Favorite Hellblazer Writer

[FanboyStranger]

I was reading the "How Bad Was Azzerello's Hellblazer run?" thread, and I was struck by how many people said Azz' run was their favorite in the book's history. It's been a while since we've had any sort of Vertigo poll, so I figured, "What the hell? Let's have a favorite HB writer poll." Now, I fully expect Ennis' run to win running away, so please make this more interesting by including why you liked your favorite run so much, when you started reading the book, what role the artist played in your decision, etc. Also, let's try to limit this to Hellblazer, not John's appearances in Swamp Thing, Sandman, Books of Magic, and so on. I've included the eight writers who have had lengthy (12 issues or more) runs on the book (or will, in Milligan's case) as well as an 'Other' option in case you love Eddie Campbell, Neil Gaiman, Grant Morrison, John Smith, Dick Foreman, Jason Aaron, or Darko Macan.

For me, it's Jamie Delano's run. Yes, it was often plagued by inferior artists (Mike Hoffman) and the plots occasionally ran off the rails (Fear Machine, anyone?), but for me, Delano's Constantine is the definitive Constantine-- an often desperate, aging adrenaline junkie with ruthless cunning and a cutting wit, just barely one step ahead of his enemies, mourning the friends he'd lost along the way. It was a smart book with insightful social commentary that rarely pulled its punches. The Family Man stands out as the highlight of Delano's work on the character-- an utterly desperate Constantine at the end of his wits hunted by an all-too-human antagonist, a far cry from the demons and conspiracies that appeared earlier in the run. (For the record, I first started collecting HB during the Jenkins years, and rapidly collected the entire series in back issues, back in the days before everything got collected.)

[Greg Anderson]

Man, I'm very much digging the hell outta Milligan's run thus far and I LOVED Mike Carey's run. Diggle was fun too but felt it was too short and he was kicking butt. But in the end, Jamie Delano.

[T Hedge Coke]

I haven't read the new run, but Ennis was quite on for most of his run(s) and Delano had real passion injected into his run, real meanness, hampered only by a tendency to be too one-issue-per-issue early on.

[FanboyStranger]

Aw, crap. I forgot Diggle on the poll, and I loved his run. (I rank him third behind Delano and Ennis.)

[Vintage Crime]

I always thought that under Ellis and Azzerello Constatine was more of the in control con man, badass. I voted for Ellis, because I liked his stories better than Azzerello's. I liked the Azerello run, but I remember really liking Ellis' stories at the time. Its been years since I read the Ellis run, but I think there was a crimson magus storyline and a huanted apartment that I liked best.

I would rate Milligan as second best with Delano rated third. I remember with Delano I had to grab a dictionary often as he used a lot of words I was unfamiliar with. Delano has a nice poetic writing style. Ennis could write a mean Constantine, but I didn't like the heavier Christian influence. Jenkins seemed to complete plots from other writers and his material never seemed as original to me. Mike Carey's run was okay, I liked the supernatural aspects and monsters, but Ellis, Milligan, and Delano are my favorite.

I wouldn't say that anybody has had a terrible run. I think Hellblazer has been consistently good over the years. Denise Mina had my least favorite run, but she wasn't a horrible Hellblazer writer.

[Stony]

Originally Posted by FanboyStranger

Aw, crap. I forgot Diggle on the poll

Ta-daa!!
You're welcome.

[carabas]

Garth Ennis, by far.
Azzarello comes in second.

Although Ellis did the IMO single best Hellblazer story of all (Hainted), but he didn't really have a run so I didn't vote for him.

In this poll you really should have three or so votes instead of just one.

[goRimbaud!]

Pete Milligan
My fave writer
My fave mature character
My fave new thing

[dwyer90]

It's a tough call to choose between Delano and Ennis but I'm going with the latter

[gundarN]

Delano for me.
I have very fond memories of buying these as they were released as I found the stories to be mature and Constantine to be believable (if such people can be classed as believable).
I'm really due to re-read them, especially as I have just gone back and re-bagged and boarded them all.

It was a good time for comics to be maturing and I miss Shade too.

[Global Honored]

Wow, this is a tough poll. Several worthy options here.

I know people are torn on Carey's run but I am surprised no one has come to his defense yet. Delano really laid the ground work for Constantine and Ennis has been tremendous on nearly everything he's touched. Azzarello;s run was a bit different but definitely has its place in the Hellblazer mythos. I really enjoyed Milligan's recent work on the series. This is very very tough to call.

[Mick]

Garth Ennis.




It's a tough question, though. I've enjoyed the entire series.

[obii]

Warren Ellis for returning him to his urban roots and horror

[Infernorhythm]

Andy Diggle. He was my introduction to the series, and while I've read a bunch of other writers' work, nothing compares to the energy, assertiveness, and downright creativity and good writing on Diggle's run.

[BobMarket]

Jamie Delano by far. By. far.

I still feel his John is the definitive John. Plus, I love Hellblazer as a place where the dark politics of our world can be played out in there, of course the Yuppie Demons stand out in that respect or that cult there, who get Gemma.

I think Delano's run is by far the most "horror" like of the series, where Hellblazer simply is a magick/horror (like that's simple, right?) showcase, where our protagonist meets all kinds of evil this and that, kicks 'em, gets kicked, bags the lady, and walks about looking like Sting.

Ennis definitely shapes who Constantine becomes, helps him along there and Dillon's art, man, it's just the perfect marriage of writing and art, coming together, to flesh out the more clearly defined religious baddies of Constantine's world.

I think people are way harsh on Azz just because of the dogsex, which, is pretty bad, granted, but Hard Time is so great. And so, john goes to America for a spell, so? He went to America during Ennis' run as well. Although I've heard folks aren't too crazy about that section of his run.

The only writer I think who is just awful is Jenkins. I think his run is definitely the low point, which is probably why it's never been collected.

Ellis' run is great. Mina's run could've been great, had she had longer with the series. Diggle's run is fun. They're all enjoyable, except Jenkins, oof, that was bad.