John Constantine has had a very long, varied career. The man has been to hell and back quite a few times. He has saved the world from destruction. He has been a jailed convict. And now he is in love. Although this is not the first time old John has had romantic feelings for a broad, it's the first time he has sunk low enough to use a love potion! Is Constantine really head-over-heels crazy in love with this woman, or does he have a secret motive?
In the first chapter of the three part storyline "Hooked", Milligan portrays Constantine as a conflicted guy on the verge of becoming 'old and alone'. Still a cigarette chewing blond in a trench coat, he's not after lust, but merely a woman with which to share his life. But not all aspects of it. She probably wouldn't be thrilled about his monster/demon fighting career. The love potion is provided by a young alchemist who would love to jump John's bones, but he seems to be steering clear of her advances.
All the while, Constantine has been relying on an individual by the name of Julian, to assist him with a nasty skin condition. Julian is an Ekkimu, a hoodoo practitioner and villainous freak with a connection to Babylonian gods. Julian seeks to rope Constantine into her sick plans, but even as Julian thinks she (possibly 'it') is the dominant member of their new relationship, John has other plans. What remains to be seen is whether John Constantine will find the love he seeks and defeat the twisted machinations of Julian. One can only hope.
The art team does a great job making characters look unique and interesting. A blue haired alchemist looks cute and mysterious, and a Babylonian god leaps off the page in a frightening show of smoke and fury. A few of the pages seemed reminiscent of work by Frank Quitely, which I found very curious. The team offers a clean style which stands in the face of the gritty look often seen in older Hellblazer issues (and alluded to on the issue's cover). It's a refreshing change, and I'm looking forward to seeing where this storyline goes.
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