Hellblazer #49
"The Lord of the Dance"
January 1992
Writer: Garth Ennis
Artist: Steve Dillon
The book starts out with John Constantine attempting to find his almost-girlfriend, Kit, the perfect Christmas gift. While searching he notices a ghost following him. He confronts the ghost, who identifies himself as The Lord of the Dance, a mythic god of merriment and drink.
Lord of the Dance recounts his life before the Church, wherein he takes part in and creates the greatest of parties. Lots of indulgence with no consequence. He finds life from the joy and indulgence of people.
Unfortunately, the Church, or at least people of the Church, decide the parties that were symbolic of his role are useless and should no longer take place. Thusly, The Lord of the Dance, has roamed the Earth alone after his followers and believers deserted him.
Constantine, never one to pass up some drink, invites Lord out to a pub to show him all the things he's missing are still around. Lord has an amazing time and admits he must have been looking in all the wrong places. When they finally part, Lord has been re-energized.
The evening passes and John eventually stumbles back to Kit's apartment, where he's been staying. He finds her still awake and in good spirits and suddenly he remembers he didn't get her a gift...
He ponders this aloud and she also admits she hasn't gotten him anything, but she comes up with the one perfect gift John's been aching over the past couple of issues: a kiss.
The tale ends with the two making their physical relationship official.
On the surface John Constatine hardly seems the sentimental type, but I find him one of the most layered characters in comics. He's as much a living, breathing and layered character as has ever existed. Beneath the nasty bastard exterior he longs for the happiness that he's not allowed himself and he helps others to a fault. Yes, he's also screwed others and ruined lives, but that's part of his tragic personality. All that is due to the excellent writers that have crafted and built upon this character across the span of thirty years. Prior to the New 52 absorbing him into their universe, he could not be touched in those terms.
He still retains some of that personality, but it's almost like he's been washed out. It's unfortunate they didn't leave him to Vertigo and his natural fate (death), but that's just me complaining now.
Anyway, this is easily a highlight in the run of Hellblazer. It sports the edginess that was always synonymous with the title, but also, like John, has that layer of warmth to it. It's just a bit more overt than normal.
It's a happy ending and, in the world of Hellblazer, that's a rare thing.
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