# Fans of Hellblazer Anyone? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 20, 2010, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fans-of-hellblazer-anyone/561310 "2010-11-20T05:05:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Raiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3da27b/32.png) [@Raiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raiko)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fans-of-hellblazer-anyone/561310/1 "2010-11-20T05:05:23Z")
So a very quaint but extremely well stocked comic book store recently opened up where I live. So I decided to stop by and replete my much diminished Hellblazer collection. I used to have about fourty stored in boxes in my attic before a leak in my new house ruined damn near all of them. Tragic, I know, but that’s neither here nor there. I’ve beenan avid fan of Hellblazer since my youth to the point that Sting is also my favorite artist by association (or vice versa I can’t remember which was first.) My first new issue was 181 which I knew from experience was a stand-alone so there would be no cliffhanger issues. I love the Helblazer series because it is everything I try to embody in my own art and writing. It’s edgy fascinating well written, cheeky, and funny. Plus the charcters are gritty, beleivale and, most importantly, badass. I wanted to know if there were any fellow dopers who felt the same or if not what your opinions are on the series. (Apologies in advane for any misspellings or grammar errors it’s not me it’s my slow-ass computer T\_T) ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fans-of-hellblazer-anyone/561310/2 "2010-11-20T06:22:45Z")
> [@Raiko](#): > > So a very quaint but extremely well stocked comic book store recently opened up where I live. So I decided to stop by and replete my much diminished Hellblazer collection. I used to have about fourty stored in boxes in my attic before a leak in my new house ruined damn near all of them. Tragic, I know, but that’s neither here nor there. I’ve beenan avid fan of Hellblazer since my youth to the point that Sting is also my favorite artist by association (or vice versa I can’t remember which was first.) My first new issue was 181 which I knew from experience was a stand-alone so there would be no cliffhanger issues. I love the Helblazer series because it is everything I try to embody in my own art and writing. It’s edgy fascinating well written, cheeky, and funny. Plus the charcters are gritty, beleivale and, most importantly, badass. I wanted to know if there were any fellow dopers who felt the same or if not what your opinions are on the series. > > (Apologies in advane for any misspellings or grammar errors it’s not me it’s my slow-ass computer T\_T) Only read a few issues. Got a grasp of the character though a Swamp-Thing big book thingy. I like the character but never branched into the series, always feared it was way too eager to look cool and hip, without the substance to back it up. The last I read was the one written by Ellis and drawn by Bradstreet I think, with the Cradle of the Antichrist. Really liked the art and the pacing Bradstreet gave to the story (and I usually hate pseudo photorealist artists like Alex Ross or Adi Granov, and most of Bradstreet’s covers). ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fans-of-hellblazer-anyone/561310/3 "2010-11-20T13:55:08Z")
I drifted away from the series after Garth Ennis’s run finished. I think Eddie Campbell wrote a few shortly thereafter, but had no real feel for the character. Like Nick Fury and Dr. Strange. John Constantine seems to work better as an occasional guest star in other titles. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fans-of-hellblazer-anyone/561310/4 "2010-11-21T03:59:06Z")
[QUOTE=Mucous Membrane, John Constantine’s punk band:] Love, adventure death and glory The short goodbye The whispered story One last glance at the chameleon dance And into the dark across the park I ain’t no mark for the Venus of the Hardsell (Say it) I ain’t no mark for the Venus of the Hardsell Saints and sinners, new beginners Lipstick traces and TV dinners Cigarsmoke bars and expensive new cars The acapulco dive and the media jive They all survive for the Venus of the Hardsell (Know it) They all survive for the Venus of the Hardsell Empty graves and shallow heads Shallow smiles and empty beds Betta get a room without a view Sail out of sight of land Momma won’t like it but you should Travel with a roughneck crew Listen out for all that’s said Just worry when the hounds aren’t fed (Gotta) Worry when the hounds aren’t fed 'Cos one mutt yaps and the pack starts baying Blood for the gods it’s cheaper than praying Soldier-boys die but Superman still flies Violent days - it’s a permanent craze It never pays to love the Venus of the Hardsell (Leave it) Don’t screw around with the Venus of the Hardsell There’re new uniforms at the church bazaar Fanatics’ve got the rising star Past the billboard bride troops the national pride It’s all supplied by the Venus of the Hardsell (Frig it) It’s all supplied by the Venus of the Hardsell Nixon’s names left on the moon Where Apollo’s masons called the tune To cast their influence from above And damn all lunacy and love You know they made her the Venus of the Hardsell (Raped her) You know they made her the Venus of the Hardsell They’re winning momma and it’s getting dark D’you think there’s time to build an ark? Tomorrow’s a fiction, yesterday’s a lie I had a friend stuck his works in his eye Perhaps he’ll die? I wonder why we don’t cry for the Venus of the Hardsell Don’t sigh for the Venus of the Hardsell Don’t lie for the Venus of the Hardsell Don’t die for the Venus of the Hardsell Free her and live [/QUOTE] \*Not a real song, just quoting a page or two from one issue-- Should be kosher, right? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fans-of-hellblazer-anyone/561310/5 "2010-11-21T11:44:47Z")
I like _Hellblazer_. I also like the _Lucifer_ comics. ---
**Author:** ![vdgg81](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3d9bf3/32.png) [@vdgg81](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vdgg81)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fans-of-hellblazer-anyone/561310/6 "2010-11-23T17:54:16Z")
I love _Hellbalzer_, but what I usually do is I by a few tpbs every few years. Garth Ennis’ Constantine was my first, so he’s probably my favorite take on the character, but Moore’s version on _Swamp Thing_ is also very good. I liked Azzarello’s a lot as well, but think I’m alone in that. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fans-of-hellblazer-anyone/561310/7 "2010-11-23T19:19:02Z")
I actually have the entire run. Subscribed from day one. I obviously haven’t lost my taste for it. 🙂 I like the feel of strangeness going on in the shadows of our world, along with Constantine’s smartass sense of humor. I also like the way they do dialogue, the quick patter with the almost songlike UK voices. Makes the supernatural element feel more ancient. ---
**Author:** ![Raiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3da27b/32.png) [@Raiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raiko)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fans-of-hellblazer-anyone/561310/8 "2010-12-18T06:03:05Z")
Actually since I’ve started the thread I’ve recovered about twenty issues and discovered some new series that I like really well. Bought a vintage Dr. Strange issue and enjoyed it thoroughly. I’ll have to post some pictures of the comic store its the best. Small little store, lots of comics, DnD which is fine.