Reviewed by: Mathan Erhardt
Story Title: Staring at the Wall: Conclusion
Written by: Mike Carey
Penciled and Inked by: Marcelo Frusin
Colored by: Lee Loughridge
Lettered by: Clem Robins
Edited by: Will Dennis
Publisher: DC / Vertigo
Ok so if you haven’t been reading Hellblazer, #1) Shame on you, #2) Hurry and go pick up back issues, and #3) Mankind’s oldest enemy has come back to rid the planet of it’s worst plague, um mankind. And John Constantine accidentally killed the only thing holding it at bay, on purpose. John’s called in some back up in the form of old friends, family members and even a Swamp Thing. But is it enough?
This issue opens with that hottie, Angie saving John’s catatonic life. And even though he had his head blown off last issue, Swampy is back. Angie has a little something that she brought back from Eden that could prove quite useful to thwarting the enemy at hand. Swamp Thing absorbs it and goes about his way.
Meanwhile, on another plane of existence, John plays some mind games with the foul fiend, who is not in the mood to be toyed with. Back in the real world, Angie, Gemma and Chas begin to work on a plan to save humanity, which involves Scooby Doo, Lassie and Krypto? On that other plane, Swampy shows up to save Johnny, but it’s too late as the enemy sends John off to a fate worse than death.
While Swamp Thing fights valiantly for mankind, the price that he pays is something very dear to him. The plan pays off due to Angie, Chas, Gemma and the collective unconsciousness of humanity. But alas, Swamp Thing is changed drastically (leading to the new Swamp Thing series, out this week) and Constantine appears to be having trouble with that past.
Carey is tops. He has managed to build to this storyline with his entire run thus far. He makes reading every issue of a series fun and worthwhile, not a chore. Carey’s Constantine is the man with the master plan. But he doesn’t share it. He just places the pieces in the same place and allows them to connect the dots. I love this characterization! Reading Carey’s work makes me more and more sad that the movie is set in the United States.
Man do I love this team! Frusin is one of the true under appreciated artists out there. He line work is amazing. He crafts the perfect scene. Look at the rage in Swampy’s face on page three, or the realization and hurt on his mug on page page twenty, or the frustration on page twenty-one. Plus his new look is way cool. Loughridge’s colors are fantastic. Peep mankind’s protector on page eighteen, or the soul on page sixteen. And since Clem letters at least one book that I read a week I will go on record as saying that he is my favorite letter. In fact since 100 Bullets is doing the whole “bi monthly†thing; this may be my favorite team in comics, on a monthly basis.
