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fangsfirst's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Ugh.
Ennis on Hellblazer years too late and after loving Delano is the absolute worst. The book started to circle a character, Kit, who is never developed and yet is somehow treated as the emotional crux for a Constantine who receives no earned development himself. This was miserable and laden with the same characters, themes, and attitudes endemic to Ennis's writing which I seem to have utterly soured on at this point and find deeply unpalatable in this book, where Constantine is arbitrarily re-written without warning into Jesse Custer in Beta version 0.4.2, not quite ready for release.
People complain about self-pitying Constantine under Delano, but this takes the cake—and that it resolves itself abruptly with an excuse to tell an Ennis™ historical military story about his pitying worship of soldiers (alongside another historical military story that is shoehorned in as being about an earlier Constantine)...just no.
Throw in a whole issue about Kit going home to Ireland and I'm left absolutely baffled at why anyone would love this run, until I remind myself it was probably the first version of the character they saw, and thus defined him for them.
Unfortunately for me, I read from the beginning to start and this stuff sucks.
Ennis on Hellblazer years too late and after loving Delano is the absolute worst. The book started to circle a character, Kit, who is never developed and yet is somehow treated as the emotional crux for a Constantine who receives no earned development himself. This was miserable and laden with the same characters, themes, and attitudes endemic to Ennis's writing which I seem to have utterly soured on at this point and find deeply unpalatable in this book, where Constantine is arbitrarily re-written without warning into Jesse Custer in Beta version 0.4.2, not quite ready for release.
People complain about self-pitying Constantine under Delano, but this takes the cake—and that it resolves itself abruptly with an excuse to tell an Ennis™ historical military story about his pitying worship of soldiers (alongside another historical military story that is shoehorned in as being about an earlier Constantine)...just no.
Throw in a whole issue about Kit going home to Ireland and I'm left absolutely baffled at why anyone would love this run, until I remind myself it was probably the first version of the character they saw, and thus defined him for them.
Unfortunately for me, I read from the beginning to start and this stuff sucks.
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.
golembutch's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
joanarcherknight's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
keahiinfra's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
kateapatton's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
itcamefromthepage's review
4.0
Garth Ennis writes a series of tales that are full of such righteous anger you'll be left hollow by the end.
Ranging from relaxing birthday parties to complex tales of homeless woe.
Ennis always takes the reader on a ride and it's good to know he's been doing that since the start.
Ranging from relaxing birthday parties to complex tales of homeless woe.
Ennis always takes the reader on a ride and it's good to know he's been doing that since the start.
storyorc's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-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
4.5
If Family Man was my favourite volume focused on a single story, Tainted Love is the best of Hellblazer in its single-issues and mini-arcs. Also possibly the most likely to anger conservatives and Christians (saying a lot since the previous issue featured British royalty demon-possessed and in BSDM gear).
Hard to believe in just one volume we got:
Hard to believe in just one volume we got:
- Constantine family visit
- Wild 40th birthday, complete with
ACAB and Swamp Thing making them weed - The Snob aka Gabriel plagued by that specific flavour of holy angst I never get tired of DC angels grappling with (including some extremely hot takes on what dad had him do)
- People going after John's dwindling supply of friends (I list the issue in content warnings below, this one was honestly pretty upsetting)
- Ellie the demon, my beloved, back and causing Problems
- Kit taking no shit from our boy, and other Irish things
- A large range of gay characters, from sympathetic to revolting
- A reckoning with a past abuser (issue listed in content warnings again)
- The King of Vampires doing what he does best:
drop in for like one issue to fuck, suck, monologue, and get his ass handed to him - More making fun of the monarchy
The redux of Constantine at his lowest,
BIG fan of the way the
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Gore, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Suicide and Blood
LONDON KILLS ME - gore & racism, including slurs. CONFESSIONAL - attempted sexual assault. Note the narrative does not condone any of these subjects (though there are places where it could be more sensitive - it's progressive for the 90s but still the 90s).