Essential Reading: Hellblazer Recommendations Pt. 2

Continuing off from the previous installment, we now come to late Delano and into the legendary Garth Ennis Era where it cemented the comic's status as the most remembered series in DC's Vertigo imprint twenty plus year existence.

Dangerous Habits

Unlike the previous edition that contains the iconic six-parter, the current edition holds both the arc and the remaining seven issues of the Jamie Delano era. #34-36's trilogy deals with a journey in to Constantine's subconscious and childhood horror of his earliest experience with magic as he reunites with Marj and Mercury. The following two parter (#37-38) deals with the dark side of the human heart. The final two parter (#39-40) closing out the Delano run as we discover a deep secret our magus had been supressing for all his life as he comes face to face with the mysterious Golden Boy. Now we enter the Garth Ennis era with the landmark Dangerous Habits (#41-46). The story tells of John dying from terminal lung cancer seeking out other to help him whether its a old friend in Brendan Finn (who's dying from a liver disease) to the Snob. The arc is most remembered for the first encounter of The First of the Fallen (and well as his two brothers) as well as the introduction of the love of John's life (and Brendan's former girlfriend) Kit Ryan and the succubus Chantinelle (or Elle for short).

Bloodlines

Continuing the Ennis era, this volume see's John about to enjoy a year of bliss in his love life while still in the thick of it in The King of the Vampires, the demon that possesed Jack the Ripper, and we're treated to the backstory of the succubus Elle's association with John began on one Christmas night as she and her angel lover went on the run from their respective domains. Also included in this updated edition of the volume is #51 penned by guest writer John Smith (2000AD) set in-story between the end of Delano and the start of Ennis. The Royal Blood arc introduces the wannabe socialist Nigel Archer.

Tainted Love

All happy things slowy come to an shocking and unexpected end for John in this volume. Kicking off the volume is #62 and 63; the first story shows Constatnine steering his niece Gemma (now in her teens) from magic while paying a visit to his late ancestor. The story was the last time the comic was published under the DC bullet as the next issue would be published under the then newly formed Vertigo imprint. This issue is centered on John's 40th Birthday as his friends ranging from Nigel, Header, Rick the Vic (both introduced) Mange, as well as the one time guest appearance of Zatanna.along with a small appearance from Swamp Thing and The Phantom Stranger. Fear and Loathing (#64-66) see John and Elle's plan to bring down Gabriel go into full effect as John and a friend are held captive (with said friend tortured to death) by National Front member Charlie Patterson. The follwing coda to the arc sees Kit breaking up with John after the fall out from the arc. Unable to handle losing Kit, John freaks out at local bystanders to Chas only to wind up out in the street; homeless and drinking heavily leading two the following stories where John deals with the King of the Vampires and rebuilt himself upon discovering a corpse of a dead RAF fighter pilot. A cutaway issue (#70) sees Kit's return to to her native Belfast. Also collected is a short story from Vertigo Jam #1 and the Hellblazer Special "Confessional".

Rake at the Gates of Hell

We come to the end of the Ennis era as it closes out on a mighty high. The preceding arc Damnation's Flame (#72-75) see our man in New York to take a wee holiday from London only be taken down the voodoo spectrum courtesy of Papa Midnite; also a short story featuring the first time John met Kit at Brendan's circa 1980. Another standalone, #77, tell of Chas reminencing a botch job of Johns gone awry leading to the man himself arriving at his own funeral as our lads reunite in present day after their fallout. Now, to the title arc itself (#78-83) where the First of the Fallen goes on the full assault on the magus, a final goodbye from Kit, John saving an ex from her scum of a pimp, and racial unrest in Towers Hamlet which is more relevant now in light of the event of Ferguson and elsewhere as it was back in 1994, two years after the LA Riots.


Next Time: Rainbow Snake, dopplegangers, and a convo with God (?) as we enter the Paul Jenkins era plus an encore from Ennis.