Mike Carey's Hellblazer...

[Psychocandy]

I don't understand why so many readers have been disappointed by Mike Carey's take on Hellblazer. It has been, as far as i'm concerned, a breath of fresh air after the overall disappointment of Brian Azarello's run on the title (sporadically interesting though it admittedly was). With Carey leaving the title in the near future and with issue #212 bringing to a head a lot of the various themes and threads that he's woven throughout his run on the title I thought it would be a good time to ask for some opinions. Personally I thought his recent six parter Down Among The Dead Men was magnificently dark and came pretty close to the high watermark of quality set by Garth Ennis during his run (not quite though). I just hope that DC haven't issued the next writer with orders to make the title reflect the movie more (although I did, surprisingly, enjoy Constantine). Whoever they have chosen (I did read her name somewhere but can't remember) she has big shoes to fill. Hope she's up to the task.

[Cayman]

I don't understand why so many readers have been disappointed by Mike Carey's take on Hellblazer. It has been, as far as i'm concerned, a breath of fresh air after the overall disappointment of Brian Azarello's run on the title (sporadically interesting though it admittedly was). With Carey leaving the title in the near future and with issue #212 bringing to a head a lot of the various themes and threads that he's woven throughout his run on the title I thought it would be a good time to ask for some opinions. Personally I thought his recent six parter Down Among The Dead Men was magnificently dark and came pretty close to the high watermark of quality set by Garth Ennis during his run (not quite though). I just hope that DC haven't issued the next writer with orders to make the title reflect the movie more (although I did, surprisingly, enjoy Constantine). Whoever they have chosen (I did read her name somewhere but can't remember) she has big shoes to fill. Hope she's up to the task.

I've only read the first TPB of his, but it was great stuff. All His Engines was good too.

Cay

[Lubichev]

I have also enjoyed Carey's work on the title. I like that attitude that he has given the demons and spawns in hell. "Down Where The Dead Men Go" was a great arc. Actually, 201 to current have been highly enjoyable. I will be sad to see him go. Who is the new writer? Anyone know?

[azrapse]

Her name is Denise Mina - she is the author of the Garnethill trilogy - Garnethill, Exile and Resolution - as well as Sanctum (released in the US as Deception) and The Field of Blood. She has also written several short stories for crime anthologies.

[Now, over the last 15 years John's been portrayed as everything from an angsty poet to a cold and bitter recluse. How would you describe your own Constantine, and what drives him?]

"In my run Constantine has a run in with empathy, which is weird and turns out to have a sinister genesis. John’s been through a bit of a hard time recently and I wanted a contrast with the mythic super hero arc that Carey created, make him look inward to why he's such a bad friend to Chas and everyone else. Also I didn’t think I could compete with Carey, whose run has been brilliant, so I thought I'd distract attention by doing something different. "

http://www.insanerantings.com/hell/interviews/mina.html

[Cayman]

I'm looking forward to Mina's run. She's a great writer.

Cay

[Lubichev]

"In my run Constantine has a run in with empathy, which is weird and turns out to have a sinister genesis. John’s been through a bit of a hard time recently and I wanted a contrast with the mythic super hero arc that Carey created, make him look inward to why he's such a bad friend to Chas and everyone else. Also I didn’t think I could compete with Carey, whose run has been brilliant, so I thought I'd distract attention by doing something different. "


Now that sounds great. She starts in the next few issues? Any news on who the artist will be? Thanks for the 411!

[tk421atpost]

I rather enjoyed Carey's run and I hope that the new writer is up to the task as well.

[rassmguy]

I don't understand why so many readers have been disappointed by Mike Carey's take on Hellblazer.


You're operating on a false assumption -- many fans love Mike Carey's run, especially since it replaced the idiocy of the Azzarello run.

[Psychocandy]

You're operating on a false assumption -- many fans love Mike Carey's run, especially since it replaced the idiocy of the Azzarello run.

Sorry if i've made a false assumption. I've read a few posts on various boards that have been pretty critical and there didn't seem to be many (or any) voices speaking out in support of Carey's run.

[JLarson]

I've loved both Azzarello's AND Carey's runs. Hellblazer's one of the most consistent titles in comics, I'd say.

[Cash Lone]

Carey Sucks. His run has been a long, dragged out, one dimensional bore that needs to be shot and put out of its misery.

[Surt]

I liked Careys run, especially the latter parts. However, the beginning arcs had some weak points. It seemed as if the storylines never concluded but instead led into another storyline with a much larger threat. I also had very high expectations because of his work on Lucifer.

And I agree with the original poster, as I've also seen quite many posters criticizing Carey.

[Psychocandy]

Now that it's done and dusted I rank Carey's run second to Garth Ennis' in quality terms. I was particularly pleased with the note he left it on. The final two parter was simply magnificent and pretty much cemented my opinion of the run as a whole. Now I plan to go back and read the entire thing from start to finish.

[Chris Thomas]

well I read them all as trades, and I thought azerello's run was incredibly interesting and well done. but then I am an American.

the carey run is also interesting but not as good--I think it falls flat in the since that he doesn't flush out the plot as well. sometimes, it seems he is trying to draw a path to his climax, then realizes the path is too windy and just ends it.

[Harry]

Carey's run has ranked amongst my faves, probably as someone else said second only to Ennis (I haven't finished plowing through Delano's run though.)

[stealthwise]

Azzarello's run started with promise, then degenerated into cryptic, non-sensical pseudo-porn. Oh wait, I forgot to add the word pretentious. :)

Carey, on the other hand, didn't seem to know when an arc began and ended. He also bored the hell out of me with horrendous pacing and batches of issues in a row where nothing happened at all.

[Lubichev]

Azzarello's run started with promise, then degenerated into cryptic, non-sensical pseudo-porn. Oh wait, I forgot to add the word pretentious. :)


Yeah. I felt a little dirty after reading Ashes and Dust.

[Chris Thomas]

Azzarello's run started with promise, then degenerated into cryptic, non-sensical pseudo-porn. Oh wait, I forgot to add the word pretentious. :)

Carey, on the other hand, didn't seem to know when an arc began and ended. He also bored the hell out of me with horrendous pacing and batches of issues in a row where nothing happened at all.


I agree about carey. you needed to read them as a trade and even then it was rather boring

I don't see the preteniousness in the azzarello run. maybe I'll look again.

[stealthwise]

I agree about carey. you needed to read them as a trade and even then it was rather boring

I don't see the preteniousness in the azzarello run. maybe I'll look again.

I really want to like the last arc in the "Highwater" trade, I really do, but it just degenerates into an obtuse parody of Batman, filled with sexual deviancy and an unsatisfying (to me personally) conclusion.

[Cash Lone]

I have noticed that Carey's run is now over w/ the last issue of Hellblazer. And now looking back at the entire 3 1/2 years Carey has had, I can say that he is absolutly the worst thing ever to happen to Hellblazer.

Bash Azzarello all u want but at least he didnt drudge up Nergal and First of the Fallen again.

Carey wasted so much time and potential. He introduced us w/ Angie and brought up Ellis' characters, but so what? Angie became another damsel in distress who may or may not be related to JC? Watsford gets one panel? Why even use him? And dont get me started on poor Chas. After Ennis' run, why break up their friendship again?

I think Carey didnt have much to say w/ J.C. or really likes Hellblazer the book at all. The internal logic of the book was fuzzy, plot lines are still dangling, the story arcs were generally too long for their own good, and after so many heaped upon pointless deaths, the final passing of someone close to Constantine was limp.

ah, at least Mancos art is decent. forward and onward w/ the new guard :)