I never really expected to be able to say Hellblazer was again the greatest book on the market, but there you go. This is next level storytelling, operating on multiple levels, and the art is just extraordinary. Constantine investigates Billingsgate Fish Market, where he has a chat with a mermaid. So far so folk tale, but she’s in love with a fisherman, and Si Spurrier spares no punches when it comes to the stories British fishermen tell themselves. He even throws in a Nigel Farage allegory, and Spurrier again delves into the reality of Brexiteers – Freddie is a small man trying to make his name in an industry Britain itself killed and uses his mermaid to write his own story for his own benefit. It’s ugly, the characterisation is extraordinary, and again using Constantine as a device to uncover the nastiest stories modern Britain tells itself is about as timely as it gets.

The art by Aaron Campbell and colours by Jordie Bellaire together set a new standard for mainstream comics – the griminess of the line work is impeccably judged, and works very well with note perfect visual characterisation. You know just what Constantine is thinking without needing much dialogue, and the extra dimension added by Bellaire’s work to the emotions at play in this modern yet timeless story can’t be understated. The page of orange with the green panel, the page of green with the yellow in one panel, it’s about the best I’ve ever seen, and this is only part one of a story all of whose layers haven’t yet been revealed. I’m hooked on this book, and it doesn’t even feel like my review does it justice…

writing	★★★★★
art	★★★★★
colours	★★★★★
overall	★★★★★