Constantine: The Hellblazer Collection

Hellblazer (Single Issues) #1, 27, 42

by Jamie Delano (Contributor), Steven T. Seagle (Contributor), Garth Ennis (Contributor)

The official adaptation of the upcoming smash hit movie Constantine starring Keanu Reeves. John Constantine has been to Hell and back... literally. Using his knowledge of the occult, he wages a war against the demons among us. With the help of a female police officer, Constantine finds himself face to face with the agents of darkness called the 'First of the Fallen'. Will mankind survive, and will John and his trademark trenchcoat escape from the demons' clutches intact?... Also featuring three pivotal issues of Hellblazer which introduce the character of John Constantine - issues #1, #27, and #42 - this is really one you don't want to miss.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Horror, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book

166 pages, Paperback

First published January 25, 2005

About the author

Jamie Delano aka A. William James began writing comics professionally in the early 1980s. Latterly he has been writing prose fiction with "BOOK THIRTEEN" published by his own LEPUS BOOKS imprint (http://www.lepusbooks.co.uk) in 2012, "Leepus | DIZZY" in April 2014, and "Leepus | THE RIVER" in 2017.

Jamie lives in semi-rural Northamptonshire with his partner, Sue. They have three adult children and a considerable distraction of grandchildren.

Reviews

[Michelle Morrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Constantine has long been one of my favorite anti-heros, and I picked up this novelization of the movie hoping it fleshed out the story more. As with any novelization coming after the movie, you get either a basic word-for-word, shot-for-shot remake, or you get something more. I was thrilled to find something more: depth and back story and detail, for a start, and an author that cared about the rich and ample source materials that bring John Constantine to life. This novel was far more a companion to the Hellblazer comics than the movie itself was, though I am one of the few people on the planet that enjoyed the movie for what it was. And sometimes you just want to give your brain a nice dose of junk food, and this book based on the movie based on the comics fit the bill precisely.

[Missy (myweereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“When we hold each other, in the darkness, it doesn’t make the darkness go away. The bad things are still out there. The nightmares are still walking.”

Constantine - The Hellblazer Collection features the official comics adaption of the supernatural thriller Constatntine. Also featured are three classics Hellblazer stories by Neil Gaiman, Jamie Delano and Garth Ennis.

I really enjoyed reading this collection because it begins with an insightful introduction by Michael Bonner on the story of Constantine. From there is the official movie adaption, it was awesome to see Keanu Reeves in this comic as he was on screen.

The story “Hold Me” was written by Neil Gaiman and centres around a man who smells so vile but walks around asking to be held. Constantine happens to stumble across this man and uncover the mystery about his appearance and those involved. Illustrated by Dave McKean, it is a dark look into the day to day of John Constantine.

This was such a fun read and reminds me to get back to The Hellblazer series.

[Tiina · Rating 2 out of 5]

The collection was perhaps worth the reading because of Hold Me. It anyway annoyed me more to put just first parts of stories into the collection, so not the best pick.

Dark, gloomy and scattered since things are left unfinished.

[Haley Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable collection of comics

[Rainb0warri0r · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consigliatissima antologia per chi voglia buttarsi nel mondo di Constantine, magari con alle spalle il ricordo del contestato film con Keanu Reeves e con davanti la nuova serie televisiva (che almeno si annuncia un po' più fedele al fumetto).
Ad aprire questa selezione per il lettore principiante è, non a caso, la trasposizione a fumetti del film. Il che pare un po' una paraculata: la trasposizione a fumetti di un film ispirato a sua volta da un fumetto, ma che se ne è discostato al punto da esser diventato un'altra storia completamente... ignorato e superato questo scivolone, si cambia approccio con gli altri tre episodi selezionati. Il numero 1 di Hellblazer, ottimo e ovvio punto di inizio (senza andarsi a cercare le prime comparsate del cappotto giallo in Swamp Thing di Moore); il numero 27, ovvero il celeberrimo episodio firmato Gaiman-McKean, uno dei prodotti più toccanti che sia mai uscito dalla penna di Gaiman; il numero 42, che inizia la saga a firma di Garth Ennis, in cui troviamo il più famoso Constantine fumatore, malato, in lotta aperta con il Diavolo.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this to some extent. It opens with a history of how Constantine was created - some of it was interesting, but it wasn't necessary to enjoy the graphic novel.

