storyorc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This volume deals with the politics of the day on the ground floor rather than taking shots at the monarchy; both race riots and the Irish troubles. The comic is clearly trying to be pro-black (and very firmly anti-cop) but the modern reader may chafe at how black characters' plots revolve around racism rather than anything fun and supernatural, that they're still more guest stars than secondary cast, and that they continue to be subjected to the most graphic violence. Constantine shows some humility rather than swooping in to save everyone but he also . Tarantino vibes.
Slimmer pickings for the supernatural elements. Felt like
Surprise standout was the completely unsupernatural issue spent with Kit's family at the end of the volume though. I love a messy family and they did not disappoint. She's no angel either but she does sparkle; here's hoping that was her
Spoiler
says a slur as a jokeSlimmer pickings for the supernatural elements. Felt like
Spoiler
Gabriel was underused and the First of the Fallen realising his own lore and killing the other two felt a bit of a stretch. Cheapened Constantine's win a little. Ellie stabbing him from behind wasn't nearly as clever either, though I was glad to see her again. New queen of hell anyone? The FotF asking what will happen to him as he dies was freaky and I did gasp a little to see 'Astra' pop up so full of hate.Surprise standout was the completely unsupernatural issue spent with Kit's family at the end of the volume though. I love a messy family and they did not disappoint. She's no angel either but she does sparkle; here's hoping that was her
Spoiler
send-off for good. Wouldn't kill her to date someone closer to her own age either. Gross to find out she was 19 when she started seeing Brendan, especially since Constantine isn't that much younger than Brendan.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Racism, and Gun violence
Moderate: Rape and Racial slurs
joanarcherknight's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
library_jones's review against another edition
dark
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
3.75
joshua28's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.0
devon_marie's review against another edition
4.0
Oh man, this was GOOD. The suspenseful build-up, the telling of the tale from two sides as they're set on a collision course is superbly done. This whole Satan plot is just fantastic. Really, really, really good stuff.
runningbeard's review against another edition
5.0
Possibly a must-read for Preacher fans who want to see Constantine through the eyes of Ennis and Dillon.
crowyhead's review against another edition
5.0
"I'll be with them asleep or dreaming
I'll be there when they wake up screaming
At the hour of death I will nurse them
To have a moment more to curse them
Watch the maggots crawl out of them
Hear the angels call above them
Watch them as the cold air sucks them
Down to hell good night good luck
Then if any should escape above me
Beg and cheat until they trust me
Drag them down to be damned with me
Laugh at them as they forgive me
Mothers eyes are sparking diamonds
Still the moon shows no likeness
Roses wither may god deliver
The rake at the gates of hell tonight."
- The Pogues, "Rake at the Gates of Hell"
This is a fantastic Ennis collection. The opener, Damnation's Flame, is a little weak; it starts off strong, but the ending is a bit rushed and confusing. Still, it's got its moments.
Things are back on firmer footing with a return to the UK. "Act of Union" is a wonderful character sketch of young Brendan, John, and Kit, all the better for William Simpson's return as the artist. It meshes beautifully with "Confessions of an Irish Rebel" and "And the Crowd Goes Wild," both ghost stories of different sorts, and an excellent lead-in to "Rake at the Gates of Hell," which bookends Ennis's run by finishing what "Dangerous Habits" started.
This is a classic Constantine story, with blood and guts and double-crossing and awfulness.. and then Ennis goes and does that Ennis thing, where there's a peaceful and heart wrenching interlude all set to "Rainy Night in Soho" that actually leaves me crying. Right in the Feels, man. Right in the Feels. Then it all goes to hell again, but there's that wee bit of redemption at the end. It's fine, fine work.
The last story in the collection is also fine work, of a different sort -- a kind of slice of life letting us know what Kit's up to and that she's got her own crap to deal with. It's a strange note to end on, but it works.
"When I let her go, it felt like life itself was slipping through me fingers. I started to say something, I dunno, something bloody stupid and sentimental, something not-very-Constantine-at-all… But she knew as well as I did that it wouldn't last for long, that I'd be no use if I came with her, and even if I did change, shit, I'd just laugh it off and drown it in bravado. So the last thing she said to me, her smile getting wider all the time, was 'Good night and God bless -- now f*ck off to bed.'"
I'll be there when they wake up screaming
At the hour of death I will nurse them
To have a moment more to curse them
Watch the maggots crawl out of them
Hear the angels call above them
Watch them as the cold air sucks them
Down to hell good night good luck
Then if any should escape above me
Beg and cheat until they trust me
Drag them down to be damned with me
Laugh at them as they forgive me
Mothers eyes are sparking diamonds
Still the moon shows no likeness
Roses wither may god deliver
The rake at the gates of hell tonight."
