A review by storyorc
Hellblazer, Vol. 5: Dangerous Habits by Garth Ennis, Jamie Delano

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

The infamous devil trickery in the back half lives up to the hype but I didn't care for what the Golden Child/Magus arc in the first half did with a really interesting premise. Feels like the threads from Family Man that seemed they would carry through got lost in the weeds. That pig slaughterhouse issue will be back in my nightmares for sure though.

This volume has excellent new characters though. Upon first hearing about yet another old friend Constantine has never mentioned before, I was weary, but Brendan Finn is a good sort, and Kit has promise. Really though, I'm talking about Gabriel and Ellie (introduced here in issue 43). Even if the former should have been Sandman's Lucifer (c'mon he was right there, freshly out of hell). My favourite style of immortal is when they appear regular, maybe a little hotter or more intimidating but nothing crazy, and then they get one little line of the wackest shit that makes you go oh ok nope this is not a human and never has been. 

Anyway, John is at his best in the second half here, both strategically and with the repercussions of his questionable morals causing him grief. And still managing to be a likable old sod despite it all

(and by that, I mean risking throwing everyone into a cosmic hellwar to avoid the consequences of chain smoking)

. Iconic.