Blogathon 24: Hellblazer: Highwater (Part One)

[Discussed in this post: the first part of Hellblazer: Highwater, "Highwater" (#164-167).]

Language is important in this story as well. It revolves around a group of white supremicists who twist the language of the Bible to justify their hate. The leader of the group wins people over through his command of language, his ability to make things seemingly set in stone change and become what he needs them to be. All magic is is change...

John, on the other hand, does the same. He takes the organisation apart using language. First, by setting the leadership against the membership and, then, by creating a golem by animating the body of a Jewish arms dealer they killed. And how do you animate a golem? With letters on his forehead. Language and words are key here. They have been throughout the run to date and I just love how consistent that idea is.

John goes to Highwater to finally talk to Lucky's widow, Marjorie. What he finds there is the reason why Lucky killed himself and it makes him burn Marjorie's house down. But, that's only after he's helped take apart the religious group she's fallen in with at the request of Lucky -- though I imagine part of it is just because John wants to.

We learn that Manor has been funding the group, giving them money to buy guns. But, he was also the man behind the Wolfman (the arms dealer). So, he was paying money to himself...? Why? But, since the Wolfman was killed, he wants reparations. He tells the leader of the group that he wants to cum in someone's mouth: either his or his daughter's. Later, we see them both looking strange until she spits in his face and says "Homosexuality is a sin in the eyes of the Lord." That's one of those instances of Azzarello absolutely nailing a scene with the appropriate payoff. First, she spits, signally that perhaps she blew Manor, but then levels her father with the accusation, one that comes from his words despite him trying to save her the indignity of the act.

The arc ends with the revelation (to John) about why Lucky killed himself. It must be big if it made him take a swing at a ghost and burn a house down. That's a little too nasty... violent for John. He's more the type to get others to act that way. I'm not entirely sure the truth is THAT big, but it is big enough, I guess.

Marcelo Frusin does the art here and... well, it's Frusin.

In 30 minutes, I'll do two semi-filler issues for the second part of Highwater...

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