Despite John Constantine’s enduring consistency in both personality and appearance within the DC Universe for over 39 years, the dark magic user is now set to undergo both a wardrobe and career change. Revealed in the cover art for an upcoming Hellblazer comic release, the fresh look carries an ironic sense of humor and also draws inspiration from the art style of a cult-classic comic series.
Si Spurrier and Aaron Campbell’s John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America #4 is set to hit shelves on April 16, 2024. The teasing solicitation unveiled the issue’s cover art by Campbell, showcasing a surprising transformation of John that undoubtedly left fans doing a double take.
JOHN CONSTANTINE, HELLBLAZER: DEAD IN AMERICA #3 (2024) | |
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| Release Date: | April 16, 2024 |
| Writers: | Si Spurrier |
| Artists: | Aaron Campbell |
| Cover Artist: | Aaron Campbell |
| Variant Covers: | N/A |
John Constantine… faith healer? Disguised as a Catholic priest in a small town near the Texas-Mexico border, John searches for the connection between how a dust-ridden county turned out a massive harvest and Dream’s missing sand. But this good-natured, all-American town has an ugly secret… one that brings John, Nat, and Noah face-to face with monsters of a very | |
In the featured art, Constantine trades in his classic trench coat, dress shirt, tie, and suit pants for a priestly getup, and with this wardrobe change comes a new career title as well—Constantine, faith healer extraordinaire.
John Constantine Becomes a Catholic Priest in Texas
Fans of the foul-mouthed, chain-smoking, dark magic user can breathe a sigh of relief as the new look and job for their favorite Hellblazer are temporary. Dead in America #4 will see Constantine go undercover as a Catholic priest in a small town in Texas. This priestly transformation is part of his mission to follow the trail of clues leading him to locate Dream’s missing sand. While John’s stint as a priest is temporary and solely for the sake of the mission, it promises to be an entertaining deviation from his usual persona.
Given that John is the antithesis of everything a Catholic priest should be, this issue promises to be uproarious as fans witness him attempting to maintain the facade of his disguise. Rather than putting significant effort into convincing others of his priestly demeanor, it’s highly likely that John will simply don the priestly garments, making that the extent of his undercover efforts. Regardless of his approach, or lack thereof, in impersonating a Catholic priest, this issue is poised to deliver comedic moments that showcase Constantine’s irreverent charm and add a humorous twist to the ongoing Hellblazer storyline.
DC’s New Evil God Is So Powerful, Even Sandman’s Endless Are Scared
John Constantine: Hellblazer – Dead in America #1 kicks off with the introduction of a new malicious deity that even the all-powerful Endless fear.
Dead in America #4 Teases Similarities with Vertigo’s Preacher Series
Dead in America appears to draw inspiration from the cult-classic comic series Preacher by DC’s Vertigo imprint, promising a nostalgic connection for fans. The comic cover, reminiscent of the art style and aesthetic of Preacher, particularly the hardcover for Preacher, Book 1 by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, sets a strong and familiar tone. Striking similarities between the two covers include both John Constantine and Jesse Custer donning priestly garments against an eerie background of fire that shares a similar saturation and color pallet.
Furthermore, the choice of a small town in Texas as the setting for issue four of Dead in America echoes the backdrop of the Preacher series. The cover for the Hellblazer issue also possibly pays tribute to Preacher through the demonic face depicted on John’s stomach. This could be a deliberate callback to the supernatural and demonic possession themes central to Jesse Custer’s narrative. As fans eagerly anticipate the release of Dead in America, the prospect of discovering more hidden tributes to Preacher within this John Constantine story adds an extra layer of intrigue to this upcoming installment.
John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America #4 will be released on April 16, 2024, from DC Comics!
