crookedtreehouse's review against another edition
3.0
Warren Ellis's abbrevriated run on Hellblazer is a solid set of issues but it lacks the character development and intriguing plots of the better Delano, Ennis, and Jenkins runs. It's better than all three of them at their worst, but it's not quite as good as any of them at their best.
I'm actually missing the last two issues of this collection, as I have the previous editions "Haunted" and "Setting Sun". "Haunted" is great. It's a long-form story about Constantine trying to solve and atone for the death of one of his exes. Very on brand. It reintroduces some characters from Delano's run, and seems to set the stage for a storyarc that we're never going to get.
"Setting Sun" is a series of one shots that basically amount to Constantine either downplaying or refuting magic's role in a story. It's an interesting premise for a book about a supernatural magician, and, like "Haunted", I imagine tihs was leading up to something fascinating. Alas, Ellis left the title after these collections.
While Ellis's storytelling is great, the art, particularly [a:John Higgins|19880593|John Higgins|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png]'s work on the "Haunted" storyarc have a refreshing use of whitespace, and serve almost as an illustrated prose novel as much as a graphic novel. Constantine (and, later, his deceased ex) spend a lot of time narratively telling instead of showing, but it fits really well in the story.
I think if you love Delano's, in particular, Hellblazer, you'll really enjoy Ellis's run.
I'm actually missing the last two issues of this collection, as I have the previous editions "Haunted" and "Setting Sun". "Haunted" is great. It's a long-form story about Constantine trying to solve and atone for the death of one of his exes. Very on brand. It reintroduces some characters from Delano's run, and seems to set the stage for a storyarc that we're never going to get.
"Setting Sun" is a series of one shots that basically amount to Constantine either downplaying or refuting magic's role in a story. It's an interesting premise for a book about a supernatural magician, and, like "Haunted", I imagine tihs was leading up to something fascinating. Alas, Ellis left the title after these collections.
While Ellis's storytelling is great, the art, particularly [a:John Higgins|19880593|John Higgins|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png]'s work on the "Haunted" storyarc have a refreshing use of whitespace, and serve almost as an illustrated prose novel as much as a graphic novel. Constantine (and, later, his deceased ex) spend a lot of time narratively telling instead of showing, but it fits really well in the story.
I think if you love Delano's, in particular, Hellblazer, you'll really enjoy Ellis's run.
molok's review against another edition
5.0
Really good run! Especially some of the single issues. I'm sad Ellis's run didn't go longer.
crowyhead's review against another edition
4.0
This is a pretty solid Hellblazer collection. The first story, "Haunted" by Warren Ellis, is pretty classic -- John finds out that an ex has been grotesquely murdered, and her ghost is hanging around, so he figures she needs him to get to the bottom of it. Or is that just what he needs? I love this for the introduction of Map, a magus who in some strange way embodies London. There are a number of really good one-offs and short stories in this volume, as well. Frank Teran's art for "Locked" is fantastic, and Darko Macau's story "Ashes and Honey" showcases Constantine in a rare helpful mood. This collection also includes Ellis's controversial "Shoot" one-off, which explores school shootings.
cemeterygates's review against another edition
3.0
One of the darkest Hellblazer collections out there — and they’re all dark. Unfortunately, it ends weakly, with Elis’ one-off stories that he ended his run on petering out.
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
stackwoodlibrary's review
4.0
John, you love him and you hate him... always has a plan.
"There's nothing like telling tales. That's all this game IS, mate. That's why it works on people.
Magic and a little bit of bullshit in the night and they all fall in love with it."
Tim Bradstreet (one of my favorite illustrators) has won awards for his Hellblazer covers, for good reason.
This collection is Constantine back in the game, looking for vengeance for an underdog, righting wrongs - because he is kind of of a softie.
Just don't get on the wrong side of him.
A great read for the approach of Halloween.
"There's nothing like telling tales. That's all this game IS, mate. That's why it works on people.
Magic and a little bit of bullshit in the night and they all fall in love with it."
Tim Bradstreet (one of my favorite illustrators) has won awards for his Hellblazer covers, for good reason.
This collection is Constantine back in the game, looking for vengeance for an underdog, righting wrongs - because he is kind of of a softie.
Just don't get on the wrong side of him.
A great read for the approach of Halloween.
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