John Constantine, Hellblazer: Pandemonium

The uninhibited juggernaut of a character that is John Constantine gets to shine brightly in this politically and philosophically fueled, sinfully enjoyable romp full of magic, mythology, horror, and dark humor.Delano makes a triumphant return to the Vertigo stalwart he was responsible for launching decades ago. I feel this is the best writing he's ever done on the "Hellblazer" title that revolves around the irreverent con-man and blue-collar mage known as John Constantine. Though created by Alan Moore in the pages of "Swamp Thing", the character's 'true' beginnings were the brain-child of Jamie Delano. He breathed life into the character by giving him his own title for fans to follow. And followed we have. "John Constantine: Hellblazer" has been a successful series for what seems like an eternity(and I've only been reading the title since the late 90s!). I have read the majority of "JC: Hellblazer" trade paperbacks, starting with volume one, "Original Sins"(which was written by Delano). I have also read the fantastic "Hellblazer" graphic novel, "All His Engines"(which is a review for another time). But if I hadn't read "Original Sins", I wouldn't have gotten hooked on the character, and thereby would have deprived myself of some of the best comic book stories I've ever read. Delano's "Original Sins" was, just like "Pandemonium", heavy in its political and philosophical tone. This book, however, is a more entertaining read than is his first run on the character. I really liked "Original Sins", but "Pandemonium" surpasses it in every way. The story, in my opinion, is more cohesive and tightly woven. Delano is and has always been an amazing wordsmith. But here, he is better than ever; the dialogue is snappy, and his use of description is far and away some of the strongest I've ever come across. In words, he sees more than just a way to advance the plot. Each turned phrase is ripe with a poetic-like delivery that would turn even the most boring of stories into an assault on the senses. He's that good. Then there's the way he handles the main character. Delano writes Constantine with the sarcastic and fiendishly politically incorrect sense of humor, endearingly opportunistic selfishness, and sneering devil-may-care attitude that makes him fun to read. Add to that the fact that aside from all the posturing, once you scratch the surface and look a little deeper, you see that he really has a good heart. All of these things have made him possibly the coolest character in the pantheon of cool comic book characters. And the political satire that Delano is so brilliant at, is seething with brutal honesty. And the philosophical elements that he provides make you think(which I feel more graphic novels should endeavor to do). This original graphic novel shows all of these aspects while tossing in a really interesting plot stacked with all the outer-dressings that make for a real page-turner.All I can say about the artwork of Jock is that his craggy style fits perfectly with the atmosphere of a "Hellblazer" book. I've loved Jock's work since first seeing it in "The Losers". I then treated myself to his magnificent stylings in "Green Arrow: Year One". His stuff is very original and unique. No one else's art could be mistaken for Jock's. His triple-threat abilities of pencils, inks, and colors are on full display here. He nails the tone of the story. 'Nuff said.Bottom line: Buy this book. If you've read Constantine before, you'll love it. If you haven't, you'll become a new fan. Either way, you win!

Things that go bump in the night usually stay in the night; otherwise their voice-mails would be hacked and they'd be on the cover of a British tabloid, their cover totally blown. I mean if there were REAL demons we'd all be back in church and little more virtuous, right?Constantine doesn't live in a very virtuous world. He's dodgy and dirty. But in this excellent story arc he comes face to face with people that are even dodgier and dirtier than he is, plus blessed with public and political backing.With weak writing or illustration, the setting could come off as merely politically exploitative - I mean setting a horror comic story in the midst of the real horrors of the US/British engagements in Iraq?Instead the story sucks you in, just barely plausible enough at the beginning to suspend disbelief, never exploitative of the sacrifices made by the troops or the suffering endured by civilians. A demon feasting on all that suffering is the fickle finger of fate that makes us wonder if fundamental Christians and Islamics might somehow be right, that there are deeper things at work in these conflicts than we want to face. In this case there are deeper things, not larger, noble battles - just dirty jockying for the "juice" that keeps hell running.The story ending is very satisfying. The rational mind cannot see magic even when it is right in front of it, the blinders are bound too tight. It's not possession, it's combat fatigue or PTSD, what did he just do, we don't know or care just tie him down and pump him full of knockout. Constantine sees what others don't see, he shares this with us, and he doesn't win nobly and sometimes doesn't really win at all. His stories seldom fail to engage though.(We don't only shut our minds to "magical" terrors; how quickly we forget or digest Abu Ghraib.)

Jamie Delano, the man who helped launch John Constantine's solo adventures into the macabre, returns for this original graphic novel that finds our favorite chain-smoking magician/con-man in a world of trouble. After being blackmailed into going to Iraq with a mysterious woman whose both caught his eye and is the focal point of the unraveling conspiracy that Constantine finds himself being in the center of. What Delano ends up doing is crafting a story of war profiteering of godlike proportions, and it winds up being the best Hellblazer story that Delano may have done yet. Combine that with the superb artwork of Jock, and Pandemonium is without a doubt one of the best John Constantine stories you'll ever come across.

I thoroughly enjoyed the writing and artistry on this graphic novel. Recommended

Ce graphic novel est excellent. Soit au niveau de la narration, qu'au niveau du dessin et de la mise en couleurs ce ceux-ci. Ici, on trouve un pamphlet sur la video-surveillance omni presente en Angleterre, une vision purement britannique de la guerre en Irak, et toujours ce fantastique omni present.Une histoire passionante, des personnages bien campes, un John Constantine toujours aussi execrable avec les autorites, que demander de plus ?D'autres albums independants du meme accabit !!! Bollocks!!Faites-vous plaisir et prenez le en versio hardcover.Bonne lecture!!

I read all the T.P. editions and this is one of the weaker ones I have read so far. The plot about the Iraq war was weak, and some of the story reeked of just grind one out.Art work was on par with story rushed sketchy and uninteresting.Much better Constantine stories out there, this one is just about worth the read for Constantine fans. Story lost me near end, when Constantine is shot in real world and then reserected, just not plausable enough for me.