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19lindsey89's review
3.0
I really like Constantine as a character, but I’ve been pretty disappointed by Rebirth and how poorly it is representing the DC cast.
vanessakm's review
3.0
Ok, I didn't dislike this as much as everyone else, but this Rebirth storyline was a little all over the map for me.
The main plot-something about the Djinn plotting their return muahaha-goes off in several directions, and not all of them were ones that I could follow. It felt like I was supposed to know who people were and what they were referring to, but there was too much random. I mean, I don't read Hellblazer on the reg, but who the Hell is Mercury?
The story simultaneously felt like it had too much filler AND not enough explanation. Half-written but also over-written.
Also, even before I checked the credits it was very apparent that the entire artistic team had been replaced between parts 4 and 5. Constantine is suddenly clean-shaven, Mercury (no really, WHO is Mercury??) looks like a completely different person. The entire color palette is different.
For example, before:
.
(Oh by the way, Swamp Thing is in this too. I'm also not sure why.....)
After:
And, yes, the second team is better (what is going on with the shape of Constantine's cranium in that first panel?), although the first team made better visual jokes. I think that is partly why this landed at three stars for me. Enough witty moments and a good story are in here somewhere.
It's not a great starting point for those new to Hellblazer, however.
The main plot-something about the Djinn plotting their return muahaha-goes off in several directions, and not all of them were ones that I could follow. It felt like I was supposed to know who people were and what they were referring to, but there was too much random. I mean, I don't read Hellblazer on the reg, but who the Hell is Mercury?
The story simultaneously felt like it had too much filler AND not enough explanation. Half-written but also over-written.
Also, even before I checked the credits it was very apparent that the entire artistic team had been replaced between parts 4 and 5. Constantine is suddenly clean-shaven, Mercury (no really, WHO is Mercury??) looks like a completely different person. The entire color palette is different.
For example, before:
.(Oh by the way, Swamp Thing is in this too. I'm also not sure why.....)
After:
And, yes, the second team is better (what is going on with the shape of Constantine's cranium in that first panel?), although the first team made better visual jokes. I think that is partly why this landed at three stars for me. Enough witty moments and a good story are in here somewhere.
It's not a great starting point for those new to Hellblazer, however.
runningbeard's review
2.0
Very disappointing. This is so below minimal standards in both writing and art from what was once one of the best series and characters in not just the DC Vertigo lineup, but in all DC.
I can't help but wish Constantine, Swamp Thing and others in the magical realm of DC were published by Image or Dark Horse. They are the only publishers that consistently produce top stories and art that put DC and Marvel to shame. Ugh.
I can't help but wish Constantine, Swamp Thing and others in the magical realm of DC were published by Image or Dark Horse. They are the only publishers that consistently produce top stories and art that put DC and Marvel to shame. Ugh.
crowyhead's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this! It's not, like, Dangerous Habits good, but it's definitely stronger than the short-lived "Constantine" run. I really loved that Oliver brought back characters from waaaaaay back in the Jamie Delano days, and I will always love the Swamp Thing/John Constantine combo. I didn't entirely love Pia Guerra's art on the issues she was penciler for, although it may have been the coloring that really threw me -- the shading and all looked very flat to me.
quirkycatsfatstacks's review
4.0
Slowly but surely I’m getting caught up on all (well, most) of the DC Rebirth series. I’m currently working on Hellblazer, in case that wasn’t blatantly obvious. Admittedly I haven’t made it through the New 52 run of this series, so I may or may not be missing out on some backstory. But I really wanted to finally get going.
John Constantine. What a character. He’s one that many love to hate, while others hate to love him. Honestly, he’s one of those characters where you can easily form your own opinion on him, and find proof to support almost any theory. I think that’s why I like him. He’s not inherently good, bad, nice, mean, or anything in between. He just is.
I have read and seen a few different takes of Constantine. They all had interesting points and they certainly all had flaws. But I’ve seen enough to know that I needed to go into this with an open mind; not all of the characters shown were going to be represented the way I expected them to, and I just had to accept that fact.
The Poison Truth starts out with a bang, but considering this is Constantine we’re talking about, I’m not really all that surprised. He’s got a real talent for getting in over his head, right? All of this volume revolves mostly around a few different plot points, leaving it feeling cohesive. My favorite type of volume collection!
