DENISE MINA ON HELLBLAZER

[MattBrady]

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

John Constantine is getting a new voice.

At the WizardWorld LA convention in March, the Glasgow-based Scottish crime novelist was announced as the next writer to take on DC/Vertigo’s long-running series, Hellblazer beginning with issue #216 in January of 2006. Mina takes over from current writer Mike Carey, who moves on after more than 3 years and 41 issues later.

As a character, John Constantine first appeared in the pages of Saga of the Swamp Thing in 1985. Three years later, the first issue of his own comic, Hellblazer hit the stands. The comic series celebrated its 200th issue in September of last year, courtesy of Carey and artists Steve Dillon, Marcelo Frusin and Leonardo Manco and moviegoers got their own taste of Hellblazer with Constantine earlier this year by director Francis Lawrence and starring Keanu Reeves as the title character.

As mentioned, Mina joins other a large group of writers who’ve worked on and developed the Constantine character in the comics, such as the aforementioned Alan Moore and Mike Carey, Jamie Delano, Grant Morrison, Neil Gaiman, Garth Ennis, John Smith, Eddie Campbell, Paul Jenkins, Warren Ellis, Darko Macan, Brian Azzarello, Andy Diggle (in the Lady Constantine limited series), Peter Hogan (Love Street), John Ney Reiber (The Trenchcoat Brigade), Dave Gibbons (short story in Winter’s Edge #3) and Matt Johnson (Papa Midnite).

We sat down with the incoming writer for a chat about being the new woman in John Constantine’s life.

Newsarama: You’re an award-winning crime novelist, having garnered the Crime Writers’ Association John Creasey Memorial Dagger for Garnethill in 1998. So, how did you come to work on DC/Vertigo’s Hellblazer?

Denise Mina: Jon Vankin, the editor of the series, wrote an email to my website asking if I would consider writing for Hellblazer. I wrote back immediately and told him I’d eat my own guts to write for Hellblazer. Yes, my apparent reticence was just a bid to get a lot of money for the scripts. I love comics.

NRAMA: Your novels to date have been gritty and realistic in their tone, centering on some of the absolute worst humanity can offer. How different is it writing the adventures of John Constantine?

DM: Well, Constantine is such a definite character, he’s kind of hard to warp around your own obsessions, which is a pleasant holiday. JC’s the ultimate noir hero: a heavy smoking, broken-hearted idealist.

NRAMA: Since his introduction by Alan Moore in the pages of Saga of the Swamp Thing in 1985, many prominent writers have had their spin on the character and the world that he lives in. What does it feel like to be the first female writer to write Hellblazer?

DM: Yeah, thanks for scaring the crap out of me. Luckily I have a terrible memory for names so although I’ve read all the work those guys have done on Hellblazer as well as many other comics, I’ve never attributed the work to individuals. In short, I’m too stupid to be appropriately intimidated.

As for being a woman, well, I don’t know what difference it makes because I’ve never been a man. The female characters may have fewer nut-smuggling zeppelins in their jumpers but apart from that… JC won’t be talking about his feelings or cooking. Not very much anyway.

NRAMA: You mentioned in an interview with Chapters that you’re “reading every Hellblazer comic ever published” in preparation for your work on the comic. Delano established the character of John Constantine in the first 24 issues of his initial run. Ennis’ stories, on the other hand, were more of the “in your face” type of horror stories. Jenkins brought a lot of British mythologies into the series. Azzarello’s stories were more reality based, more like noir crime comic with an added grittiness to them. Fans seemed to be divided over Carey’s run, though his All His Engines OGN won critical acclaim. What’re some of the key elements or events from the earlier runs that you’ve found intriguing and important to the continuing story of the life of John Constantine?

DM: For me, the key elements of JC’s character are that he isn’t; as much of a bastard as he thinks and is connected to humanity. His friendship with Chas keeps him going and I think he’s aware of that. Dolly and Chas are very important in the story but I think my real aim is to bring a more reality based story line back, simply because I can’t possibly compete with Carey for original fantasy story lines. I’m a big Ennis fan and hope to bring a bit of a Preacher road-movie feel to the story arc.

