A new mainstream
A new mainstream |
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Page 16 of 23  Sandman (1990). Art: Chris Bachalo. A witty story about Sandman meeting his 1941 incarnation (in gas mask) Hellblazer was also a revival of sorts, and similarly dated back to 1988. This much more sombre title starred a bit player from the Alan Moore-era Swamp Thing stories, namely John Constantine, an 'occult investigator'. In Hdlblazer, Constantine is a complex character, a sort of tough Philip Marlowe, but also a haunted man whose meddling in the 'black arts' often ends up costing his friends their lives. His exposure of lurking supernatural horror could be truly frightening, both on a visceral and psychological level. Again, Hellblazer was a writer-led title, scripted by Englishman Jamie Delano, and again it tapped into contemporary trends. Most interestingly, it included political subtexts. In one darkly amusing example, our working-class hero battles the 'demon yuppies from hell': other monstrous villains included mutant football hooligans, quaint English serial killers, sinister police units that attack peace convoys, ultra-militant Christians and supra-masonic plotters. The title may have lacked Sandman's lyricism (and sales), but was nevertheless a superior horror series. The Vertigo imprint also incorporated old hits like Swamp Thing and Animal Man (now both past their peak), plus newer works such as Shade the Changing Man, Enigma, The Invisibles and Doom Patrol. What was remarkable about all these titles was their heavy reliance on British talent: 'the British invasion', as it became known in fanzines. Writers included not only the key threesome of Morrison, Gaiman and Delano, but also the up-and-coming Peter Milligan and Garth Ennis. Artists were also well represented, and included Duncan Fegredo, Sean Phillips, John Ridgway and Simon Bisley. Nearly all these names had learned their trade (and especially their feel for more 'adult' subject matter) on the venerable 2oooad.  Sandman (1991), in which Sandman visits an angel in crisis. Art: Kelley Jones. |