C-CEG

Swamp Thing 51

 

"How do you baffle a vegetable?"

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That's a classic.

As for quotes by other hellblazer characters, Clarice's dry wit usually amuses me.

For example, from 177:

Watch yourself, John. Don't go dying on us again.

It never has as much impact the second time around.

I'm a TEEN-y-bopper but only cause old habits are hard to break. It was only after years of mentally pronouncing the name as "Con-stan-teen" while reading that I finally learned I was wrong, wrong, wrong. Now it's just laziness that keeps me from proper pronunciation. As for pronounciation as a form of allegiance to the film or the comic, I'll withold judgement on the film until I see it (not that I'm terribly hopeful having read the official abbreviation, er adapatation). But if it's really that embarrassing it might inspire me to change my lazy ways.

Having John killed to give Gemma Masters a shot at being the new Hellblazer smacks too much of what went on in Swamp Thing (albeit in an after-the-fact fashion), i.e., Tefe Holland as the new Swamp Thing with her own title for a brief while and now the whole cast being resuscitated again in the latest Swamp Thing title. I'd hate to see Hellblazer go through those sorts of contortions only for everyone to figure out that while Gemma might one day be crafted into an interesting character in her own right, it's better done without pitching her as a surrogate Hellblazer. The original is just to compelling, complex, and, at this point, iconic to be "imitated."

I think there are still plenty of stories to tell with John as the center, and since he inhabits a universe where being dead isn't necessarily for keeps, it might be fun to explore some of those John raises hell in Netherworld plot lines.

And, I agree, that the immortal trickster spirit from "Books of Magic" sounds about right for an "ending"---many, many issues from now.

The reason those two covers are so different is because I wanted there to be a feeling between them that you don't know what to expect next, In a sense, trying to keep the reader off balance within the 2 issue arc.

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Well your technique worked like a charm with me. When I first picked up #196 (anticipating something graphically similar to #195), my first response was, "Oh crap. This is the start of new arc and I've some how missed part 2 of Out of Season." It made me double check the numbering. Now, thanks to this great web site, I get to see what's coming down the pike...so you won't take me unawares again Mr. Bradstreet, no sir!

The ghouls are only representing some of the demons (not specific demons)

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I didn't mean they seemed familiar in term's of the Hellblazer cosmology, but rather like echoes of something I've seen before in an art history, museology, or history book somewhere. So I was wondering if there were specific real world models you'd drawn upon for those two ghouls or if they were fabrications without any specific tangible inspiration. Any rate, not to worry--I know you've got real work to do B)

That's something I like about this site, that the people involved in the comic actually come here and give all this info and make us feel special.

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Ditto. I only wish I'd discovered this site sooner. But better late than never!

First, thank you for being so gracious and posting such detailed answers to our queries. It is fascinating to learn more about the inspirations and mechanics behind your work. (For that same reason I really like the production photo section of your Web site, too.)

I’ve admired your entire run on Hellblazer so it’s hard to pick favorites but two recent covers that made a deeper than usual impression on me were the Out of Season covers 195 and 196. I love # 195 for the bold way it incorporates the title into the design and the dramatic impact of the red, black, and white color scheme. #196 grabbed me because I think that image of John is definitive; it says volumes about his personality (although in the story, he isn’t at all his usual self). That image of John would be my idea of the perfect Hellblazer t-shirt.

OK, I’m gushing—and I swore I wouldn’t. My questions:

*You mentioned that at one time it was virtually “an edict” to have the same theme on covers within an arc. What lead you to treat these two issues in such dramatically different fashion? And are there elements that you felt unified them despite the different looks?

*What was your inspiration for the medieval-type screen behind John on 196?

* And what were your inspirations for the two ghouls to the left of Angie (Or is it Gemma)? They look somehow familiar (not that I run in those circles!)

Thanks, again for being such a good sport. Will look forward to seeing what new tricks you have up your sleeve for future covers.

The attention to detail in #200 and #202 is delicious--and I don’t just mean that ciggie-studded cake!

soon the world will be overcrowded with my offspring

Ah, yes, those lovable RogRats

My money's on Chas getting a boost from John for protection or something like that

That same idea occurred to me as well, only I needed a paragraph to say what you so nicely condensed into a sentence! :rolleyes:

...I thought it was supposed to be Chas there standing next to Constantine.  That and it looked like Mr. Chandler or whomever had been kicked around a little and perhaps was now possessed.

Saul was my first thought and still very likely, but the "I've got your back" pose makes the two look more chummy than adversarial. If it is Chas, perhaps his demonic turn was Constantine's idea, i.e., Chas is his best muscle so why not up the ante against the Constanteenies by letting Chas be possessed by a demon Constantine figures he can control until the war against the kiddies is won. Chas might even go along willingly figuring its the only way to protect his family (which Rosa knows about thanks to Gill). Then again, Chas should still be good and pissed at Constantine over that episode since he doesn't know John had amnesia, so maybe Constantine is forced to demonize Chas as the only way to protect him.

Perhaps it will be Cheryl that's offed. That might dramatically change the dynamic between Gemma and Constantine, especially if she feels he was too busy protecting Angie to look out for his own kin.

OK. Can you tell I'm using this as a way to avoid doing any real work?

Love the Quitely cover.

In response to Pooka's query:

I know the very general facts of how it effects the eyes but it is not a topic I've worked with lately. However, if you had a specific question, I'd be happy to pose it to my colleagues who, unlike me, are better versed in current thought and therapies.

As a newer participant on this board, I'm quite enjoying these fragmented glimpses into the lives of the long-time members. Makes me feel less of a stranger.

As for myself, I'm a writer and editor by trade currently toiling in the field of ophthalmology. Let’s just say it pays the bills. For fun I write about art and other forms of visual culture. I’m also working on my master’s degree in American Studies. (The undergrad degree is, appropriately enough, a BS in advertising and marketing.)

I started reading comics in grade school and never stopped. Have been a Hellblazer fan since I picked it up somewhere around issue 10. (It’s hard to remember exactly when after all this time.) Finally, thanks to all those who make the Straight to Hell site and Voices From Beyond so darned interesting for those of us who can’t go between issues without some sort of Hellblazer fix to carry us through.