Fans of Hellblazer will no doubt love this racially charged delve into the life of the mysterious shaman, Papa Midnite. It seems that the mystic, bad mother-scratcher is far older that his pimp-like appearance would suggest. This story tells the...story of Midnite’s origin and powers which dates back to the days of American slavery. With the aid of some of the slaves, as well as a bar owned by a man who is apparently one of John Constantine’s ancestors bearing the same name and his Black friend, Midnite gathers the powers and faiths of the enslaved Africans and plans to remake the world into a place where the Black are the masters and the Whites their groveling subordinates. (In which Constantine’s ancestor hilariously switches places with his friend and nothing much changes.) While in the present, someone has hired John Constantine to kill Papa Midnite for an unknown reason.

The art is reminiscent of older independent comics, and though it is simplistic and sketchy, it is still very good, especially the character’s expressions. The writing is spectacular and though it addresses racism, it is neither vulgar nor offensive. It actually is a refreshing look at life should the tables have been turned, and I believe it is moving toward the conclusion that large-scale revenge would never really fix anything. So, though it is great to read, it also has an important message and, of course, adds depth to a major character from Hellblazer.

This isn’t a comic for everyone, but is definitely a must have for Hellblazer fans. And, I would advise anyone to at least check it out. This one is not for the kiddos, however. So naturally, after reading this, all the kiddos will go out and buy it. Ah, so predictable.

 

-Fumanchu