John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits [Paperback]

Garth Ennis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1994

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

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

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Vertigo (March 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563891506
• ISBN-13: 978-1563891502
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 0.4 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #316,053 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Garth Ennis Arrives in Style, May 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits (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.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cheers mate, January 24, 2005

By 

N. Durham "Big Evil" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits (Paperback)

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ennis gets it right with his first try., May 20, 2005

By 

Robert P. Beveridge "xterminal" (Lakewood, OH) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits (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. *** ½