Some comics invite comparisons to their inspirations. Some stick their hand into your face and beg for them—Damn Them All #1, from writer Simon Spurrier, artist Charlie Adlard, colorists Sofie Dodgson and Shayne Hanna Cui, and letterer Jim Campbell, is the latter.
Damn Them All #1
Charlie Adlard (Artist), Jim Campbell (Letterer), Shayne Hanna Cui (Colorist), Sofie Dodgeson (Colorist), Simon Spurrier (Writer),
Boom! Studios
October 26, 2022
Following a British magician with a foul mouth in a tan jacket and tie, the new series from Boom! immediately brings to mind not just Hellblazer, but specifically Spurrier’s recent run as writer of the excellent Sandman Presents take on the title. This new series invites that comparison, but can Damn Them All stand on its own?
Ellie “Bloody El” Hawthorne is a part-time occult magician, part-time hammer-wielding hired hand for British ne’er-do-wells. As she learns at a young age under the tutelage of her dirtbag magician uncle, Alfie, magic has rules—though much like her work for the mob, rules can be bent. In the case of magic, it’s more about the spirit of the law than the letter. That is, until the demons of the Ars Goetia—the first book of The Lesser Key of Solomon, an anonymous book of demonology compiled in the 17th century—begin turning up without the proper summoning ritual, and, even stranger, start apologizing for breaking the rules. It becomes abundantly clear that something, somewhere, has gone horribly wrong, and Ellie ends up wrapped up in the mystery, whether she wants to be or not.
Spurrier’s dialog remains a delight to read, though the comic can sometimes tend toward the overly descriptive and info-dumpy, given its subject matter. El’s dialog and internal monologue are a lot of fun, but there are times when it’s okay to step back and let readers fill in the gaps in their occult knowledge if they so choose. I love a good occult reference and saying, “Ooh, I got that,” so I wasn’t particularly fussed—but with Adlard’s skillful artwork and Dodgson and Cui’s gorgeous, it feels a shame to cover them up with extraneous worldbuilding. Still, Spurrier’s wit (so biting it draws blood) shines throughout. Even when bogged down in detail we may not need, we’re having fun.
Adlard, best known for his work on The Walking Dead, is a great choice for the dark and investigative tone of Damn Them All. His lines are the perfect blend of stability and chaos, drawing the eye where it needs to go but letting thin, light strokes convey the suggestion of detail. Dark, heavy black shadows cast the whole comic in appropriately noir darkness, and the demon designs, which suggest but are not beholden to Jacques Collin de Plancy’s Dictionnaire infernal, are genuinely stunning.
Though Adlard’s heavy shadows and detail can sometimes tend toward inscrutable, especially on faces, Dodgson and Cui’s colors keep each scene feeling lively. Particularly memorable are the scenes of demon summoning, rendered with the standard inks and colors, but with chromatic aberration added to simulate the disorienting, world-shaking experience of seeing something you thought was only imaginary. As characters within the story feel the consequences of having their minds shattered, we do too—the moments are chaotic, frightening, and disorienting to the reader, but in a way that only enhances the experience.
From this introduction, El certainly belongs on my list of John Constantine knockoffs. But while the first issue has an intriguing premise, one that appeals to me aesthetically and as a known lover of occult-infused comics, I’m not sure if she has enough of a personality yet to hook me. Hellblazer has the benefit of over thirty years in publication and enough interpretations to satisfy readers no matter what iteration they prefer. In being an original character clearly influenced by an existing character—one the writer has already tackled, no less—Ellie needs to be able to stand on her own if this team wants her to be more than Constantine with the serial numbers filed off.
So far, I’m interested, but not hooked. As much as I love Hellblazer, and Spurrier’s run on the series, I don’t necessarily want endless iterations on a gritty, foul-mouthed occult detective in a tan jacket and tie. Spurrier has been a polarizing writer for me—I adored his Hellblazer, but didn’t like Cry Havoc at all. I’m less familiar with the work of the rest of the team, but Damn Them All #1 is an intriguing first issue. I’ll happily pick up the second, but I hope that the characterization of Ellie catches up to the plot and artwork; I want to love this comic, but it’s got a little work to do before we can get there.
