John Constantine. Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits
Written by GARTH ENNIS. Illustrated by WILLIAM SIMPSON. (DC Comics)


Soho, London.
    It's springtime and John's dying. Hell of a thing to be doing in springtime. His doctor can't do anything about it, merely confirm that it's terminal. Too many cigarettes for a too long period.
    If you're dying, you're dying, there's not much you can do about it. But John's got hell of a reason not to die. It's not the dying what scares him, it's what comes after death. And he has friends in high places, much higher than any human hand will ever reach. So John's dying, but he's not going down quiet. Perhaps some of his friends can find some remedy against terminal cancer after all.

I don't know if Garth Ennis is British, though that would be my guess, considering the English milieu and the language — especially the slang and swearing. I've never heard anyone calling a cigarette a fag in any of the plenty American action movies shown on TV and in the movies.
    Though British milieu the story owns a Hollywood-structure, with an introduction—precentation of the characters—troublestarting—troubleshooting—peak—and finally the ending suddenly calm after the riot. It doesn't make the comic bad, just more American then the setting would allow it.

The story is thrilling, once begun, though according to my taste, a little to slow in the beginning. It reminds me then of Sin City, a lot of talk (the introduction) and scenes of the city, but no real actions.
    Many of the scenes are literally gross. In a comic book they're bearable, in a movie theatre many people would probably turn their head away. London is gloomy, and the main character, John Constantine, is, if possible, even gloomier.
    It's a modern day thriller, a world very realistic if you believe angels and demons may actually exist. It reminded me temporary of a Swedish role playing game — Kult.
    I enjoyed reading it; I like paining myself sometimes.
robin