Rating: 
Summary: Garth Ennis Arrives in Style
Review: It was with this story arc that Garth Ennis began a run on "Hellblazer" which made his name in the US. In my opinion it is still one of the best. Only 20 years old at the time, he had a tough act to follow as Jamie Delano's relentlessly bleak storylines had won him praise across the board. What nobody imagined was that this young Irishman could write a storyline that would not only grip and entertain readers, with its energy and dark wit, but that he would also set up a chain of events that is to this day still praised as the greatest series of stories ever told about John Constantine. Obviously Garth's story - telling wasn't up to the standard that it is now but he sure did manage to bring fantastically realistic dialogue and characters to the series. The games of trickery and deceit he plays with the devil himself in this collection are up there with the best horror tales I have ever read, or seen on screen. The gore count isn't as high as most of his books now, and William Simpsons art may seem sketchy at first, but persevere and you will be rewarded with a fantastically original story. Not for the faint - hearted (well Ennis books never are) but this is a truly compelling, and heartfelt story about the desperate risks that one man will take to survive as he feels death catching up with him.
Rating:
Summary: Garth Ennis Arrives in Style
Review: It was with this story arc that Garth Ennis began a run on "Hellblazer" which made his name in the US. In my opinion it is still one of the best. Only 20 years old at the time, he had a tough act to follow as Jamie Delano's relentlessly bleak storylines had won him praise across the board. What nobody imagined was that this young Irishman could write a storyline that would not only grip and entertain readers, with its energy and dark wit, but that he would also set up a chain of events that is to this day still praised as the greatest series of stories ever told about John Constantine. Obviously Garth's story - telling wasn't up to the standard that it is now but he sure did manage to bring fantastically realistic dialogue and characters to the series. The games of trickery and deceit he plays with the devil himself in this collection are up there with the best horror tales I have ever read, or seen on screen. The gore count isn't as high as most of his books now, and William Simpsons art may seem sketchy at first, but persevere and you will be rewarded with a fantastically original story. Not for the faint - hearted (well Ennis books never are) but this is a truly compelling, and heartfelt story about the desperate risks that one man will take to survive as he feels death catching up with him.
Rating: 
Summary: Good but not Ennis' best collection of the series
Review: John Constantine, the main character here, is psychically a normal human being. His trench-coat, laid back attitude and cigarette in the corner of his mouth are all part of his image. John isn't your average guy though. He is a magician, specialized in demons and Hell. He's more interested in booze though. This book collects #41-46 of 'his' series, the first 6 issues of the Garth Ennis run (complete story-arc). A series which isn't about standard winner-takes-it-all tales but shows a struggling character who wins some and looses some, not always using the most respected options. Here, John has just heard the news that he is suffering from terminal lung-cancer. He doesn't know what to do so he goes out to try and find something or someone who might be able to help him, thereby caring little what effects his actions have along the way. On his desperate journey he visits about every magician and representative from Heaven and Hell he can think of. Meanwhile he's getting more sick every minute and time is running out fast. Although the typical Ennis humor (like in Preacher) hasn't set in here yet, he IS already showcasing that he can write well. It's not as good as in the next trade collecting his issues ("Fear & Loathing") but that's not saying this one isn't worth your time. Story-wise it all fits and while the story may not be the best he's ever written, it's better than many things in comparable genres out there. The art is done by various artists, mostly by Will Simpson. Although it can't compete with Steve Dillon's drawings (the artist in the other Ennis Hellblazer trades and Preacher), it is clear, moody, maybe over-sketchy sometimes but fitting for the title. A nice book with no prior Hellblazer-knowledge necessarily required.
Rating:
Summary: Ennis's Debut is a stunner
Review: Readers of Ennis's Preacher should read this - it has all the blasphemy, religion, hedonism, and gut wrenching intelligence of that series but with a different backdrop.
Rating:
Summary: Ennis delivers great Hellblazer story
Review: The best Hellblazer comics were always about infusing supernatural elements into a realistic story, and this one does it the best. John Constantine, the hardcase mystic who puts the 'anti' in anti-hero, learns that he has cancer. With no medical means to turn to, John plays a dangerous game with the forces of the occult that if lost may mean more than just his life. Ennis writes a great story here, bringing characters like Kit (John's short term love interest) and Matthew, a fellow cancer patient who Constantine gets close to. It all culminates with a satisfying conclusion thats both shocking and sweet. One of my favourites!
Rating:
Summary: Beware the insanity!
Review: This is the perfect pick up point for any serious Hellblazer future fan. It shows you the crazy world of the magician called John Constantine. Author Garth Ennis brings you a little bit closer to the madness of John's world, the story is very appealling and it grabs you from the beginning to the end. A great buy and a Jewel for comic-book fans. John is a character a lot of us relate to(Believe me) so grab a Pint and enjoy an awesome reading expirience..Cheers Mate!
Rating:
Summary: THE SCARIEST ANTI-SMOKING MESSAGE I EVER READ
Review: This was the very first American comic book Garth Ennis wrote, I'd like to say off the bat, and even then you could see his flair for diolouge, the outrageous situations he puts his characters through, and his views about religion. John Constantine, the protaginist of this book, gets lung cancer from smoking cigarettes all his life. You can see his despiration as he goes on a nutty quest for a cure, coming even to guys garunteed to shoot him down, and guys garunteed to want to help him but still be totally useless. You can see his despair as he is sure he is going to kick the bucket and says a sad goodbye to his family and friends(and ex-friends, and non-friends, and dead friends...). Just like people in real life with fatal illnesses often go on wild goose chases and often fruitless and aimless searches for a cure, Garth Ennis, as always, wrote a story that couldn't happen in real life, yet felt so realistic. Any fan of Preacher or Hitman has to pick this book up ! so they can see the shape of things to come. Oh, and if you don't want to end up like John here, lay off the smokes, okay? Not every(okay, not any) lung cancer victem enjoys the miracle cure he gets at the end.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful
Review: While it is certainly within reason to prefer some of the later issues of the Ennis run on Hellblazer (I myself also prefer Dillon's artwork), Dangerous Habits is such an iconic picture of the character John Constantine that I consider it absolutely essential. This is what you give to someone who has never read a Hellblazer comic before (or a horror comic before, for that matter). Gritty, depressing, humanist, Ennis shows his wonderful storytelling ability through every page and turn of the book. But in an almost film-noir sort of way, Constantine often takes a second seat to the supporting cast. A demon, an angel, a terminal cancer patient, and more all masterfully color the occult world of Hellblazer with true-to-life personality and just enough glimpses at a larger universe to intrigue, but not lose the flexibility of the setting.
Rating:
Summary: A desperate and scheming Constantine is the best sort!
Review: Whoever said comics were for kids? Or just boys, for that matter. This has to be my favourite ever Hellblazer collection, with John showing that mix of insane bravado and reluctant compassion (as well as a horrified realisation of his own mortality) that makes him one of the most complex and enjoyable fictional characters I know.
Rating:
Summary: More personal demons that you can handle
Review: You probably know the story. There's this mythical hero, known to be able to outsmart Satan himself, who apart from some minor human defect is next to invincible. But one day he wakes up with a terminal cancer, no doubt induced by his chain-smoking habit. This would be cool enough, but the whole point of the story is how mr. Constantine works his way out of this major inconvenience. I won't spoil it for you - but I'm sure nobody else but Constantine would have thought of that. Oh, and the other important thing. This book is not about what I just described, but about death, friendship and the way you look at your life and the world itself. Not bad indeed.
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