NRAMA: At the Vertigo panel in WizardWorld LA, Vankin said that you will not shy away from the supernatural elements of the series and that your first story is in fact heavy in the supernatural department. You’ve also mentioned in an interview with the Evening Times that “It's set in Park Circus and it's about some characters who live in Glasgow and who entice detective John Constantine up here. It's such an interesting thing to do and it's so different to writing emotive stories." Care to elaborate more on the story that you’re writing? How do you see John Constantine as a character?

DM: JC is a bit of broken man at the start of my run, but that’s all Carey’s doing so I can’t take any credit for that. JC comes to Glasgow with an amnesiac friend but when they get into the friend’s house they find a lot of scary stuff there that can’t be explained. It soon becomes clear that the friend is in a lot of danger and JC has to try and find out what he’s been up to. See? This is a blurb, the para you put on a book jacket which wriggles and giggles and tries not to give anything away. Obtuse enough for you? I hope I have told you something there.

NRAMA: In terms of supporting characters, will you be bringing back the old ones? Introducing new ones at the same time?

DM: There’s a load of new characters for the first few, all of whom are named after really close friends of mine who are major, major comic fans. One of them was nagging me to read Hellblazer for about ten yeas before I did. He kept saying I’d love it and he was right. Later in the story arc, JC has to call upon some old friends. Reading through the Hellblazer Bible tells you how dangerous it is to be friends with him though. Every time I found a good character I thought I could use, I realized they’d been killed.

NRAMA: Your first issue is scheduled for January 2006’s Hellblazer #216, right?

DM: Yeah. Eeeep.

NRAMA: How long are you planning on staying for? Almost every writer that’s come before stayed for 40 issues (with the exception of Alan Moore and Warren Ellis) and Mike Carey is leaving the title after his 41st issue…

DM: Well, I was going to do 7 issues but then agreed to 13 so we’ll see how it goes.

NRAMA: It’s been mentioned that your run will feature guest artists, though Leonardo Manco is still the regular artist, right? Is cover artist Tim Bradstreet drawing a story or two as well?

DM: Yeah, there’s a special issue before the arc starts proper, a stand alone and I think they like to use different artists for those. I’m pretty sure it’s Manco for the run, I’m not certain about Bradstreet.

NRAMA: What’s next for you as a comic book writer? How about novels?

DM: It’s so different from writing prose, I can actually feel bits of my brain coming alive as I try to imagine all these still images. I’d love to do more but I’m aware that my strength at the moment is novelty: I can’t compete with those guys who have been working in this form for years and years but I’d definitely like to do more, perhaps an original character that I’ve made up myself. Even if I never do it again, I’ve loved it.

[bcondray]

Sounds like Hellblazer is in very good hands.. still.

[linnen]

A big welcome to Denise from someone who has been with the book since #1.

I have been really enjoying Mike's run on the title (IMHO he's the best since Garth); however, at the same time, I'm looking forward to seeing what Ms. Mina is going to put our boy John through.

In the flavor text of the interview, it was pointed out that Mike Carey's run is dividing fans (or whatever) - I can't imagine that he is less popular amongst the fans than Jenkins or Azz was. He is really giving us a primal kinda Hellblazer - and I think it's great.

[DessertPunk]

Hope she does some good work on Hellblazer. Never read her novels, but I may look into them to get a feel as to what she'll bring to everyone's favorite Black magician

[Bllesed]

Cool, another writer in comic biz
I'm looking foward to this run, gotta check the novels
Cheers!

[DrTzinTzin]

Hellblazer's a tough gig so I wish her all the luck in the world.

[BlueThunderArmy]

Sounds like good times. I'll miss Carey's run on the title, but this sounds another great flavor.

[swanstand]

Originally posted by linnen
In the flavor text of the interview, it was pointed out that Mike Carey's run is dividing fans (or whatever) - I can't imagine that he is less popular amongst the fans than Jenkins or Azz was. He is really giving us a primal kinda Hellblazer - and I think it's great.

