Hellblazer: The Devil You Know (Hellblazer (Graphic Novels)) - Jaime Delano

A Fantastic Read

A definate must for any Constantine fan. We all know he can handle himself around the forces of Hell but in Family Man John must deal with humanity.

Review

Story is strong, although sometimes difficult to follow. Art is less than inspiring, but works well with the genre.

jamie delano knows constantine

"The devil you know" collects the issues 10-13 and the first annuals of this series. Constantine is arrogant, tortured, and alone, and Jamie's writing deepens those feelings as we walk with Constantine in a Margret Thatcher England. Reminicient of V for Vendetta in how the future England may be, this tpb is truly a horror comic. Antartica is one of the most desturbing stories I have ever read. I personally liked how the different stories had different artists, its like the Sandman, each artist brings something new to the charcter. The opening imagery for "sex and death" is phenomenal. There are a some weak stories, (venus of the hardsell) but overall, some of the best writing and art this series has ever had.

Graphic SF Reader

Original Sins is some early Hellblazer work by Jamie Delano. This is back from the 1980s era, and is definitely more overtly political than some of what comes later. This is also the time that Swamp Thing was a character or perhaps a similar style, so the two crossed paths a little bit, so that may be of interest to some.

Solid collection of early Hellblazer tales

Though he was created by the great Alan Moore in the pages of Swamp Thing, John Constantine was really given his voice by Jamie Delano when Hellblazer was first launched. Providing Constantine with enough backstory, tragedy, and supporting characters to make him more than compelling than he already was in the first place, Delano got the character like few writers ever would in the years to come. The Devil You Know collects some of Delano's stories after Original Sins, which include Constantine meeting a woman unlike that he's never come across before, as well as going toe to toe with Nergal once again, and this time walking away with the upper hand. Though I myself was never really fond of Delano's work on the title the first time I read it, it grew on me, and the same thing happened here. Having artwork from V For Vendetta artist David Lloyd as well as Richard Piers Rayner and Mark Buckingham doesn't hurt either, rounding out a very solid book. All in all, what's contained here may not be as prolific as what we get in Dangerous Habits or Stations of the Cross, but The Devil You Know is definitely worth picking up for Hellblazer fans regardless.