Hellblazer: The Devil You Know [Paperback]

Jaime Delano (Author), David Lloyd (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Hellblazer | Publication Date: May 2, 2007

John Constantine is an unconcerned, amoral occultist with a British working-class background. He's an anti-hero who manages to come out on top through a combination of luck, trickery and genuine magic skill.

V FOR VENDETTA illustrator David Lloyd provides painted artwork for the tale of an encounter with a strange woman who is the embodiment of the world's horrors. This volume also features some of Constantine's earliest adventures including his first victory in the long war with the demon Nergal.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

These previously uncollected stories by Hellblazer's first writer, from early in the comic's run, include the pivotal "Newcastle incident" flashback, in which cocksure but callow young John Constantine essays summoning a demon, with disastrous results for the budding sorcerer and his friends, for an innocent child is condemned to hell, and Constantine winds up in an insane asylum. The volume also includes the two-issue miniseries The Horrorist, in which Constantine tracks down a spectral woman who embodies the world's suffering and deals it out to individuals unlucky enough to cross her path; subtly moody painted art by David Lloyd (V for Vendetta, 1990) enhances the chilly atmosphere. Flagg, Gordon

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Vertigo; First Printing edition (May 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401212697
• ISBN-13: 978-1401212698
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.5 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #861,975 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid collection of early Hellblazer tales, July 29, 2007

By 

N. Durham "Big Evil" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hellblazer: The Devil You Know (Paperback)

Though he was created by the great Alan Moore in the pages of Swamp Thing, John Constantine was really given his voice by Jamie Delano when Hellblazer was first launched. Providing Constantine with enough backstory, tragedy, and supporting characters to make him more than compelling than he already was in the first place, Delano got the character like few writers ever would in the years to come. The Devil You Know collects some of Delano's stories after Original Sins, which include Constantine meeting a woman unlike that he's never come across before, as well as going toe to toe with Nergal once again, and this time walking away with the upper hand. Though I myself was never really fond of Delano's work on the title the first time I read it, it grew on me, and the same thing happened here. Having artwork from V For Vendetta artist David Lloyd as well as Richard Piers Rayner and Mark Buckingham doesn't hurt either, rounding out a very solid book. All in all, what's contained here may not be as prolific as what we get in Dangerous Habits or Stations of the Cross, but The Devil You Know is definitely worth picking up for Hellblazer fans regardless.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some of the best from Delano, March 7, 2010

By 

A. Chalom - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hellblazer: The Devil You Know (Paperback)

The Devil You Know is a collection of some of the best stories written by Delano (Hellblazer #10 to #13 as well as some independent stories), the first writer to give John Constantine a soul. Sex & Death and The Devil You Know show Constantine's cunning, tortured and sarcastic personality, while Newcastle and On The Beach provide the background for his early story. However, the plot of this book is strongly connected to Original Sins, which includes Hellblazer #1 to #9 and introduces all the main characters. So I'd recomend reading Original Sins before The Devil You Know (or buying them both, hint hint!)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars jamie delano knows constantine, March 27, 2008

By 

Patchouli Medusa (denver, colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hellblazer: The Devil You Know (Paperback)

"The devil you know" collects the issues 10-13 and the first annuals of this series. Constantine is arrogant, tortured, and alone, and Jamie's writing deepens those feelings as we walk with Constantine in a Margret Thatcher England. Reminicient of V for Vendetta in how the future England may be, this tpb is truly a horror comic. Antartica is one of the most desturbing stories I have ever read. I personally liked how the different stories had different artists, its like the Sandman, each artist brings something new to the charcter. The opening imagery for "sex and death" is phenomenal. There are a some weak stories, (venus of the hardsell) but overall, some of the best writing and art this series has ever had.