Reviewer: Mathan “I don’t dig swine either†Erhardt
Story Title: Out of Season
Written by: Mike Carey
Penciled and Inked by: Leonard Manco
Colored by: Lee Loughridge
Lettered by: Clem Robins
Editor: Will Dennis
Publisher: Vertigo/DC Comics
The issue begins with John’s buddy Chaz catching hell from his wife about John’s being front-page news. Apparently the killings in the hospital last issue didn’t go unnoticed and the cops want him for questioning. Then he gets in the car with the wife and kids to go on vacation. Meanwhile John is hitching a ride in the back of a delivery truck. When the truck finally stops he decides to explore on foot.
Angie and Gemma bond and debate over who is closer to John, and who should try to discern his whereabouts. But they find out that not only has someone else found him, but that person has prevented anyone else from finding him.
John ends up in an arcade that is closed for the season. There he meets Jinx, a homeless guy, who he met before. Jinx gives him a tour and runs off at the mouth. John blacks out and is given a glimpse of the future. When he returns to this reality he finds his stalker from the hospital, who has just finished tearing Jinx’s eyes out.
It turns out the stalkers name is Peter. Y’see Peter remember the event of the previous storyline where all of humanity was linked up. That is why he is able to look at someone and know everything about him or her. But he can’t read John because 1) John was brain dead at the time, and 2) John’s had his memory swiped clean.
Phantom Stranger pays Rosacarnis a visit about John. Rosacarnis is a demon, but she is better known as Rose the little girl John met last issue. She has been toying with John, and doesn’t take kindly to Phantom Stranger’s threats.
John gives Jinx a decent burial, or at least as good as it’s going to get and continues on his journey of self-discovery. Oh you want a cliffhanger? How about psycho Peter helping Chaz with is luggage? Things look pretty scary.
Carey hasn’t been given enough praise for his run on Hellblazer. The way that he weaves threads together is great. He has shown an amazing amount of foresight. When John gives the panhandler some money last year, who knew it would come into play this issue? And Peter is one scary character. I am really digging this story.
Manco gets no complaints from me. His artwork is very detailed. There are some panels (like the last one on page 4, or the second one and page 10) where you almost swear you are looking at a Tim Bradstreet cover image. His art is that good. Loughridge always delivers in terms of colors. And my man Robins is the most consistent letterer in the biz. Clem, you are a workhorse.
