Customer Reviews

Hellblazer: Chas (John Constantine, Hellblazer)

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What is The Knowledge? As we quickly discover, it is a detailed study of optimal traffic routes that aspiring English cab drivers memorize and test on in order to get their license. Its' genesis started centuries ago, but as we also learn so did its' mystical and arcane association with a certain demon from hell, which normally sets the stage for a ghoulish and ghastly adventure starring that legendary demon magnet himself, John Constantine. However in this instance the vile vagaries of fate have cast Mr. Chas Chandler, the already "knowledgeable" long time cabbie and long suffering mate of Constantine in the lead role, a part incidentally that he would rather leave to his more devilishly fluent buddy. This Hellblazeresque story takes a decidedly different route than normal, an apt metaphor in light of the subject matter, with the irrepressible Constantine taking not just his literal, but in this case figurative also, back seat to his pal Chas. The premise is intriguing, although the final dispatching of the evil entity is, as is too often the case in Hellblazer tales, not convincingly resolved. While the debatable decision to feature Chas in his own mini was a refreshing change of pace, it did not significantly enhance the narrative and may have actually detracted from it, with much of it consumed by an overabundance of extraneous sidebars centering on Chas' personal affairs, and in particular the ethical dilemma of him possibly having an extramarital one. Character exploration is fine, but not in lieu of plot development, which this short story was already lacking in anyways. Ultimately though, overcoming one's own trials and tribulations is the underlying moral of this fable, and as Chas would find out, sometimes all it takes is a little bit of faith.

I'm not going to be a spoiler and tell you anything other than this is refreshing. Some wonderful belly laughs and a sense of London that can only be had through a cabbies eyes.The end isn't as good as the journey , but the journey is so much fun. A great read !!!!!