Hellblazer Vol 1 162



 Lapdogs and Englishmen (Part I of II) 


 * "Les, did I do something awful today? Y'know, like push a cripple down a flight of stairs 'er poison some poor dog?"
 * --John Constantine

Summary
Volume: 1 Issue: 162 Month: July Year: 2001

Credits
Editor in Chief: Karen Berger Head Writer: Brian Azzarello Cover Artists: Tim Bradstreet Pencilers: Guy Davis Inkers: Guy Davis Colourists: Lee Loughridge Letterers: Clem Robins Editors: Tammy Beatty and Tony Bedard

Synopsis
Cast of Characters:
 * John Constantine
 * Angie White
 * Chas Chandler
 * Gary Lester
 * Sheila
 * Stanley

Locations:
 * United States
 * Montana


 * England (in flashback)
 * London

Items:
 * The Book

First Appearances: Angie White (an associate of John's); Sheila (Chas' girlfriend); Stanley (a wealthy collector) Final Appearances: Sheila

Synopsis: John gets off a Greyhound bus at the Montana welcoming station. He lights up a cigarette, but a testy security guard makes him put it out. Walking away, John notices a wall filled with flyers, posters and graffiti. One particularly maligned flyer sparks a memory of an event that took place in 1978.

Flashback: John is a young, rebellious punk rocker having a good time at a London nightclub with his friend and band mate, Gary Lester. John and Les struggle to get inside the restroom, but Les beats him to the urinal. Unwilling to wait any longer, John opens a window and begins to relieve himself. He soon realizes that right below him is his old mate, Chas Chandler sharing an intimate though unorthodox moment with a woman named Sheila in the bushes. As Chase begins shouting, John and Les run back inside the bar.

A woman named Angie White approaches John claiming to have "the book". John immediately loses patience with her, and demands to know what book she is talking about. Angie tells him that this book can tell the future, but John doesn't believe her. She insists that it is true, and that by speaking a person's name, the Book will reveal their entire lives to the reader, chapter by chapter.

Suddenly, an angry Chas storms in and sits at the bar. He begins complaining that someone poured some water on top of him while he was having sex. He has no idea that what soured his moment was not water, and he is also unaware that John is the one responsible. John and Les enjoy a laugh at Chas' expense.

Later, they all pile into Chas' taxicab, and drive off to see an affluent gentleman by the name of Stanley. Chas tells John that Stanley actually requested a meeting with him. They find Stanley boxing with a punching bag inside of a filthy, abandoned warehouse. Chas and Les wait inside the car.

Stanley invites John inside and offers him a beer. He tells him that he wants Rasputin's Clock, a mythical artifact that is reputedly in the possession of a mysterious individual known as the Arab. Even speaking about Rasputin's clock upsets John greatly, and he displays an apparent fear of the Arab. Regardless, he agrees to find the item for Stanley, but notes that such a deed will not come cheaply.

Meanwhile, Angie White returns to her flat and opens up "the Book". She speaks the name, John Constantine, and her eyes go wide.

Trivia

 * The Rasputin referenced in this issue is undoubtedly, Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin - the Mad Monk.

Recommended Readings

 * Hellblazer

Related Articles

 * Hellblazer cover art gallery
 * John Constantine image gallery
 * John Constantine appearances list
 * John Constantine quotes page
 * Tim Bradstreet cover art gallery