Grovel.org.uk - The source for graphic novel reviews


HomeReviews by titleReviews by writerReviews by artist


Hellblazer

Title
Hellblazer 4: Tainted Love

Words by
Garth Ennis

Art by
Steve Dillon

Story
starstarstarstarstar

Art
starstarstarstarstar

Overall
starstarstarstarstar

Buy this book:

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

Hellblazer: Tainted Love

Hellblazer Hellblazer Garth Ennis' has an extraordinary ability to take the supernatural and place it in situations so everyday that it starts to appear normal. This skill is exemplified in this book. It is the story of a man hitting rock bottom, that just happens to also feature vampires, Satan, the ghost of a World War II Hurricane pilot and an insane Catholic priest. But despite the strange cast of characters, the best bits of the book are the conversations between a down and out John Constantine and the street life around him, as he dissolves into alcoholism; and the chapter where his ex-girlfriend heads back to hometown Belfast and spends the evening chatting with her family in a pub.

Ennis pulls no punches in his depictions of graphic violence and sex, making scenes in the book heart-stoppingly shocking. This is in-your-face horror at its best, leaping out at you when you least expect it. Dillon's seemingly casual style is a perfect foil for Ennis' extreme storylines, building on the horror by emphasising the normality of its victims before exposing the dark side with no thought for the squeemish.

At their best, Ennis and Dillon are a seemless team of writer and artist, creating intelligent comics with a an adult theme and a sadistic bent that Ennis could practically trademark. And this, although not for the faint-hearted or small minded, is Ennis and Dillon at their best.

Comment on this graphic novel review


Published by
DC Comics (US)
Titan Books (UK)


First published
1998

Originally published as
Hellblazer 68-71, Vertigo Jam 1, Hellblazer Special 1

ISBN
1-56389-456-4 (US)
1-85286-994-1 (UK)


Links
Straight to Hell
Hellblazer Index


Previous in series
Hellblazer 3: Fear and Loathing

Next in series
Hellblazer 5: Damnation's Flame