This collection presents a tale of John Cons tantine - magician and scoundrel - and his battle against hi s own impending death from lung cancer. But when the demonic forces of Hell are involved, the cure may be worse than the disease. '
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
John Constantine, the main character in Hellblazer, was originally a very minor character in DC Comics' Swamp Thing. Next came his only series, in which this hard-smoking, hard-drinking, all around manipulator walked the thin line of magic between this world and hell. So when Irishman Garth Ennis was asked to write this comic book, he had asked himself, "What could I possibly do to John Constantine that hadn't been done before? And one course of action suddenly stood out above all others: Kill him." The result is a tense supernatural drama that begins with Constantine being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Though this book only hints at the freeform casualness and over-the-top vulgarity that became Ennis's trademark in the Preacher series, this is an immensely enjoyable read with strong characters and dynamite plot twists. --Jim Pascoe
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More About the Author
Garth Ennis is the award-winning writer of Hellblazer, Hitman, Punisher, Preacher, Pride and Joy and War Stories. He is much in demand for his hard-edged, wickedly humorous style.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
It was with this story arc that Garth Ennis began a run on "Hellblazer" which made his name in the US. In my opinion it is still one of the best. Only 20 years old at the time, he had a tough act to follow as Jamie Delano's relentlessly bleak storylines had won him praise across the board. What nobody imagined was that this young Irishman could write a storyline that would not only grip and entertain readers, with its energy and dark wit, but that he would also set up a chain of events that is to this day still praised as the greatest series of stories ever told about John Constantine. Obviously Garth's story - telling wasn't up to the standard that it is now but he sure did manage to bring fantastically realistic dialogue and characters to the series. The games of trickery and deceit he plays with the devil himself in this collection are up there with the best horror tales I have ever read, or seen on screen. The gore count isn't as high as most of his books now, and William Simpsons art may seem sketchy at first, but persevere and you will be rewarded with a fantastically original story. Not for the faint - hearted (well Ennis books never are) but this is a truly compelling, and heartfelt story about the desperate risks that one man will take to survive as he feels death catching up with him.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Before Garth Ennis wreaked havoc with his classic critically acclaimed Preacher series, he made a name for himself when he took over Hellblazer. John Constantine, the hard drinking, hard smoking manipulator of magic, meets his toughest opponent yet: his mortality. Constantine is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, and he doesn't have long to live. While Dangerous Habits (or most of Ennis' Hellblazer work) doesn't have the over the top vulgarity and brilliant insanity of his later work on Preacher, Ennis still weaves a powerful and surprisingly effective tale that finds Constantine at his weakest (and in following volumes we witness his deconstruction of the character) as he struggles to not only save his life, but his soul as well. Some of the art can be an acquired taste, but it suits the book, and Dangerous Habits is the beginning of the definitive Hellblazer stories. After reading this, you may even think about giving the smokes a break for a while, I know I am.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Garth Ennis, John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits (Vertigo, 1994)
It is entirely likely that anyone reading this review doesn't need me to say a thing about it. You already know who John Constantine is (even those of you who don't follow comics, thanks to the recent Keanu Reeves vehicle). You probably even know what issue numbers are contained in this book, which was the beginning of Garth Ennis' stint as the primary writer, and what happens in them. On the off chance, however, that someone who's not into comics stumbles across this review, I'll go ahead and say "get this."
Chain-smoking, hard-drinking John Constantine, rake, magician, and all-around bad guy, has just found out he has terminal lung cancer. He's going to die. He has few to turn to for help; most of his friends are dead, and both friends and adversaries still alive are loath to help him for various reasons of their own. Thus, Constantine has to come up with a typically brilliant, diabolical plan in order to get himself out of an inextricable mess.
