Constantine - The Devil's Vinyl

John Constantine respects the classics.

Everyone knows that the great bluesmen sold their souls to the Devil at the crossroads and paid the price in the end, but there is only one recording of the Devil coming to claim his due. That recording is now a source of colossal power and absolute corruption, and it seems that someone wants it to get out.

The third episode of Constantine rocks the classics, from John's use of the hand of glory to a central Macguffin borrowed from the legend of Robert Johnson (as featured in the movie Crossroads), from genuine satanic contracts to Papa Midnite's voodoo posse. All in all, it's a good collection. The record that kills you if you listen to it is a pretty creepy conceit (how do you hide from sound?) and Midnite's blend of voodoo, mob muscle and pharmaceutical know-how makes for a much more intriguing antagonist than just a mumbling bokor (so a few points back from the Gypsy crack last week).

The series seems to be working Zed in pretty well, not least by giving her stuff to do that doesn't directly involve her visions, letting her be a character and not a schtick. It still seems a little shaky on managing to use Zed and Chas at the same time, but it's finding its way better than some and at least it isn't cluttered with characters in idle mode (Gotham, I'm looking at you here.)