Apparently sometime in the not so distant past Constantine managed to get his butt banned from London – what a shock. Not a legal ban or course. That’s far too banal for him. It was a magical one, and being Constantine he’s willing to risk everything to undo that.
I’m bringing that bit up because it’s so painfully accurate to the Constantine I know and love that it isn’t even funny. This is the sort of Hellblazer I was hoping for, and I got it. What I wasn’t expecting was one particular cameo. Actually, he’s more than a cameo – he appears again and again, becoming a relatively large plot point. And no, I’m not talking about Chaz (I expected to see him).
This collection had its ups and its downs, of course, but on the whole I really enjoyed it. There are some new characters I hadn’t previously met, and the time spent on developing them seems like it was worth it so far. The cameo was fascinating, fun, and it made sense. Constantine acted just like I expected, and of course there’s the antagonist. About the right threat level, if you ask me. Big enough to force Constantine to care (you know, once he figures out what’s going on), but not so insanely huge that it won’t eventually get solved.
I’m looking forward to starting the second volume of Hellblazer. Luckily for me I already picked it up, so I don’t have to wait long (unless you count the other books that are on my list before it).
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
John Constantine. What a character. He’s one that many love to hate, while others hate to love him. Honestly, he’s one of those characters where you can easily form your own opinion on him, and find proof to support almost any theory. I think that’s why I like him. He’s not inherently good, bad, nice, mean, or anything in between. He just is.
I have read and seen a few different takes of Constantine. They all had interesting points and they certainly all had flaws. But I’ve seen enough to know that I needed to go into this with an open mind; not all of the characters shown were going to be represented the way I expected them to, and I just had to accept that fact.
The Poison Truth starts out with a bang, but considering this is Constantine we’re talking about, I’m not really all that surprised. He’s got a real talent for getting in over his head, right? All of this volume revolves mostly around a few different plot points, leaving it feeling cohesive. My favorite type of volume collection!
Apparently sometime in the not so distant past Constantine managed to get his butt banned from London – what a shock. Not a legal ban or course. That’s far too banal for him. It was a magical one, and being Constantine he’s willing to risk everything to undo that.
I’m bringing that bit up because it’s so painfully accurate to the Constantine I know and love that it isn’t even funny. This is the sort of Hellblazer I was hoping for, and I got it. What I wasn’t expecting was one particular cameo. Actually, he’s more than a cameo – he appears again and again, becoming a relatively large plot point. And no, I’m not talking about Chaz (I expected to see him).
This collection had its ups and its downs, of course, but on the whole I really enjoyed it. There are some new characters I hadn’t previously met, and the time spent on developing them seems like it was worth it so far. The cameo was fascinating, fun, and it made sense. Constantine acted just like I expected, and of course there’s the antagonist. About the right threat level, if you ask me. Big enough to force Constantine to care (you know, once he figures out what’s going on), but not so insanely huge that it won’t eventually get solved.
I’m looking forward to starting the second volume of Hellblazer. Luckily for me I already picked it up, so I don’t have to wait long (unless you count the other books that are on my list before it).
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
dennisthehooker's review
3.0
Jest okey? Jak na razie nic wyjątkowego + nie szczególnie podoba mi się kreska.
alchemypotato's review
4.5
I really enjoyed this. My only prior experiences with John Constantine are his appearances in the early volumes of Sandman I read ages ago and the Keanu Reeves movie (which I don't really remember.)
But this was a pretty great intro to the character. It's kinda of refreshing to read a more supernatural story that isn't about superheroes. I've always been interested in checking out Swamp Thing for a long time.
I admit: I'm weak for British fiction and this was really really British. I'm kinda curious about reading the old Hellblazer series now.
The only downside to this book was the sudden artist change for the last two issues. The art in the last two issues was technically fine but too soft for the content. I really wish they could cut back on the sudden art changes mid-storyline.
But this was a pretty great intro to the character. It's kinda of refreshing to read a more supernatural story that isn't about superheroes. I've always been interested in checking out Swamp Thing for a long time.
I admit: I'm weak for British fiction and this was really really British. I'm kinda curious about reading the old Hellblazer series now.
The only downside to this book was the sudden artist change for the last two issues. The art in the last two issues was technically fine but too soft for the content. I really wish they could cut back on the sudden art changes mid-storyline.
miamollekin's review
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5