World Famous Comics: John Constantine, Hellblazer: Bloodlines
John Constantine, Hellblazer: Bloodlines
By: Garth Ennis Publisher: Vertigo Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Vertigo Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 296 Publication Date: December 05, 2007 Release Date: December 05, 2007
The missing Ennis stories This book collects the missing Ennis stories from his run on Hellblazer. It features 3 stories: #49 - A special Constantine Christmas #52-55 - Royal Blood #59-61 - Guys and Dolls
The Christmas story features a lost soul who is searching for the lost true meaning of Christmas which was usurped by the early Monks. It is a great stand-alone story and features classic Ennis' take on organized religion.
The next story is my favorite in the book. The story basically focuses on a member of the Royal Family engaging in preverse rituals and has been possessed by the demon Calibraxis. This story serves as Ennis' mouthpiece against Monarchy and features the dark humor in comics that Ennis has trademarked.
The final story features build-up to the show-down between Constantine and the First of the Fallen (which culminates in Constantine: Rakes at the Gates of Hell TPB).
I liked the stories. Now as for the art, Steve Dillon illustrates the Christmas story and Will Simpson illustrates the rest. The thing is that when these were colored, the coloring was not as advanced as it is now and as a result in certain instances the art suffers greatly. But if you have read the early Constatine stories, this should not be a problem for you.
It is overall a great collection and I am glad to see that DC finally decided to collect these stories. Now, all they need to do is reprint the out of print trades and Delano's run and you can have a complete Constatine library.
Young Ennis I agree with LEGEND's review. I do keep in mind that this is a young Ennis writing here. The coloring is a constant intrusion to the story as is the artwork. Steve Dillon's issue is a very thankful oasis. The other artists have improved since then, but it is hard to see their formidable growing pains become mine. Read anything of Ennis nowadays and you will not be disappointed as he is one of the best writers in comics. My favorite Hellblazer still to date is Brian Azzarello's Hellblazer run.
garth ennis' fan review This is a review not from a Hellblazer fan but from a Garth Ennis one: I have read ALL of his works. However this was (one of the absolutely few) letdowns. the stories are complex and slow. it's a lazy Garth Ennis doing some boring homework while thinking of some other project.. not at his best.
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