Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Dr. Gym'll's Cultural Rarities The Books of Magic

One word: wow.

Okay, now some more words. So I'm about 16 years late but whatever, the point is that I read it, right? And can I just say-- I love John Constantine. Seriously, I don't know how other writers write him (except Dini in Zatanna: Everyday Magic which makes me so happy I could squee but that's another story and whoever wrote that really weird Totems thing where he was plastered and vomiting everywhere-- good time) but this book alone has made me consider picking up some Hellblazer trades and checking him out. Um, there are Hellblazer trades, right?

Well, anyway. Books of Magic is the story of the day! So, I don't know anything about anything about anything when it comes to Vertigo or, well, magic for that matter but this little series was absolutely fantastic. It hit all the right notes and, hell, the Harry Potter likeness didn't hurt. (I love that little jerk, I do.)

Really, it was brilliantly executed. The ominous start of Book 1 with the table talk between the so-called Trenchcoat Brigade. I just love Constantine as the Phantom Stranger's foil and just general lazy ass. Then we meet Timothy, Tim Hunter (as he introduces himself) and the Stranger takes him on a ride through the past that's just... dude. Dawn of time and Atlantis and Merlin and Sargon and Zatara and Kent... man. Not pulling any stops! Zatara was particularly moving. Then there's Yo-yo the owl. Doctor Occult, man, you can't make this stuff up! I love all the set-up. It's fabulous.

Then, in Book 2, Constantine doing what he apparently does best. I'm still not quite sure what that is but I love it. And him. Seriously, Sting has never been hotter in my mind. Oh, so cool to Madame Xanadu with eyes, finally! And Zatanna! She was so great. Taking him around and showing him the magic in Vertigo/DC world or whatever. Of course that proved slightly problematic but still. Gave John the opportunity to save the day, which works for me as I have decided that I support their relationship. Even if it is over. (She said it backwards in Totem, damn it! Le sigh.)

Oh but Book 3 was so nifty Rose and Doctor Occult. Okay, so I don't know who either of these people are supposed to be other than minor references I remember but traveling through the various realms outside of DC/Vertigo was so neat. Dream was there! w00t~ And it was so cool to see Faerie and other realms that I don't understand but rock all the same. Not that it matters or anything, really. King Arthur was there and that bard dude who mighta slept with Rose! So confusing but so wonderful. I really can't explain any more...

Finally, there's Book 4. Now I've never even heard of Mister E or whatever his name is but he really is a bit of a bastard. I loved that John was so worried about Tim! *sniff* Anyway, there was an image of the future with the Legion and everything that was just super sweet as. Honestly, it was so gorgeous and... cool. Just cool. Of course, then they went further and further and everything got weird. But at least Death made a nifty appearance after Mister E went nutso on Tim. The ending with the Stranger, Constantine and Doctor Occult was just... perfect. Sitting around the table again. Full circle. And even though Tim turned them down (then tried to deny) and... I dunno. That with Tim and Yo-yo and, you know, it just worked so magically with everything else.

Gaiman managed to introduce (to me, anyway) complex characters, build relationships and worlds, point out the way the past, present and possible future of the DCU magical characters ties together, then effortlessly finish the story with just enough of a hopeful lift that I smiled. Seriously, comics today don't make me smile. Grimace sometimes but.. yeah. So cool. And I just had to share. I may have to do it again after I finish my next endeavor-- Books of Magick: Life During Wartime. Now I just need the time to start it...

Ah, this was great. It was my first (and I think best) exposure to Constantine. Truly magical.

This is one of my favorite stories of the last twenty years of comics. I didn't read it until way after the fact either, until I was at college and a buddy of mine had the TPB.

Like FC, it was my first real exposure to John Constantine too, and he was phenominally done. Mr. E too was incredible (first time I saw him either) and two of my all-time favorites, Dr. Occult and Phantom Stranger were hella-kewl.

Really, it was Gaiman's exploration of the magical side of the DCU that was so awesome.

