Outside a pub for a cig after a pint or two, John Constantine finds himself on the losing end of a high-speed impact with a hurtling car. Thrown free of his body, Constantine’s soul has the presence of mind to call an ambulance, thus saving his life and garnering him a lengthy hospital stay. The disembodied soul isn’t around for all that long (only until John regains consciousness), but long enough to realize that this wasn’t a random accident. Someone wanted Constantine laid up. But who — and why?
Three months of recuperation, with the tender care of a gorgeous nurse, pass, and Constantine’s ready to leave the hospital, all healed, save for some nasty headaches. Headaches that seem to get worse each time he witnesses one of a series of freaky murders. Headaches that send his doctors after him, ostensibly to up his medication. But John’s no fool, and he knows this just ain’t right. With the help of his former nurse, he uncovers a plot to use his blood – demon’s blood – to create an army. Imagine that, a army of insanely powerful –and just plain insane — John Constantine wanna-bes running around London.
Not a pretty thought, is it? Constantine must work quickly to find a way to stop the monsters – and the bigger monsters behind them – else risk a London overrun by brutal killers. Oh,and eventually get back to that pint he’s been longing for all these months, and maybe shag the girl too. A man’s gotta have his priorities!
Si Spencer’s put together a taut, fast-paced, and well-executed Constantine story liberally laced with John’s trademark smart-ass humor, blood and horror. The writing is sharp and smart and the plot bang-on. Sean Murphy’s art works well with Spencer’s gritty, seedy London, deftly rendering Constantine in all his scruffy, craggy glory. City of Demons is a smart, welcome addition to the Hellblazer library –- hopefully Spencer and Murphy can revisit the series at some point and give fans more.
Vertigo, 2011
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