Reviewer: Mathan “I finally go my computer fixed†Erhardt
Story Title: Stations of the Cross
Written by: Mike Carey
Penciled and Inked by: Marcelo Frusin
Colored by: Lee Loughridge
Lettered by: Clem Robins (and company)
Cover by: Tim Bradstreet
Editor: Will Dennis
Publisher: DC Comics
All you really need to know is that John Constantine is having problems with his memory. He doesn’t remember too much about his past. A demon has offered to return his memory in return for him doing her bidding for one day, but he, in his haze decided against it.
This issue begins with a harrowing look at homelessness in the UK through the eyes of Hughie. Fortunately for Hughie two girls, who also seem to provide salvation, offer him shelter. Hughie enters an abandoned church and encounters a crazy man preaching, but he’s just another resident, not the leader. The two girls do lead him to their cloaked Savior though.
Meanwhile, John wakes up in the train tunnel. When he makes it up to street level he sees Rose, the demon who can return him to normal. She offers again, and again he rebuffs. She hints that in the future they will meet again. We then go back to Hughie and the Savior. Let’s just say that things don’t go so well for Hughie.
Back to Constantine, we see him get into it with another homeless guy. A fight ensues, John wins but is horrified by the outcome. John runs away and into Suzie and Margaret, the same young ladies who helped out Hughie. Since he’s hurt he accepts the offer. John cleans up but receives a message that spooks him.
After that John steps up to meet the Savior at center stage, but at the last moment he has second thoughts. The Savior recognizes John, and as John tries to run away, he orders his follower to restrain him. Did I mention that the cloaked Savior is someone from Constantine’s past?
The beginning of the issue is very dreary, which means Carey did a wonderful job of creating a character and setting a mood. Here is someone we don’t know, yet understand perfectly. I am also really enjoying reading a Constantine that doesn’t know all the angles, or even the game. It’s refreshing. And the surprise reveal at the end of the issue has me digging in my back issues to try to piece things together.
Yippee, Frusin has returned! I love this man’s work. Suzie is seductive, Hughie is desperate and Terry is scary; and that is just describing the faces on two pages. This issue really shows how the time off Frusin had, has done him well. The frustration on John’s face on page eight is a perfect example of the great way Frusin’ conveys emotion. Robins’ (and company) lettering of the show scene really stands out. From the sound effects of the showerhead, to the great effect of the message John receives, Robins (and company) make that scene work perfectly. Loughridge’s addition to the message is ultra creepy.
