Paul Jenkin's Hellblazer

[Ozymandis]

What are the opinions on Jenkins's work on Hellblazer? I'm guessing it isn't as good as Ennis or Azzarello but is it worth checking out?

[Sean Whitmore]

What are the opinions on Jenkins's work on Hellblazer? I'm guessing it isn't as good as Ennis or Azzarello but is it worth checking out?


I thought Jenkins' run started out excellent, but sorta petered off at the end(and apparently the Vertigo offices agree, since Jenkins left the book on a rather HUGE note that hasn't been referenced again since). Not as good as Ennis, but much better than Azz.

Jenkins' "Chain Reactions" arc (#92-96) was a direct sequel to Ennis' "Rake at the Gates of Hell", and Delano's Newcastle story from years back. #100 was a very good stand-alone story, and "Difficult Beginnings" (#102-104) was a direct sequel to "Chain Reactions". #120 was a nice anniversary issue where John takes the reader on a tour of his life, with guest appearances by many old cast members and a few writers.

After that, the stories went a little downhill. "Up the Down Staircase" (#121-124) was four issues of nothing with no resolution, and "How To Play With Fire" (#125-128) ended in a very literal deus ex machina.

Definitely worth checking out, at least.



SEAN

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

I only ever read #120, and that was a great read, with John talking to the reader and showing you around london, with his mates telling anecdotes about him while his back was turned and such (and other characters being nice when John's looking and whenver he's not warning the reader to get the hell away from him as he's a dangerous bastard).
Sounds kinda corny reading it like that, but it was a good read.

I also read the short story Jenkins wrote, with Paul Pope art, for Vertigo: Winters Edge #1.
Absolutley brilliant stuff that.
Recently in a Basement Tapes column on CBR Joe Casey and Matt Fraction held it up as an example of great work that can be done in a short comic story.
Bittersweet and Sad, with John actually being a nice guy for once, but not in a sentimental way at all.

[MarkSullivan]

I thought Jenkins' run started out excellent, but sorta petered off at the end(and apparently the Vertigo offices agree, since Jenkins left the book on a rather HUGE note that hasn't been referenced again since). Not as good as Ennis, but much better than Azz.

...Definitely worth checking out, at least.
SEAN

I agree. Jenkins also wrote many stand alone issues and short arcs, which are enjoyable without needing to be read in sequence. I think he really "got" Constantine's character. And Sean Phillips's art (he was with Jenkins for almost the entire run) is the best the title has ever had.

[Super Villains INC>]

I agree. Jenkins also wrote many stand alone issues and short arcs, which are enjoyable without needing to be read in sequence. I think he really "got" Constantine's character. And Sean Phillips's art (he was with Jenkins for almost the entire run) is the best the title has ever had.



totally agree. I always thought it was an underrated and very good run. check it out!

[Cash Lone]

Jenkins was good and bad at the same time. You could get an amazing single issue story, (check out issue 105 one of the best Hellblazer stories ever), then Jenkins could pull some really bad longer arcs that really tested one's patience.

Jenkins was unfortunate to write the book right after Ennis' successful run. And Jenkins, I recall reading somewhere, was deathly ill during his tenure on Hellblazer, and that must've affected his ability to craft tales. I do recall alot of readers not being happy w/ Jenkins near the end of his run. Maybe this is the reason none of his stories have been collected?

One of the more interesting points Jenkins wrote into the book was that England was a magical place, where superstitions, myth's and legends did and still do exist right under our noses. The book shifted away from a horror title to more fantasy (but still having a dark edge). Theres many examples of this from the Widdershins issues, the Samuel Taylor Cooleridge issue (105) to Jenkins modern take on Merlin the magician.

Where Jenkins failed was when he revived other authors plots/ stories. The first of the fallen should not have been brought back. And Sean Phillips could not draw him menacingly - he looked down right goofy each and every time.

Again, check out issue 105. That was some good (and unique) Hellblazer.