Dark, mysterious, and scary, yet engrossingly written and charismatic, Mike Carey’s “John Constantine: Hellblazer: All His Engines” is a graphic novel that begs to be read.
A story that combines the magical and demon-filled world of Constantine with a conflict that’s relatable, “All His Engines” manages to tell a story that is not based in any type of reality, yet feels remarkably comfortable and accessible.
For that, it’s easily one of the best Vertigo comics ever written.
Anyone who has read anything with Constantine in it before knows that he’s simply, a bastard. Cunning and conniving, seeing him outsmart villains of all shapes and sizes and help the people he has to, yet somehow always advance himself and further his ambitions, is a blast. However, the few instances where we see the human side of the character are memorable and flesh out an already remarkable character.
Throughout the trade, Constantine is not only forced to confront his darkest fears, a demon that has haunted his dreams since childhood, he’s forced to work alongside him in order to help the only friend in his life that’s ever trusted him, his loyal driver, Chas.
Later on, when he begins to question their friendship and Constantine’s motives, the story becomes less about demons and spirits and more about overcoming doubt and persevering, making it a book that even comic book fans who could care less about Constantine can find something to like.
As a result, this is easily the best story featuring the character.
The writing is so fantastic here that it could be illustrated with stick figures and still be a solid work, but the pencils by Leonardo Manco are superb, totally capturing the gritty and dark tones of Carey’s writing. With a cast of characters bordering on the grotesque at times, Manco keeps everything in perspective and creates a one of a kind environment. Possibly fueled by a combination of biblical art and Gothic art, Manco’s work slows down the tale, in the best way possible, forcing you to look at everything from the hyper-detail splash pages, to the dark and lonely images of the main character. As well, the full-page illustrations of many of the demons are full of color and passion, yet are simultaneously bone-chilling, adding even more ambiance to a remarkable adventure.
With top-notch writing and illustrations that demand your full attention, “All His Engines” isn’t just a must-read, it’s a shining example of what the medium should be: smart, beautiful and engrossed with depth and layers that only become exposed in time.
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