World Famous Comics: Hellblazer: Freezes Over (Hellblazer (Graphic Novels))
Hellblazer: Freezes Over (Hellblazer (Graphic Novels))
By: Brian Azzarello Publisher: Vertigo Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Vertigo Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 168 Publication Date: June 01, 2003 Release Date: June 01, 2003
Title story (and then the same again. And again) Hellblazer: Freezes Over (Azzarello / Frusin / Dillon / Davis) collects three story arcs in Brian Azzarello's run on the famous London occult detective.
The collection takes place midway through Constantine's travels across America. In all three stories, Constantine serves more as the catalyst than the protagonist - a type of narrative device that will be familiar to Azzarello's work on 100 Bullets. All three stories share a similar structure as well - an establishing set-up with the non-Constantine characters, the introduction of Constantine as an agent of change and a mysterious 'twist' ending that leaves some mystery alive for the future.
Individually, all three of the stories (especially the title one - "...Freezes Over") are pretty good. However, as a collection, it becomes a little repetitive. Three story arcs, each straight out of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, each with an unresolved mystery. This is too much of a good thing, and just changing artists isn't enough to disguise it.
Azzarello and Constantine: a potent combination. Brian Azzarello, John Constantine, Hellblazer: Freezes Over (Vertigo, 2003)
Writers of Hellblazer have come, and writers of Hellblazer have gone, including some of the genre's brightest lights. It is possible, however, that none of them have shone as brightly in the light of John Constantine as Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets). Garth Ennis' Hellblazer work was good, but pales in comparison to Preacher; Warren Ellis' Hellblazer work shouldn't even be mentioned in the same zip code as Transmetropolitan; Grant Morrison has topped his work on the series with We3. This is not to say that Azzarello was never this good again; 100 Bullets has been a fun ride the whole way. But something about Azzarello's strengths as a writer, his innate noir tendency, lit a spark under this series.
Freezes Over is one story arc (and after that preface, it's not even Azzarello's best) concerning a blizzard, an inn full of snowed-in guests, and the Iceman, a local legend. Fertile ground, surely, for Constantine to do what he does best-- expose what wickedness is lying closest to the surface of the nastiest folks in the room, while urging others to depths of heroism they didn't know they possessed. As far as a plotline goes, it's relatively standard Hellblazer stuff. What sets it apart is Azzarello's mastery over this sort of plotline; instead of the usual heavy-on-the-action fare, Azzarello goes more for the mystery angle, and it works.
Good stuff, this. *** ½
This comic-book definetly earns a gold place... This is one of the best comic-books ever written!The character of Constantine at first is presented in a way so you can't like him,but in purpose.Later on,you begin to understand that he actually cares about people,and so you jump to the conclusion ''Hey,give him a break,he's convicted to go to Hell when he dies,and worst of all,he knows it''. The stories are amazingly written,with great conclusions at the end. This is a must-have for every comic-fan.And most definetly for every ''HELLBLAZER'' fan.
Constantine still freezes our souls... Brian Azzarello (Eisner Award-winning writer) is the author of the 3 stories in this book. It's nice to see John Constantine in different atmospheres and situations, and how he deals with them.
The first story, "... And Buried" goes very well, but left an undefined end (or at least a question: "And so?"). Artist Steve Dillon does a good work on it. It's a shame he doesn't work on all the other stories.
"Freezes Over" is the second one, divided in four parts. It's interesting because it shows how John Constantine can involve magic in some atypical situations of the real world. He doesn't put rabbits out of the hat, nor generates lightning from quick gestures of his hands. His influence in the facts is almost subliminal, but persuasive (just reading to understand what I mean). His cynical smile is present all the time, like a logotype. Myth and reality are very connected in this tale, and very hard to distinguish one from the other.
Finally, "Lapdogs and Englishmen" is divided in two parts, and shows Constantine's rebel youth, when magic was yet a parallel activity and not a course. You'll see that he almost had his chance to know what harm all this magic stuff would cause to his life, but sometimes destiny is stronger. Very frightening!
This book is a good reading for all John Constantine fans, even the less informed about the character. The different artists styles in each story is a little disappointing (as I said, I'd rather prefer Steve Dillon to work on them all). But the rhythm and the creative arguments compensate any deficiency this book may bear.
Another Constantine classic `Freeze's Over' is a great addition to any tpb collection. In this volume, you get not only the four-part title story, but also two others.
"...buried" is a single shot story, illustrated by former Preacher and Hellblazer artist Steve Dillon.
"Freeze's Over" centers on the legend of the `iceman', a killer reputed to have existed for over a hundred years. Outside a small town bar, a man is found impaled on an icicle, and John Constantine fast becomes a suspect. But when a group of strangers arrive, the true killer may be harder to identify.
"Lapdogs and Englishmen", featuring guest artist Guy Davis (of Sandman Mystery Theatre), gives us a glimpse of John's old days as a punk rocker.
Overall, this book may not stack up as a great when compared to some of the other Hellblazer trades, but this is still a very worthwhile book. The writing, all by Brian Azzarello, is snappy, and the multiple artists do nothing to distract from these stories.
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