Hellblazer #216

Greg Lauren's moody, sepia-toned cover sets an immediately unsettling tone for this 2006 Vertigo series — a weary, cigarette-smoking John Constantine dominates the foreground, arms crossed and eyes sharp, while a semi-transparent female figure looms behind him with an air of dangerous mystery. This issue kicks off "Empathy Is the Enemy," a seven-part arc marking the arrival of acclaimed novelist Denise Mina as the new series writer, joined by artist Leonardo Manco. If you've been looking for a fresh entry point into Constantine's shadowy world, chapter one of this ambitious storyline is a compelling place to start.