cowardm

I think it was Andy Diggle who said he would have Clive Owen play John. I know there's not a crazy amount of resemblance, but he's a sharp lookin' guy, a great actor, great at playing that EXACT sort of character, and best of all British.

I saw the movie before reading the comics (though the movie didn't inspire me to pick them up, I found a All His Engines for dirt cheap and it looked good) and I really liked the movie. Then I read the comics and I felt like the movie was trying to make an orange look like an apple. In this case, the movie, by any other name would have been better received. And as said on here before, it's one of the better movies of its genre.

Personally, I think it would be right on to have an ADULT animated series (like Spawn had) that is really well done and kicks a lot of ass. Like a non-rushed really ambitious project with great art, great voice acting, and true-to-the-story plots.

On the other hand, we never see movies and are like "Man that would make a great book or graphic novel", yet we read books or graphic novels and want a movie of them. I guess it's because real life motion and audio is more stimulating than imagining it yourself, but I think there's something to be said for the integrity of the comic medium. It's kind of like this for me, words on a page can read at any pace. You can stop and think about them, reread them, contemplate the meaning, and understand it better. Not only does a comic offer that substantial benefit to written word, but it also gives you a visualization which is an artistic manifestation of the written word. Doesn't make a movie sound so grand does it?

Bloodlines has 47-50, but you're right about 57 and 58 to my knowledge

I've always heard that Jenkins' run sold poorly.

 

The only issues I find used these days are Jenkins, Azzarello, and Mina. In fact, someone unloaded Mina's whole run at the used book shop recently.

Rake at the Gates of Hell isn't even in print anymore. I see tons of Mina and Carey TPBs, but here in Chattanooga there's no individual issues.

Anyone pick up "Bloodlines" yet, which nearly completes Garth Ennis' run? It's interesting seeing how Steve Dillon's artwork went from being rough to how polished and neat it is today.

 

I wonder what's next for TPBs of the former writers...more Delano trades? Another "Rare Cuts" collection? Or maybe a pivotal Jenkins arc or 2?

It does complete his run (although, as I said above RatGoH isn't in print anymore) and if you like Ennis you'll like Bloodlines. Of course, you probably know by now, but they are releasing a collection of Delano issues, and a couple of TPBs of Diggle's stuff this year. But yes, I like Bloodlines a great bit, and it's pretty heavy and graphic even for Hellblazer (in my opinion).

Thanks, that takes care of it all.

Now, I've noticed in some of the cover artwork (as particularly shown in the Bloodlines and The Devil You Know TPB cover) John is holding some sort of arrow or stick and has blood all over himself. Whats' the story because I don't recall seeing anything about this in the comics. Thanks.

The appearance of the three is explained in the Red Right Hand arc, whether this was a quick patch up job by editorial or intended from the beginning, well that's up for debate.

I read the Red Right Hand and didn't pick up on it, but I do understand there's a good chance it was incontinuity? What was the explanation?

Also, thanks for the help thus far.

Well it looks like the Master of the 3rd world shows up at Constantine's death but the 3 show up. Maybe I just don't really get the whole Empath is the Enemy story. I suppose I can read it again, but I'm not sure it would help, plus considering it sucked it might be a waste of time. I would like to know the general story though, specially concerning the three.

In Staring at the Wall there's a big dog that's going to kill everyone? Swamp thing goes to help and can't, so then a few of JC's buddies mediate on Scooby Do and it's problem solved?

So, I have some questions. I’ve read every issue that’s been collected in the TPB, meaning I haven’t read any of the Jenkins run, am missing some Delano, and then some issues here and there. I don’t mind spoilers on anything pre-Andy Diggle, but I would rather Diggle’s stuff not be spoiled if you can help it. I also read all 52 pages of this post in some obsessive attempt to gain more HB knowledge and to make sure my questions weren’t already answered. So, in spite of this being an absurdly long list of questions, I did my research and reading. So, here it goes:

1) In which issue did Emma die and what’s the story?

