issues of Hellblazer, even without it being collected in trade, it is one of those issues all Hellblazer fans have read or is dying to read. It is the issue that blurs John Constantine's prescience in Reality and in comics. We meet John Constantine in a bar every month, like he said "Marvelous, eh? I mean, Ten Years coming in here every month like F[_]<K!/\/9 clockwork. Me telling stories an' you listening...".
This book also ties in real people in the world of Hellblazer
But besides the random and obscure references to past creators, there is one cameo that is very important. That is the Cameo of John Constantine maker. Mr. Alan Moore himself. Alan Moore as mentioned many times in past interviews and in comics like Snakes and Ladders that he has met John Constantine in the real world. Written Paul Jenkin's must of known this because of the way Alan is worked into the story.
I will stop with all the pictures. This oversided Hellblazer is an anniversary done right!
Hellblazer #120 is a great Meta-fiction story, blending the horrors of the real world, with the "Stories" John Constantine has told us over the year. It is a comic you should read, even if your not a Hellblazer fan. This is great writing. For sure one of my all time favorite issues! This issue is the issue where I felt a true bond with John Constantine. He is more then just a character in comics, he is my friend. I am his as well. I just pray he doesn't Scarface me to save his own skin. There is a lot more to this comic then the 4 pages you have seem. Check it out and it is a great example of the definition of modern day Magic!
To our monthly Pub Stories my dear Friend John!
CHEERS! Your friend,
- Silkcuts