Hellblazer: John Constantine

[Tsujigiri]

I've now read all the issues up to #205 as well as the specials and annuals...which makes me a bit of a Hellblazer know it all, a sad git and having to spent serious time making reparations to everyone I've ignored for the past week.

I have to say the author I disliked the most was Brian Azzarello, issues #146-#174 were in my opinion totally outside the usual Hellblazer setting and had none of the feel. I would go so far as saying that reading them was a chore and I gave a hearty cheer when I came to the end of his tenure.

Garth Ennis who notably did Rake at the Gates of Hell #78-#79 is fantastic, and I'm enjoying Mike Carey's style a great deal, I feel he has something of Jamie Delano's style (issues #1-#40)

I'm now looking forward to film even more than I was, even if it proves to be a dissapointment compared to the comics.

Does anyone else have any thoughts on the Hellblazer comic series, what were your favourite authors or artwork?

As a side note I found issue #27 'Hold Me' by Neil Gaiman to be one of the most touching.

Also, just in case I didn't make it really clear Brian Azzarello really came close to screwing the character up.

[knivesout]

I haven't read all the Hellblazer comics - it is a bit hard collecting these things, here, but I agree more or less with your opnions - DeLano and Ennis were definitely the Hellblazer wirters. I've only read one of the Azzarello stories - the one set in a small town somewhere in the US, where John Constantine goes to apologise to the wife of a man he is said to have killed. I thought it was a decent story in itself, but can see how Azzarello wasn't really building from the established character of John Constantine the way he ought to have, perhaps.

I like the story 'Son of Man' written by Ennis, I think, about the best, among what I've read.

[I, Brian]

Sorry, had to split these posts from the film thread and send them to the comic section in their own space.

As for reading - I read up to somewhere in the 70's-80's I think - and to be honest I much preferred the Jamie Delano.

The Delano stories seemed - so far as I remember - much more focussed on the psychological. More than that, when Delano touched upon mysticism, he touched upon it in a general sense that covered the genre nicely.

However, Ennis seemed more into direct and violent confrontation - the psychological element wasn't so strong, and everything had to be physical and outright. The mythology seemed to spin into Christian-derivative mysticism and demonology, which restricted the storytelling in my opinion.

[$andokan]

I must admit that I never liked John Constantine much, as a character. Nevertheless, I've read numerous Hellblazer stories, because almost all of my favourite comic writers have done at least one storyline on the title.

Strangely (and this is why I responded to this topic in the first place), my favourite Hellblazer stint was Brian Azzarello's, with some distance, actually. Hard Time is, in my humble opinion, by far the best Hellblazer storyline I've read, and I actually think he handled the character brilliantly. (I'm in good company here: Constantine-creator and comic scripting legend Alan Moore agrees with me on this one)

It's strange how tastes differ sometimes, isn't it?

Delano's work never did much for me, but I realise I'm part of the minority here. Ennis was pretty good, especially the issues with Steve Dillon. Almost every Hellblazer writer (Gaiman, Ellis, Jenkins, Morrison) did better on other projects, I think.

On Delano-story I did like a lot was the one with the magic stone, featuring a 10-year old John Constantine. Anyone read that one?

People who agree with me (and Alan Moore) on the subject of Brian Azzarello, but are not reading the phenomenal 100 Bullets: check it out.

$

[I, Brian]

Not read any Brian Azzarello, unfortunately - could be quite interesting.

Note: Gaiman's Hellblazer episode was about #25, wasn't it - a story about capping the ley lines in a village?? Didn't read strong - but Gaiman's treatment of John Constantine in the original four-part "Books of Magic" was just so spot on.

[Leto]

As well as in the current run. Even if Si Spencer is the official writer, the plot was defined by him and Neil Gaiman.

[$andokan]

I agree: Gaiman's treatment of Constantine in the original Books of Magic miniseries was totally on the mark. Same goes for Sandman #3, by the way.

I do think Gaiman wrote better things though, like the last five Sandman novels, and the graphic novels with Dave McKean (Signal to Noise being my personal favourite)

Haven't read the new Books of Magic yet. Anything worth checking out?

[Leto]

IMO yep, Writing is good, covers by Quietly gorgeous and interior art interesting (not my favorite but my tastes are really 80s). The story is really original and some of the character are slowly growing on me as Cat & Dog.

[noodloid]

I've read every Hellblazer/J.C. story ever written, by all authors. My favorite author has GOT to be Ennis, although the last few have been ok. But then, I'm an Ennis freak (Anyone read Preacher?) My question: What does Ennis feel of the Constantine movie? My reasoning is, the movie is based on Ennis' first Constantine story, roughly enough, and the film ABSOLUTELY without question blew chunks. Argh! Argh! Why? Oh why? The acting sucked, Satan was played by an idiot, and the greatest sacrilege of all: Turning a blonde haired scouse into a black haired American. And changing his coat...argh!
Sorry this reply went on, but Ifeel it has to be made clear: YOU DO NOT SCREW WITH A WINNING FORMULA. I was offended by Constantine. You want the real Constantine? Read Rake At The Gates of Hell. Read Dangerous Habits. Read Son of Man (Absolutely hilarious) DONT go see the movie.
Erm....anyway, my question is still valid :P

[The Master™]

Have you read all the J.C. issuses in Swamp Thing, where he started???