2) At the beginning of Rake at the Gates of Hell Header dies, is there something I missed? What happened here?

3) The FotF figures out he can “kill” the 2nd and 3rd, and I guess he combines what’s left of them in a sword? So, then the little girl (I forget her name) is actually Ellie disguised and she gets her hands on the sword? Then she whacks the FotF just before he can kill JC with said sword and he “dies”.

4) So, somewhere in all of this the FotF reappears in Carey’s run when Ghant is auctioning off JC. So, how did he manage to come back?

5) Also, in Rake at the Gates of Hell, how does JC know the FotF is coming for him?

6) Then, in Empathy is the Enemy the three come back around again. How did the 2nd and 3rd get re-embodied from the sword or whatever? Besides that, wasn’t it kind of a cheap ending on Mina’s part specially if they’re supposed to be dead?

7) So, the FotF was in Hell first, and he just casually gave up the throne to Lucifer?

8) Constantine seems like it goes through writers really fast. It’s the only comic series I read, is this all normal?

9) In which issue did JC meet his dad in Hell?

10) I noticed that all of the people are definitely in Hell don’t ever appear as ghost. The only exception I can think of is Rick the Vic, which is debatable. I’m assuming I’m wrong on this one, any thoughts?

11) I was really hoping JC would figure out something clever to get his sister (and presumably her husband) back from the FotF. Any possibilities of this in the future, or is it pretty much a done deal?

12) Am I the only one who didn’t get the big dog thing in Staring at the Wall?

13) I’ve noticed that the Straight to Hell website has gone rather unmaintained as the monthly title synopsis are incomplete, the “enemies” portion isn’t even available, etc. If I was more informed and knowledgeable about these things I would off to help, otherwise, is there any intention of some maintenance and additional information?

are there any missing issues between the trade paperbacks? are there a lot? might be a silly question, but im new to constantine.

I see, it was missing All His Engines and i guess that threw me off.

I have to say this question of exactly what JC drinks is a good question. See, though, what we're asking is liquor or beer? And well, sometimes you have beer and sometimes you have liquor. I could see JC enjoying a good gin and tonic, but didn't he drink whiskey in the first comics (like Fear and Loathing)? But sometimes, being British means you just gotta have a pint, and he might for a Guiness or Killians or whatever. Don't have him drink whiskey though, G&T seems more his thing. It's like the rugged mans hint of sophistication.

Myself, being relatively new to the Hellblazer fanbase, wouldn't mind a new thread consisting of a completely updated list as the first post...that said, if anyone does it I'll give them a big ol' pat on the back (an e-pat of course).

I mean, in some sense, I'm not a Constantine purist. I just love the character so much that it doesn't bother me so much when a Hellblazer comic sucks.

Sounds like you think of HB like pizza, even when it sucks it's still pizza.

that's pretty accurate, not to downplay what constantine means to me. in a lot of ways i really care about the character and what happens to him. i mean if diggle or the next writer makes him a hitler-esque character who takes over the world and abuses women i'd have a problem (which i trust no one would do in their right mind), but as long as constantine is the cynical bastard he's been all along, i'm just interested to know his history.

Well, I've lurked for a little, and said nothing. After reading through this thread, I have to say that I have good faith in you, Andy. I mean, in some sense, I'm not a Constantine purist. I just love the character so much that it doesn't bother me so much when a Hellblazer comic sucks. It seems to me, Andy, that you will do him justice in story and in character. I suppose my confidence/respect is because you almost seem to be picking up Constantine as a biography more than a fictional character you have to make up some shit to. A good many people de-mystify characters in the name of popularity, but I"m begging you to keep John the same old conman/magician/bamf that he's always been.

In summary, I appreciate it, and can't wait to see what you have in store. I appreciate your interaction with the fan-base (if for no other reason than that you're a fan yourself), and aw-hell I'm drunk, so I'll leave it at that.