While Carey's Hellblazer stories thus far haven't included the same examination of real-world nastiness that Brian Azzarello's did, he's still offering up some entertaining, creepy stories, full of extreme characters. He's still settling in with the characters, that much is clear. Fortunately, Marcelo Frusin is still bringing his deliciously dark style to bear, bringing out the supernatural landscape that John Constantine calls home.
John Constantine's returned to London, though he's trying to keep a low profile under a fake name. Too bad it's not working. His niece has been kidnapped, and John's investigation into it has alerted the figureheads of London's magical underworld to the fact that the reports of JOhn's death have been greatly exaggerated. Constantine's return is of particular concern to the gathering of British mages, as they are all desperately seeking something called the Red Sepulchre.
Frusin's thoroughly dark, creepy artwork puts one in mind of a number of artists' styles. I see the influence of Mike (Hellboy) Mignola's gothic approach, Eduardo (100 Bullets) cinematic style and Kevin (Superman/Aliens II) Nowlan's sharpness. Loughridge does an excellent job of reinforcing the undercurrent of unnatural energy that runs through the story as well. Definitely the most striking aspect of the art -- and this is nothing new when it comes to Frusin's work -- is how the artist isolates the character' enlarged eyes in pools of inky darkness. The method conveys fear, deviousness and careful thought with seeming ease.
Carey's script for this first chapter in the story arc is a bit scattered. In fact, it doesn't read like a first chapter at all. I'm a bit disappointed he doesn't go further to fill the reader in on a bit more in the way of exposition. He also approaches John's magic from a different angle than previous writers on the title. He seems to set aside the mystery and eerily vague quality of John's abilities and approaches his magic from a more straightforward perspective. It makes the lead character seem powerful, but takes some of his edge away at the same time.
Still, Carey's definitely got John's attitude and his oddly antagonistic friendship with Chas down right. His poker-face run-ins with other magical figures throughout the city were a whole mess of fun, and his niece's dangerously sexy look was unsettling yet enticing all at once. Carey's definitely piqued my interest in the supernatural underworld plot elements as well.
