John Constantine

[ExoKnight]

I've always liked John Constantine, but haven't really picked up too many of his trades. I enjoyed his role in the Swamp Thing series written by Alan Moore and even in the first arc in the current series. Also liked his appearance in the Sandman series. I recently started collecting his series a few issues back. Now, I'm about to track down the tpbs.

A few question.

1. What tpb are worth grabbing? Who has the strongest run of his numerous writers?

2. With Hellblazer at almost at 200 issues, does the DCU play any part in his series? Not superman/batman appearing, but the DCU magic community appearing in his series? Like Zatanna, Swamp thing, etc.

[Expletive Deleted]

1. DANGEROUS HABITS. First and foremost. Anything by Garth Ennis is good, but DANGEROUS HABITS is tops.

2. I haven't read the book in a little while, but I think they still make random appearances.

[Daniel Hopkins]

Do you have to start at the beggining or are they pretty stand-alone arcs?

[jerrymcl89]

"Dangerous Habits" is excellent. It was the inspiration for the "Constantine" movie, although the story is much better in the book. I haven't read all the trades, but I think that is the best of the ones I have.

[stealthwise]

Dangerous Habits. Ennis.

What those guys said. :)

Beware the current run, beware.

[ExoKnight]

Do you have to start at the beggining or are they pretty stand-alone arcs?

Is it important to follow Hellblazer in order or can you start at Dangerous Habit and bypass Jamie's run?

[Sean Whitmore]

Is it important to follow Hellblazer in order or can you start at Dangerous Habit and bypass Jamie's run?


Not only CAN you bypass Jamie's run, I'd reccomend it. The first 10-11 issues were just okay, and they got worse from then on in. The only thing you really need to know about from this period is the Newcastle event, chronicled in #11 (though you can easily find a synopsis online).

Starting with Habits is the smart money. It pays a little lip service to the events of Delano's run, but pretty much ignores it (except for the aforementioned Newcastle stuff).


SEAN

[Dante]

While the Delano stuff is probably unecessary, it is mildy entertaining. I bought the original sins trade and have been enjoying the stories. But I have purely been approaching them from a "this was written long ago" stance.

I have really been enjoying the current arc though. Maybe its just me.

Dante

[Cash Lone]

Is it important to follow Hellblazer in order or can you start at Dangerous Habit and bypass Jamie's run?

You dont have to read Delanos run to understand Ennis' run on the book. Each writer pretty much creates their own history and mythology in Constantines life.

Delano had my favorite run in Hellblazer. Ennis and Ellis both solid. Jenkins was good but not as consistent as the others. Azz started off awesome but slowly declined. Carey is awful - I cancelled my subscription because of him and I've been reading Hellblazer since issue 11.

[ExoKnight]

So Delano wrote the first forty issues of the series, then Ennis took over from there with Dangerous Habits arc?

[Sean Whitmore]

So Delano wrote the first forty issues of the series, then Ennis took over from there with Dangerous Habits arc?


Absotively correct. :)

Though Delano's run was not unbroken. Grant Morrison wrote issues #25 and #26, and Neil Gaiman wrote #27.


SEAN

[Daniel Hopkins]

Okay thanks for the advice fella's.

[Surt]

Ennis' run is probably the best one to start with. Dangerous Habits is the place to start, although I think some of the later storylines are much better.

Also the Haunted tpb containing Warren Ellis' 6 issue storyline is great and very dark.

I love Delano's run but since the only tpb is the first issues, you should probably save that for last. One of the villains show up in th Ennis run, but it shouldn't be a problem.

Jenkins' run was everything from magnificent (Critical Mass) to incomprehensible and boring (Undertow and Up the Down Staircase).

Azzarello sucked.

Carey has been disappointing but the current storyline is shaping up quite nicely. Denise Mina will be taking over the reins shortly, so that might also be a good time to jump in.

[Cash Lone]

Ennis' run is probably the best one to start with. Dangerous Habits is the place to start, although I think some of the later storylines are much better.

Also the Haunted tpb containing Warren Ellis' 6 issue storyline is great and very dark.

I love Delano's run but since the only tpb is the first issues, you should probably save that for last. One of the villains show up in th Ennis run, but it shouldn't be a problem.

Jenkins' run was everything from magnificent (Critical Mass) to incomprehensible and boring (Undertow and Up the Down Staircase).

Azzarello sucked.

Carey has been disappointing but the current storyline is shaping up quite nicely. Denise Mina will be taking over the reins shortly, so that might also be a good time to jump in.

Haunted by Ellis was really powerful. It had the feel of Delano's best work but still was Ellis' own vision and voice. If Ellis had been allowed to finish his stint I think it wouldve been an amazing run.

Up the down staircase - oh those were some dark days.

[Lubichev]

Remember "Widdershins?" Ugh.
"The Pub Where I Was Born" was a pretty crappy one too. That was one of Ennis's first arcs, I think.

Dangerous Habits.
Hard Time.
Son of Man.
Royal Blood.
Critical Mass.
All of Ennis' work.

[Sean Whitmore]

"The Pub Where I Was Born" was a pretty crappy one too. That was one of Ennis's first arcs, I think.


You really think so? I've always liked Ennis' one or two-part stories better than his big arcs, personally.


SEAN

[Lubichev]

Sure, I dug most of Ennis' stuff. However that particular story didn't do much for me. It seemed too forced and predictable.