Having read the book since issue 1, I dropped it after reading Carey's first arc. It seemed a little too far afield of the character and the tone just didn't work for me. I had the same issues with Ellis' run which made Constantine too cold and removed from his earlier incarnations, but I hung in there for that, wouldn't do it again though.

Saying that, I look forward to Mina's run and hope that she'll put the book back on my pull list.

[KyleCowstar]

Originally posted by MattBrady


NRAMA: Since his introduction by Alan Moore in the pages of Saga of the Swamp Thing in 1985, many prominent writers have had their spin on the character and the world that he lives in. What does it feel like to be the first female writer to write Hellblazer?

DM: Yeah, thanks for scaring the crap out of me. Luckily I have a terrible memory for names so although I’ve read all the work those guys have done on Hellblazer as well as many other comics, I’ve never attributed the work to individuals. In short, I’m too stupid to be appropriately intimidated.

Sounds like she has no clue who Alan Moore is. Ouch.

[kingofcities]

Originally posted by MattBrady
The female characters may have fewer nut-smuggling zeppelins in their jumpers but apart from that… JC won’t be talking about his feelings or cooking. Not very much anyway.

Best.

Quote.

EVER.

Looking forward to this run.

[AlKennedy]

Well, no, in fairness, it sounds like she loves comics, but can't remember who wrote each particular issue of Hellblazer.

[linnen]

Originally posted by swanstand
Having read the book since issue 1, I dropped it after reading Carey's first arc. It seemed a little too far afield of the character and the tone just didn't work for me. I had the same issues with Ellis' run which made Constantine too cold and removed from his earlier incarnations, but I hung in there for that, wouldn't do it again though.

Hey swanstand! I totally have to agree with you on Ellis's run. But after him and Azz (who I enjoyed at first, but then he lost me by the end), I thought that Carey was a pretty welcome return to greatness.

Our different opinions are what keeps the world interesting, I guess - and I'm certainly not going to argue with someone who has The Question as his icon!! That's one of my favorite books ever and the story where he was buried up to his neck remains pretty unforgetable.

Take care!

[KyleCowstar]

Originally posted by AlKennedy
Well, no, in fairness, it sounds like she loves comics, but can't remember who wrote each particular issue of Hellblazer.

Yea, but Alan Moore is one of the best comic writers ever. It's not like not knowiung who Mike Carey is or who Devin Grayson or even Geoff Johns is. It's Alan frickin Moore. Well, who cares.

[AlKennedy]

Originally posted by KyleCowstar
Yea, but Alan Moore is one of the best comic writers ever. It's not like not knowiung who Mike Carey is or who Devin Grayson or even Geoff Johns is. It's Alan frickin Moore. Well, who cares.

Yeah, I agree, but what I'm trying to say but not expressing very well is that I think she does know who Alan Moore is, but couldn't list you the issues he worked on which had John Constantine in them. Besides, it's not like Alan Moore actually ever wrote Hellblazer itself, and she was talking about how she's "read all the work those guys have done on Hellblazer". I'm sure she's very aware of Moore.

[swanstand]

Originally posted by linnen
Hey swanstand! I totally have to agree with you on Ellis's run. But after him and Azz (who I enjoyed at first, but then he lost me by the end), I thought that Carey was a pretty welcome return to greatness.

Our different opinions are what keeps the world interesting, I guess - and I'm certainly not going to argue with someone who has The Question as his icon!! That's one of my favorite books ever and the story where he was buried up to his neck remains pretty unforgetable.

Take care!

Azzarello did some interesting character studies beyond Constantine himself (which IMHO is what made his run memorable) but beyond that, yes, it did get very off kilter towards the end.

I think the best run on the book in terms of story was Ennis' Devil multi-arc, but Delano had the best overall approach with the diverse subject matter he put in.

