jimhart3000's review
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
xenia_li's review
dark
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Addiction, Alcohol, Homophobia, Murder, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Gore, and Racism
Moderate: Cannibalism, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Torture, Vomit, Suicide, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Minor: War, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Incest, and Police brutality
violetturtledove's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
runningbeard's review
5.0
Wow.
Brutal.
Issue 69 in particular is a gem.
So glad to be reading Constantine and Preacher at the same time...
Brutal.
Issue 69 in particular is a gem.
So glad to be reading Constantine and Preacher at the same time...
crowyhead's review
4.0
Found myself surprisingly a bit more sympathetic to John this go-round than I was the last time I read the series. I'd always rather felt that Kit was the best thing John ever had, so of COURSE he cocked it up. Which is absolutely true -- but in re-reading, it also becomes clear that the cock-up wasn't one-sided. Kit loved John, but she never loved ALL of John, never wanted to know about the dark stuff. And ultimately, when she gets dragged in, and it's the last straw, and she leaves (which is probably a wise move, given what tends to happen to his associates)… well, it's not really John's fault. Except that he has a wonderful knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
At any rate, bless Ennis for giving us a complex couple of characters who love each other and discover that is not enough and probably never will be. It's better than a Tom Waits song.
John really takes the Tom Waits dive, then; he's forty, he's just lost the woman he actually almost managed to say "I love you" to, and he's been a complete ass to his friends. So then what does one do, except go on a complete bender and try to drink oneself to death? Of course, it's never that simple. What's brilliant is that when Ennis is writing Hellblazer, NOTHING is ever that simple. Love this guy's stuff.
At any rate, bless Ennis for giving us a complex couple of characters who love each other and discover that is not enough and probably never will be. It's better than a Tom Waits song.
John really takes the Tom Waits dive, then; he's forty, he's just lost the woman he actually almost managed to say "I love you" to, and he's been a complete ass to his friends. So then what does one do, except go on a complete bender and try to drink oneself to death? Of course, it's never that simple. What's brilliant is that when Ennis is writing Hellblazer, NOTHING is ever that simple. Love this guy's stuff.
cygnus26's review
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Misogyny, Death, Blood, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Racism, Kidnapping, Injury/injury detail, Violence, Hate crime, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Sexual content
arf88's review
2.0
This volume was a slog to get through. Delano was often incoherent in his writing but at least he was never boring. And sadly the vast majority of this volume is very, very boring.
It starts off promising with "End of the Line", a story involving Constantine's niece, that touches on the curse of being part of the Constantine family.
Then there's "Forty" which is an issue dedicated to Constantine's birthday. Uneventful, but some nice character moments.
The "Fear and Loathing" story arc deals with Gabriel. Constantine is utterly vile in this story, and I think it's the first time I wish he lost an encounter.
After that the volume really goes downhill, with Constantine becoming drunk and homeless following a break up with Kit. Kit has two personality traits "feisty" and "Irish". To say she's a dull character would be an understatement. The fact that Constantine hits rock bottom because she dumped him is ridiculous. What's more ridiculous is the fact that there's an entire issue dedicated to Kit going to the pub.
During Constantine's months of self-pity, there's an okay arc involving the King of Vampires called "Down all the Days". The King is an interesting character, but the arc was let down by a mediocre ending.
And finally, the volume ends on a high point with the last two issues. In "Finest Hour" Constantine has a flashback/dream to a WW2 pilot fighting to survive. This was a nice and clever way to get Constantine out of his despair.
And then there's "Confessional", which not only included an entertaining storey of a deranged priest that had some emotional impact on Constantine, but I also felt added to the wider plot of the Hellblazer universe.
The last two issues probably deserve a higher rating, but the rest of this volume is solidly mediocre. The art was quite nice but not my favourite style.
It starts off promising with "End of the Line", a story involving Constantine's niece, that touches on the curse of being part of the Constantine family.
Then there's "Forty" which is an issue dedicated to Constantine's birthday. Uneventful, but some nice character moments.
The "Fear and Loathing" story arc deals with Gabriel. Constantine is utterly vile in this story, and I think it's the first time I wish he lost an encounter.
After that the volume really goes downhill, with Constantine becoming drunk and homeless following a break up with Kit. Kit has two personality traits "feisty" and "Irish". To say she's a dull character would be an understatement. The fact that Constantine hits rock bottom because she dumped him is ridiculous. What's more ridiculous is the fact that there's an entire issue dedicated to Kit going to the pub.
During Constantine's months of self-pity, there's an okay arc involving the King of Vampires called "Down all the Days". The King is an interesting character, but the arc was let down by a mediocre ending.
And finally, the volume ends on a high point with the last two issues. In "Finest Hour" Constantine has a flashback/dream to a WW2 pilot fighting to survive. This was a nice and clever way to get Constantine out of his despair.
And then there's "Confessional", which not only included an entertaining storey of a deranged priest that had some emotional impact on Constantine, but I also felt added to the wider plot of the Hellblazer universe.
The last two issues probably deserve a higher rating, but the rest of this volume is solidly mediocre. The art was quite nice but not my favourite style.
fatalamelia's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
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