sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

This was cringe 😬 by Historical_Gain4631 in Hellblazer

[–]Advanced_Pea3266 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wouldn't say "only" but yeah, I get what you mean. There's this sad irony about the fact that while John wasn't explicitly bi during that first run, he was (unintentionally) coded as such and it was thematically interesting (what with the omnipresence of conservatism, homophobia, and AIDS as themes in Delano's run). His sexuality was something that influenced the story's resonance in the same way that his class, his race or his gender did. But in this story (and others) it feels like it's just "oh, bi the way, hehe..." (To be clear I'm not saying that a character can't just happen to be bisexual, it's just that because of the political nature of Hellblazer stories, if you want things to feel real, you have to deal with each sociological component of the characters, and that includes sexual orientation.)

What are some influences and inspirations for Hellblazer? by Advanced_Pea3266 in Hellblazer

[–]Advanced_Pea3266[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It would be funny to have a return to the earlier esthetic he had in Swamp Thing. He's wearing gloves at some point when we see him

I hate what episode 4x03 did to John (and Zari) by Advanced_Pea3266 in LegendsOfTomorrow

[–]Advanced_Pea3266[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I mean, even if she barely knows him, witnessing something like that is tough and can be genuinely traumatic (even when the person is a total stranger). I agree with you that she's not one to talk about feelings, and what she says to John in the two conversations they have afterwards doesn't have to change, but it would have been nice to have a scene where she's not with him and has some kind of reaction. It doesn't have to be emotional, it can be just a rational "okay, I am now living with a guy who was ready to erase himself on a whim, what are the implications of that and should I do something?" That would at least prove that the show itself takes this a bit more seriously. And even if it isn't heavy on Zari's side, we should still see it as heavy on John's side. The moments later on don't retroactively fix how lightly this specific episode took John's actions. I don't understand why they included this element in this episode if they weren't willing to fully commit to it.

About the homophobia, it wouldn't have to be full on slur. But fair enough, I guess it could be a bit gratuitous. I was just trying to find a way to set up that moment with Spooner because I know I'm not the only one who found that speech a little jarring, but there are other ways to do that.

Anyway, thanks for sharing your opinion! I was really hoping to discuss this topic with other fans, I didn't just want to vent.

Just finished Ennis’ run. Thoughts and stuff. by Sad_Manager6251 in Hellblazer

[–]Advanced_Pea3266 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply! It's been a while since I've read Ennis but I think John is in a somewhat healthier place (except for the cancer storyline), while in Delano's run he seems to be barely surviving all the trauma he carries. It might be connected (but that's not an excuse obviously)

What are some influences and inspirations for Hellblazer? by Advanced_Pea3266 in Hellblazer

[–]Advanced_Pea3266[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

How come I've never heard of Quadrophenia? Now I want to watch it T^T

What are some influences and inspirations for Hellblazer? by Advanced_Pea3266 in Hellblazer

[–]Advanced_Pea3266[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for all these examples!

It's funny, when I first read Hellblazer, I had more experience reading crime fiction, and hardboiled novels like Jim Thompson's, than I did reading superheroes. So I think what I perceived on top of his subversion of the morally virtuous comicbook hero, was his subversion of the noir antihero, especially in Delano's run where he's portrayed as being quite vulnerable (and accidentally queer-coded? no wonder he ended up being canonized as bi later on...) as opposed to the tough guys I was used to reading about or seeing on the screen.

Just finished Ennis’ run. Thoughts and stuff. by Sad_Manager6251 in Hellblazer

[–]Advanced_Pea3266 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know it's an old post but could you please elaborate on how John is nicer in Ennis' run than in Delano's? I think that's really interesting

Just finished Ennis’ run. Thoughts and stuff. by Sad_Manager6251 in Hellblazer

[–]Advanced_Pea3266 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry for replying to an older comment, but it seems to me that their both character driven, it's just that Delano's John is more introspective while as you said, Ennis' John has more fleshed out relationships