He also pulled a rare rabbit out of his hat by telling a story someone else suggested and did not muck it up. Alan Moore's Newcastle idea, told as a flashback by Delano was very disturbing and brilliantly executed (especially for the time.)

btw: Thanks for the nod on the icon and the well wishes. That was the first issue of the Question I ever bought, it was one of the best mature comics on the 80's and, if anyone reading this has never read the 36 issue run, it's well worth it.

Stay safe.

[choisez]

Bradstreet says his covers have sadly come to an end:

Voices From Beyond

-Eddy

[Doc Midnight]

I can't sa ythat I'm sorry to see Mike Carey go. I really do look forward to any one writing Helbalzer who can bring back some sense of darkness and Adventure without resorting to the same plot devices of the writers before him.

If I see one more story about Constantine being reduced to nothing, I'll scream.

The charm of Constantine is that he is a bastard that rises above what would normally crumble most folks. It pains him that his friends get hurt BUT he has to do what he has to do.

You are supposed to wait for the chickens to come home to roost but you are not supposed to ever see the chickens.

Doc Midnight

[steveupson]

rock on.

More intelligent women in mainstream comics is always cause for celebration...
Good luck, Denise!

[SerbsInSpace]

That's all pretty well but I think that this title's lost a lot of heat since Az did it (or even Ennis). This book was a who's who of comicbook scribes for a long time, so bringing Bendis or Steve Niles would help sales and bring Hellblazer on the map

[swanstand]

Originally posted by SerbsInSpace
That's all pretty well but I think that this title's lost a lot of heat since Az did it (or even Ennis). This book was a who's who of comicbook scribes for a long time, so bringing Bendis or Steve Niles would help sales and bring Hellblazer on the map

Brian Michael Bendis on Hellblazer? Now there's a suggestion!


I think I need a lie down.

[BlueThunderArmy]

Originally posted by KyleCowstar
Yea, but Alan Moore is one of the best comic writers ever. It's not like not knowiung who Mike Carey is or who Devin Grayson or even Geoff Johns is. It's Alan frickin Moore. Well, who cares.

See, that's the thing. I know who Alan Moore is. You know who Alan Moore is. But try dropping that name on the average non-comics-fan and see how far it gets you.

It sounds like Ms Mina is a devoted fan of Hellblazer, who is familiar with a few comics but not in "the culture." Might be good to have such a perspective on the book.

[Cray_ws]

Originally posted by BlueThunderArmy
See, that's the thing. I know who Alan Moore is. You know who Alan Moore is. But try dropping that name on the average non-comics-fan and see how far it gets you.

It sounds like Ms Mina is a devoted fan of Hellblazer, who is familiar with a few comics but not in "the culture." Might be good to have such a perspective on the book.

Glad you said it before this thread steamrolled into "She doesn't know who Alan Moore is".

Ask your neighbors who Alan Moore is, odds are they won't have a clue unless they read comics. Hell, I'm willing to bet a local librarian wouldn't know what books Alan Moore wrote without looking it up.

Comics culture is microscopic hobby, and will forever be that way unless the culture becomes relevent to the average person.

I welcome a writer who has a fresh perspective and give this industry fresh ideas without bias that alot pros that were fans and still are.

[Koben Kelly]

Originally posted by Doc Midnight
I can't sa ythat I'm sorry to see Mike Carey go.If I see one more story about Constantine being reduced to nothing, I'll scream.

The charm of Constantine is that he is a bastard that rises above what would normally crumble most folks. It pains him that his friends get hurt BUT he has to do what he has to do.

100% I understand that many of you like Carey's Hellblazer. That is reality. Personally, after dropping Lucifer and Hellblazer, I refuse to pay for his books. I never felt that he developed a voice for John. I am so glad to have a new chance to see John again, seeing as how he hasn't been in Hellblazer since Azz left the book. I loved his run. The golum massacre, killing the skinheads, was my personal favorite highlight from that run.

Thanks
---Koben

[SerbsInSpace]

Alan Moore is great but he, like Frenk Miller, he is mainly a reinventor of superhero comics. Most of the themes in his work are the God complex and change of the world, which are very superheroic too.

[Reaper]

Denise Mina. That's a hot name. I bet she's hot.

-Tim