There's someone in the house with Constantine.
What the bollocks?
Poor Constantine gets some moments of self-reflection in the first installment of the 'Blight' saga as he takes a journey across the world after being the last survivor of his team.
Evil. That's what supposed to have won. But what is Evil? Why is Evil? The House of Mystery tries to help Constantine try to understand why the Syndicate won.
A thoroughly enjoyable and reflective read, DeMatteis has started something wonderful here. It's a dialogue heavy book, but when the words are so good, you can forgive it. With great artwork, this book has become a must-read.
SPOILERS follow..................
Constantine alone has survived the Syndicate.
But instead of seeing something pleasant (like J'onn and Stargirl), he's the victim of his own little gremlins (and yes, that is literal).
John tries to somehow get back Zatanna (ain't exactly comfortable with Constantine in love), but the House instead takes him to different parts of the world where 'evil' is prevalent - and this is the highlight of the issue.
Constantine really reminds me of a better DC Pariah.
His reflective thoughts are so well crafted that it's hard not to enjoy them. Especially striking was the dragon pose the evil took as John walked by. Evil grows not only though hurt, but also though negligence.
John has been a magnificent b*****d are his life. He's used everyone and everything for his own ends. Though DC has tempered him down, he's still the only hero who hovers between good and evil, siding with whatever side suits him.
As John sees how marriages break, people are ignored - he realizes evil already had a foundation here and the Syndicate just took that opportunity.
Back at the house, his own guilt lashes out at him in the form of his team-mates. And even when he is able to let everyone go, Zatanna stays.
Zatanna is someone John really did care for. Maybe the only person he cared for.
But the time of self-reflection is gone and John finds out that the Nightmare Nurse had taken Zatanna's form to cure him of the aftereffects of Pandora's Box.
And she's brought a friend.
This is a very good story, both in plot and character moments. The writer both pushes the story forward without forgetting to deal with the aftermath of trinity war.
The next Justice League Dark is starting to form and this looks like it can be both an enjoyable and reflective ride.
So, I give it 9.5 out of 10.
+Great character moments +Some brillaint dialogue +Great art +Plot progression
-The transition from reflection to plot may have been too hurried.
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