World Famous Comics: John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits
John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits
By: Garth Ennis Publisher: Vertigo Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Vertigo Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 160 Publication Date: March 01, 1994 Release Date: March 01, 1994
Product Description: John Constantine, the main character in Hellblazer, was originally a very minor character in DC Comics' Swamp Thing. Next came his only series, in which this hard-smoking, hard-drinking, all around manipulator walked the thin line of magic between this world and hell. So when Irishman Garth Ennis was asked to write this comic book, he had asked himself, "What could I possibly do to John Constantine that hadn't been done before? And one course of action suddenly stood out above all others: Kill him."The result is a tense supernatural drama that begins with Constantine being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Though this book only hints at the freeform casualness and over-the-top vulgarity that became Ennis's trademark in the Preacher series, this is an immensely enjoyable read with strong characters and dynamite plot twists. --Jim Pascoe
Amazon.com Review: John Constantine, the main character in Hellblazer, was originally a very minor character in DC Comics' Swamp Thing. Next came his only series, in which this hard-smoking, hard-drinking, all around manipulator walked the thin line of magic between this world and hell. So when Irishman Garth Ennis was asked to write this comic book, he had asked himself, "What could I possibly do to John Constantine that hadn't been done before? And one course of action suddenly stood out above all others: Kill him." The result is a tense supernatural drama that begins with Constantine being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Though this book only hints at the freeform casualness and over-the-top vulgarity that became Ennis's trademark in the Preacher series, this is an immensely enjoyable read with strong characters and dynamite plot twists. --Jim Pascoe
Changing of the guard... This volume features Garth Ennis as he takes the helm as writer of the series. The story arc was entertaining, as Ennis returns the smug attitude to Constantine, something not really seen since Alan Moore's run on "Swamp Thing." Constantine's fight with cancer, and his clever battle with Hell's minions, was certainly a breath of fresh air after (previous writer) Jamie Delano's portrayal of Constantine ruined the character with his liberal viewpoints and incessant whining. If you liked Ennis's "Preacher," I recommend you check it out.
If you've seen the movie, do you really need to read this? No.
Granted, there are differences in the stories. (Mild differences.) And, the book is better than the movie. (Mildly better.) But, if you've seen the film you are bound to find yourself asking, 'Why am I reading this?'
Ultimately, Hellblazer is a horror story: The excitement in reading the work is the subversion of normal expectations (real world setting... but, with daemons and magic), the creation of tension (cancer, a life of regrets... but, with daemons and magic), and, most particularly, with the reveal / resolution of the tension.
In any Hellblazer tale the normal world goes sideways, bad things happen, and, impossibly, Constantine makes it out alive. And that makes for good reading. As long as you don't already know the reveal. Which, if you've seen the movie, you do.
So this isn't so much a negative review as it is a warning that if you've seen the film you are better off buying a different issue of Hellblazer.
Graphic SF Reader Garth Ennis decides to take the decidedly low-rent, if dangerous John Constantine even lower. Smoking a lot really is bad for you, even if you are a magician of sorts.
Constantine here finds out he has lung cancer, and it is going to get him. For him, being dead is most definitely not something he is looking forward to, as it is likely to hurt for a long, long time.
"The Sting", Magus Style... Garth Ennis is one of the most consistently entertaining writers in comics today, and one of the most challenging. DANGEROUS HABITS is the beginning of that. Obviously his great work has continued through his run on HELLBLAZER to his unbelivably innovative and instantly addictive series PREACHER, to his challenging work on WAR STORIES and his hilariously over-the-top reboot of THE PUNISHER. In regard to DANGEROUS HABITS, although he is missing his best artistic sidekick, Steve Dillon, that does not prevent this run of HELLBLAZER from being the best I've ever read, with one of the greatest plot twists in comic history. It's simply brilliant.
Ennis gets it right with his first try. Garth Ennis, John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits (Vertigo, 1994)
It is entirely likely that anyone reading this review doesn't need me to say a thing about it. You already know who John Constantine is (even those of you who don't follow comics, thanks to the recent Keanu Reeves vehicle). You probably even know what issue numbers are contained in this book, which was the beginning of Garth Ennis' stint as the primary writer, and what happens in them. On the off chance, however, that someone who's not into comics stumbles across this review, I'll go ahead and say "get this."
Chain-smoking, hard-drinking John Constantine, rake, magician, and all-around bad guy, has just found out he has terminal lung cancer. He's going to die. He has few to turn to for help; most of his friends are dead, and both friends and adversaries still alive are loath to help him for various reasons of their own. Thus, Constantine has to come up with a typically brilliant, diabolical plan in order to get himself out of an inextricable mess.
Granted, this is a regular day in the life of the Hellblazer, but Ennis, the man behind the great Preacher, brings a style and energy to Constantine's character that's undeniable and attractive. He's a bit less comfortable with some of the minor characters from older issues, as if he's still getting used to being thrust into their skins, but as this story arc is highly centered around Constantine and a new character, that doesn't play as important a part as one might at first think. (The Snob, especially, is... well, downright boring here.) Ennis' writing is as witty and wiseacre as ever, and, well, it's simply a load of fun. If you're not familiar with Constantine, you may want to hunt down Original Sins before this, but this is one you'll definitely want to go on to. *** ½
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