Granted, this is a regular day in the life of the Hellblazer, but Ennis, the man behind the great Preacher, brings a style and energy to Constantine's character that's undeniable and attractive. He's a bit less comfortable with some of the minor characters from older issues, as if he's still getting used to being thrust into their skins, but as this story arc is highly centered around Constantine and a new character, that doesn't play as important a part as one might at first think. (The Snob, especially, is... well, downright boring here.) Ennis' writing is as witty and wiseacre as ever, and, well, it's simply a load of fun. If you're not familiar with Constantine, you may want to hunt down Original Sins before this, but this is one you'll definitely want to go on to. *** ˝
It is entirely likely that anyone reading this review doesn't need me to say a thing about it. You already know who John Constantine is (even those of you who don't follow comics, thanks to the recent Keanu Reeves vehicle). You probably even know what issue numbers are contained in this book, which was the beginning of Garth Ennis' stint as the primary writer, and what happens in them. On the off chance, however, that someone who's not into comics stumbles across this review, I'll go ahead and say "get this."
Chain-smoking, hard-drinking John Constantine, rake, magician, and all-around bad guy, has just found out he has terminal lung cancer. He's going to die. He has few to turn to for help; most of his friends are dead, and both friends and adversaries still alive are loath to help him for various reasons of their own. Thus, Constantine has to come up with a typically brilliant, diabolical plan in order to get himself out of an inextricable mess.
Granted, this is a regular day in the life of the Hellblazer, but Ennis, the man behind the great Preacher, brings a style and energy to Constantine's character that's undeniable and attractive. He's a bit less comfortable with some of the minor characters from older issues, as if he's still getting used to being thrust into their skins, but as this story arc is highly centered around Constantine and a new character, that doesn't play as important a part as one might at first think. (The Snob, especially, is... well, downright boring here.) Ennis' writing is as witty and wiseacre as ever, and, well, it's simply a load of fun. If you're not familiar with Constantine, you may want to hunt down Original Sins before this, but this is one you'll definitely want to go on to. *** ˝
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not for the mentally ill.
Dangerous Habits is widely considered to be one of the most difficult books to be taken off the shelves in Canada. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Shinobi
5.0 out of 5 stars
So great Heaven would seem like an anticlimax
Garth Ennis was born as a writer parthogenetically from the accumulated work of Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, John Toltleben, and Jamie Delano. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Danny C. Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars
An awesome Hellblazer story, and it's the book the movie is based on
This is a great book to start the Hellblazer series with, because it's a self-contained story. That's probably why they based the movie Constantine on this book. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Joseph Dewey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Read This Book First
'Dangerous Habits' is the first Hellblazer book you should read. If you loved Preacher, Sandman, or similar, this is of the same calibre. Poignant, gripping, and fun. Read more
Published on February 21, 2011 by Greg Bosworth
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great series
I like to find items like this when I like a movie that is related to the theme of the story.
Published on January 7, 2010 by L. McDonald
5.0 out of 5 stars
Changing of the guard...
This volume features Garth Ennis as he takes the helm as writer of the series. The story arc was entertaining, as Ennis returns the smug attitude to Constantine, something not... Read more
Published on June 21, 2009 by Darren J. Stritzinger
3.0 out of 5 stars
If you've seen the movie, do you really need to read this?
No.
Granted, there are differences in the stories. (Mild differences.) And, the book is better than the movie. (Mildly better. Read more
Granted, there are differences in the stories. (Mild differences.) And, the book is better than the movie. (Mildly better. Read more
Published on March 6, 2008 by A. Hughes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Graphic SF Reader
Garth Ennis decides to take the decidedly low-rent, if dangerous John Constantine even lower. Smoking a lot really is bad for you, even if you are a magician of sorts. Read more
Published on September 3, 2007 by Blue Tyson
5.0 out of 5 stars
"The Sting", Magus Style...
Garth Ennis is one of the most consistently entertaining writers in comics today, and one of the most challenging. DANGEROUS HABITS is the beginning of that. Read more
Published on December 21, 2005 by James Donnelly
5.0 out of 5 stars
great comic
i have been a fan of the dc vertigo series for a while. i finally came around to reading this book after watching the movie. Read more
Published on February 25, 2005 by J. Irps
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