- The Pogues, "Rake at the Gates of Hell"
This is a fantastic Ennis collection. The opener, Damnation's Flame, is a little weak; it starts off strong, but the ending is a bit rushed and confusing. Still, it's got its moments.
Things are back on firmer footing with a return to the UK. "Act of Union" is a wonderful character sketch of young Brendan, John, and Kit, all the better for William Simpson's return as the artist. It meshes beautifully with "Confessions of an Irish Rebel" and "And the Crowd Goes Wild," both ghost stories of different sorts, and an excellent lead-in to "Rake at the Gates of Hell," which bookends Ennis's run by finishing what "Dangerous Habits" started.
This is a classic Constantine story, with blood and guts and double-crossing and awfulness.. and then Ennis goes and does that Ennis thing, where there's a peaceful and heart wrenching interlude all set to "Rainy Night in Soho" that actually leaves me crying. Right in the Feels, man. Right in the Feels. Then it all goes to hell again, but there's that wee bit of redemption at the end. It's fine, fine work.
The last story in the collection is also fine work, of a different sort -- a kind of slice of life letting us know what Kit's up to and that she's got her own crap to deal with. It's a strange note to end on, but it works.
"When I let her go, it felt like life itself was slipping through me fingers. I started to say something, I dunno, something bloody stupid and sentimental, something not-very-Constantine-at-all… But she knew as well as I did that it wouldn't last for long, that I'd be no use if I came with her, and even if I did change, shit, I'd just laugh it off and drown it in bravado. So the last thing she said to me, her smile getting wider all the time, was 'Good night and God bless -- now f*ck off to bed.'"
noveladdiction's review against another edition
3.0
Normally I religiously read every bit of the Hellblazer graphic novels - but I was able to skim quite a bit of this book. Parts were good, but there seemed to be quite a bit of filler thrown in.
saif42's review against another edition
3.0
This will be a combined review of both Delano's and Ennis's runs on Constantine.
Delano is Alan Moore-lite. If you liked Swamp Thing but wanted it set in England and with more magic and demons, Constantine is the story for you.
Ennis's run is.. a disappointment. After reading Preacher and coming back to read Constantine, it feels like the exact same story elements were used in both but were perfected in Preacher, and given a lot more depth. If you want to read the main plot of preacher but worse and set in England starring Constantine, Ennis's run is for you.
As a whole, I felt like a lot of Constantine is a soapbox for the author to talk about his political views. Twice Ennis has had whole 50 page issues centered around Constantine's love interest Kit and her family in Belfast doing nothing but talking about Belfast. Perhaps just a smidgen of character development and a lot of political commentary. It's terriffically boring but if you're interested in that kind of stuff then you're in for a treat.
Both Delano and Ennis runs have Constantine arcs that are fun. Very little high magic and lots of magic con artistry which I thought was cool. Both have one or two 'weak' arcs but for the most part they are all excellent. The self contained one issue stories aren't as good as say Preacher or Swamp Thing on neither Delano's or Ennis's runs.
The art on Delano's run is similar to Swamp Thing, dirty and dark, so much so that when Ennis and partner Dillion take over the brighter colours and clean looking panels are a welcome change of pace.
So yeah to sum it up: read Preacher and Swamp Thing unless you've got a serious hankering for similar stories.
Delano is Alan Moore-lite. If you liked Swamp Thing but wanted it set in England and with more magic and demons, Constantine is the story for you.
Ennis's run is.. a disappointment. After reading Preacher and coming back to read Constantine, it feels like the exact same story elements were used in both but were perfected in Preacher, and given a lot more depth. If you want to read the main plot of preacher but worse and set in England starring Constantine, Ennis's run is for you.
As a whole, I felt like a lot of Constantine is a soapbox for the author to talk about his political views. Twice Ennis has had whole 50 page issues centered around Constantine's love interest Kit and her family in Belfast doing nothing but talking about Belfast. Perhaps just a smidgen of character development and a lot of political commentary. It's terriffically boring but if you're interested in that kind of stuff then you're in for a treat.
Both Delano and Ennis runs have Constantine arcs that are fun. Very little high magic and lots of magic con artistry which I thought was cool. Both have one or two 'weak' arcs but for the most part they are all excellent. The self contained one issue stories aren't as good as say Preacher or Swamp Thing on neither Delano's or Ennis's runs.
The art on Delano's run is similar to Swamp Thing, dirty and dark, so much so that when Ennis and partner Dillion take over the brighter colours and clean looking panels are a welcome change of pace.
So yeah to sum it up: read Preacher and Swamp Thing unless you've got a serious hankering for similar stories.