<![CDATA[John Constantine just met his match: a terrible spell-slinging hipster]]>

John Constantine recoils from a poop elemental that has accosted him just as he left his flat, in Hellblazer #4, DC Comics (2020).
Image: Simon Spurrier, Matías Bergara/DC Comics

He’s the worst

As one of the rare comics characters who has aged in real time, John Constantine is no stranger to new trends and fashions. But a yoga-posing, pun-making, man-bun-wearing, spell-slinging hipster who worships at his feet might be too much even for him.

The chipper Tommy Willow-Tree (yes) may be a satchel-toting dandy who uses yoga poses to banish demons, but he’s probably better at John’s job than John is and can drink him under the table. Just an awful time for John Constantine.

What else is happening in the pages of our favorite comics? We’ll tell you. Welcome to Polygon’s weekly list of the books that our comics editor enjoyed this past week. It’s part society pages of superhero lives, part reading recommendations, part “look at this cool art.” There may be some spoilers. There may not be enough context. If you missed last week, read this. Let’s get started!

Hellblazer #4

“Evil is at large,” a hipstery man insists to John Constantine and his driver, who both burst out laughing, in Hellblazer #4, DC Comics (2020).
Image: Simon Spurrier, Matías Bergara/DC Comics

Simon Spurrier and Matías Bergara have a lot of fun at Tommy’s expense — and really work the comedy moments like this one — but they don’t forget that Constantine himself is the misanthropic asshole the world needs, but not the one it deserves. I look forward to seeing where they take this team up.

X-Men #7

“Jeannie in a bikini,” Wolverine muses. “Scott in a speedo,” Cyclops counters. “Heh.” Wolverine responds. “Well, who could say no to that?” “Great,” Scott says. From X-Men #7, Marvel Comics (2020).
Image: Jonathan Hickman, Leinil Francis Yu/Marvel Comics

When X-Men #7 wasn’t inventing a mutant religion, it was being irrepressibly horny. But I’ve got to admit that all this teasing about whether Jean, Cyclops, Wolverine, and Emma Frost are really in a loving polycule, and whether Cyclops and Wolverine are really exploring queer identity would be a lot more fun if Marvel wasn’t owned by Disney.

Amethyst #1

“NO!!!” Amethyst cries as she sees her ruined kingdom. “No. No. No. No,” she repeats as she hops across floating crystal platforms in heels, in Amethyst #1, DC Comics (2020).
Image: Amy Reeder/DC Comics

My favorite panel in Amethyst #1 is this lovely bit of physical comedy clip-clopping across floating gems.

Ant-Man #2

Pamela the ant recaps Ant-Man #1, saying “Hello I am Pamela the ant Pamela am landlord of ant hill that Ant-Man live in,” in Ant-Man #2, Marvel Comics (2020).
Image: Zeb Wells, Dylan Burnett/Marvel Comics

This is Pamela the ant. Ant-Man is her tenANT. She does the recaps for the new Ant-Man comic. I would die for her.

Far Sector #4

The Citadel council reveals that it expects its population to violently rebel and be crushed, and takes it as the low price of stability, in Far Sector #4, DC Comics (2020).
Image: N.K. Jemisin, Jamal Campbell/DC Comics

Not to give too much of the plot away, but Far Sector continues to be one of the most interesting and visually creative sci-fi parables on the stands right now.

Giant Size X-Men: Jean Grey and Emma Frost

Jean Grey and Emma Frost approach a massive purple lion and lioness with glowing eyes in Giant-Size X-Men: Jean Grey and Emma Frost, Marvel Comics (2020).
Image: Jonathan Hickman, Russell Dauterman/Marvel Comics

Russell Dauterman’s art and Matthew Wilson’s colors in the first of the new sweep of Giant Size X-Men books are great. That is all.

Tomorrow #1

A Russian hacker calls an american official from his shadowy apartment, and proposes that they work together to combat the “plague virus” in Tomorrow #1, Dark Horse Comics (2020).
Image: Peter Milligan, Jeséus Hervás/Dark Horse Comics

It feels like everybody’s doing a comic about an apocalyptic plague delivered through technology these days, but Tomorrow’s first issue kept me surprisingly engaged with some powerful introductions to its central characters. I’ll be keeping my eye on it!

Suicide Squad #3

Deadly Six explains his and Jog’s powers to Harley Quinn. He can “trigger one of the six deadly sins” in his enemies. She points out that there are seven deadly sins. “Sure,” he says, “but weaponizing lust would be icky,” in Suicide Squad #3, DC Comics (2020).
Image: Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo/DC Comics

First: I love that the Revolutionaries have a speedster who is only good for springs. Second: Yeah, Deadly Six! Weaponizing lust WOULD be icky!

Source: Polygon

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