A MUST-HAVE for Vertigo fans, Magic fans and Gaiman fans.

Aw, you mean it only goes down from here?? Le sigh. Still, it's worth it. So cool.

Cobie, I couldn't guessed it was one of your faves-- I've seen you reference it several times. (Of course, I had no idea wtf you were talking about but that is neither here nor there.

YES! I totally agree. I mean, you really hit the head of the nail on that one. It was just like... dude. I hate Marvel magic because it's so... but this was just... neat. Nothing was tied down but everything was explained enough. It made me interested instead of turning me off. So brilliant. The man is an effin' genius.

I don't know if Constantine didn't live up to this appearance or if I just didn't get into Hellblazer when I tried it and never picked it up again - attention is at a scarce resource! Ian Rankin is supposed to be writing a Hellblazer arc so I will definitely try that one, since he's one of my favourite novelists. But there was just something so right about the character in Books of Magic - a bit of outlaw, a bit unwilling hero.

I won't comment on Life During Wartime until you've read it!

Cali, Cramer, have you read any of the Alan Moore Swamp Thing stories where Constantine first appeared? He was really cool in those stories. Moore's entire Swamp Thing run is collected in trades and well worth reading.

I started it, actually! (Instead of studying. My bad.) I'm not sure what I think yet! Part of the appeal to me was the idea of alternate realities. I love me some of those. But this is a tad confusing and a tad.. masochistic, almost. Still, I'm curious and, hey, Gaiman consulted at least. We'll see.

Stealth-- it's funny that you ask! I haven't read any of Moore's Swamp Thing yet but I have wrangled a copy of the TPB that collects, er, the one where Zatara dies. Um, Crow Murder thingy? I know you know what I mean. I was curious to see this after seeing it referenced a few times in regards to Constantine and Zatanna's relationship. Plus, I've heard so many great things about the run that I figured, what the hey? It's also on the list.

Wonderful. I look forward to finding out what you think of the run. One suggestion, though: if possible, hold off on reading the TPB you have until you've read the earlier Moore stories, because it's all so beautifully structured and moves so smoothly.

I second Stealth's reccomendation. Followings Books, I went back and read all of Moore's Swamp Thing beginning with (IIRC) #21, which is pure brillance. Keep in mind the Floronic Man existed for years before Moore suddenly took the character and breathed fresh life in him in a way that made me sit up, take notice and crave more appearances.

Constantine's early appearances are great. I have the original issues (they're my fathers) and its even cooler to see in the letter's pages the readers trying to figure out who he is exactly, initials 'J.C.' and all that.

I loved Books of Magic. The best part was how every time Constantine went somewhere in issue # 2, he came back with a slap-mark on his cheek. Beautifully subtle running gag.

YES! I saw the slap mark! It was brilliant. I'm not sure I noticed it until my second read, though. One thing I didn't understand about that issue, though, was why Tim and Constantine didn't need passports/tickets the first time around but they did to get back. Or was that just to mess with Zatanna? Oh, and the use of Boston Brand? Pure genius. Love him.

RE: Swamp Thing-- I'll give it a shot. It's sometimes hard for me to appreciate the art/coloring of the day, which takes away from the storytelling for me. But I have heard nothing other than recommendations for Moore's run, so we'll see. The list grows longer, eh?

I'm not 100% clear on John Constantine's abilities, but it seems to me that it said in that issue that he "rides the synchronicity highway" which seems to me to mean that time and space kind of bend themselves to where he needs to go, but it's not something he directly controls. So on their first plane trip, John and Tim found themselves on the airplane directly without having to go through check-in and customs and stuff, but on the way back, the "highway" led to the normal way of getting on the plane, so they needed passports.

The pencils-and-inks art on Swamp Thing was far ahead of its time, just as detailed and experiment as what's being published today IMO. The coloring techinques are admittedly dated, but it's much more thoughtful than most other coloring of the time.