It begins with a Cliffnotes graphic novelization of the film, but the meat of the graphic novel is the the three stories that follow. The first and third stories are essentially just teasers - the full stories are in different graphic novel collections. I found that the most disappointing part, since I'm one who believes if you start a story you should finish it. The second story was pretty much a stand-alone (thankfully) and was probably my favorite of the collection, if primarily because it was the only *complete* story. The drawing style of the second one also stood out from the other two. It looked far darker than the other stories, but, like some of the other stories penned by Gaiman (namely his stories geared towards children & his Doctor Who episodes), there was heart to it.

[Ma'Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gaiman, Delano, and Ennis have all made significant developmental and literary contributions to making John Constantine one of the most interesting characters in comics. The comic adaptation to a film script, on the other hand, is complete rubbish.

If you just want a sample of Hellblazer, borrow this volume from the library and skip the first section. If you have faith in the value of this character already, I recommend starting at the beginning with Jamie Delano's entire run of Hellblazer. Good luck getting the trade paperbacks in chronological order, but thankfully, if you don't read them all in order, you'll happen upon more subtle allusions to past events than actual plot-spoilers.

[Victor Orozco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool. Basically, this adaptation of the early screenplay brings a look of the Hellblazer Comic to life but with the trappings of the Hollywood movie that came out.

I know there are plenty of comic-book loyalists who despise Hollywood for changing the character of John Constantine from the Gothic Englishman to the more restrained but still cynical American depicted by Keanu Reeves.

Still, I've read a few Hellblazer collections and I have to admit this doesn't do too bad of a job. But its way too short, plus it takes out some of the more cooler things. Still an okay read.

Have to admit I like the genuine issue Constantine comics that came as the second half of this collection.

C+

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given it more stars, but not all the stories in this collection are complete. I didn't know that when I checked it out from the library =( The movie adaptation of Constantine is included, but with the other stories I realized that the movie isn't like the real deal. I liked the movie to a degree, but now I'm just irritated because I don't know where they came up with the ideas based on the graphic novel. I like the graphic novel version of Constantine. I will definitely be reading more of this series.

[Amanda [Novel Addiction] · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was alright. Basically the main part was just a retelling of the movie "Constantine." The side issues were fun reads - but they were just one issue, and the story was never resolved. Luckily, I had read them all before, and I remember how they ended. This is a way to get a taste of John Constantine.. but definitely not that great for someone who is already familiar with the awesomeness that is Constantine.

[Autum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. From what I understand it was written after the movie. It follows the movie to a tee with a few extra details. I thought it was great since the movie was excellent! The book gives a little more back story on the human who finds the head of the spear, which I liked. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has or has not seen the movie.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

First was the adaptation of the movie, which was okay, but like the movie, not my favorite. Then there were three stories from Delgado, Gaiman and Ennis which were among my favorites. Constantine is a fascinating character which I have loved since Saga of the Swamp Thing and is worth checking out.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

bits of stories from different writers. kind of a teaser. i was glad that constantine was only drawn like keanu reeves for the first story.
because there were bits of stories there was a bit of inconsitancy, such as chas being killed then appearing in a later story like nothing happened.
another god vs devil, will good triumph over evil story.

[Sem · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first section, with an unrecognisable John Constantine (unrecognisable as anyone other than Keanu Reeves, that is), made even less sense than the film. The rest is a pick-and-mix of the real thing.

[Lou Rocama · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't actually care for this, it being a sad rehash of the dangerous habits storyline. However, it's a comic based on a movie which in turn is based on a comic, and I find this hilarious. I only wish they'd gone the extra mile and stuck the novelization in there somewhere as well.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good collection of Constatine stories and makes me want to finish some of the other stories by getting some more of the collections. I like the variations in the Constatine movie story which starts of the graphic novel.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Odd's n' ends.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heaven or hell it held my attention and couldn't put down.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I'm hooked on these novelisations of major movies. There's just so much more in the novel than they could ever get on screen. And I really liked this one.

[Fugo Feedback]

Creo que leí varios de los números extra de este tomo, pero la adaptación del film seguro que no (aunque tampoco le tengo demasiada fe, la verdad). Queda como to-read hasta nuevo aviso.

[R.A. Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to give this book 5 stars. I loved this book from the beginning.

[Amber · Rating 1 out of 5]

meh.

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love John Constantine, he's my favourite demon blooded magi wanderer...cockney love that he is...

[Amcii Cullum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible graphic novel. Can't wait to get into Gaiman's Sandman series.

[Annette Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable overall but some runs are better than others, especially the Garth Ennis one.
Didn't really enjoy the end of the run, set in Australian Dreamtime

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

from start to finish this book was amazing. basically the main character is made to be keanu reeves

[Dianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

different