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Fair enough.  One of the writers managed to work in a reference; possibly Warren Ellis (though i only flicked through it).  Something like 'I've seen hell blazing through the streets'.  I liked it, it finally gave a bit of meaning to the title 'Hellblazer'.
Crying shame 'Hellraiser' was taken though.

Howya.  Just been on a massive trawl through the entire series of Hellblazer.  It's proving a bit too much though, so I'm going to just ask who the best writers are. I've already read Garth Ennis's run as well as Brian Azarello's, and most of Jamie Delano's.  Despite the usual alcohol, Pogues quotes, angel/demon sex and mutilated genitals, I like Ennis's stuff and actually prefer it to a lot of Delano's original run (though that has some excellent moments).  Azarello is great too, taking it in a whole new direction, and I never even realised the guy was an American writer.  Also read Grant Morrison's one or two episodes - nice work too; I remember the Sonic Youth reference from reading it when I was about 15.

So who else's Constantine is worth reading? Any suggestions? Mike Carey? Andy Diggle? Warren Ellis?

Also, why is it so popular in the States? Longest running Vertigo comic there is, I believe.  Apart from Azarello's take on Constantine, it's all very, very British.  Would have thought it's a bit local and obscure for American readers, but obviously not.  It's a crying shame they chose the worst mainstream actor there is to play him, but there you go. At least 'Constantine' is a better title than 'Hellblazer'.

Vaguely remember it now, like a bad version of Mean Arena (The first series of MA, that is, the second series was also muck). Drawn by whatsisname that does Savage these days, if I remember correctly?

I thought 'grexnix' was a real word when I was a kid. I thought the first 'x' was silent, for some reason. I remember discussing it with my very confused father, before my older brother put me straight.

I'm there, dude

I noticed Mike had a dodgy thumb alright, hadn't noticed anyone else with it. I don't remember any mention of it in the book.

I don't remember Killer.  What happened in it? Shockingly uninspired name though

Yeah, i enjoyed Preacher.  Little bit repetetive near the end, though - just how many bumrapes and castrations can happen in such a short space of time?

How did Garth Ennis manage to write decent dialogue for Etrigan in Hitman having written a song in Emerald Isle that went something like this...?

And he's on his way home now,
Back to the Big Meg now,
Something Something, Something Something,
A-Dredd, A-Dredd-oh.

(To the tune of Molly Malone.)

Nice work, MGB and PeterWolf!  Always liked your landscapes, Peter, but they're getting frighteningly good these days.  MGB, I would definitely give you a vote, but as I understand it, you're not allowed to win, so I probably shouldn't.

ALso, top stuff, Mr Wells, a bit like Buttonman's stuff but with even better draftsmanship.

What the deal with your forum picture, Jaysus.

I thought the moving eyes were always better.

Yep, this is the first forum picture I've had since the website was revamped a few years ago. But Horace was a very influential man in my formative years.

the cameos are almost unregonizable.

True, [spoiler]it's a long time since Mike ditched his old Erinsborough pals for his new 'Uni mates' in Melbourne. Now look where it's got him - snaggle-toothed on a beach full of dead people.[/spoiler]

 
It was his early Dredds I didn't like one bit, including Judgement Day which I absolutely hated.  And the one off about the living teddy bear I think was probably the worst strip in Dredd's history. 

I didn't mind Helter Skelter at all, not a brilliant story but reasonably enjoyable.  I liked Monkey on my Back too. I thought that with those two GE had finally got Dredd's character - menacing in a more brooding and thoughtful way than than that of the monosyllabic thug he used to pass off as Dredd.

lovely. works great in b/w... don't worry about colour!

Who are you? What right have you to storm in here drawing Judge Dredd as if you were some kind of professional or something?

Also one of my favourite books of the last ten years.  I saw the film last week. Outstanding performance from Viggo and the kid (as well as all the other actors involved), but...

[spoiler]I really think they could have done more to emulate some of the more dramatic imagery of the book.  In the book, the landscape really seems to be made entirely of ash and soot, and it really brings home the idea that pretty much everything that used to grow is dead.  In the film, there seems to be plenty of grass, trees and so on, even if they are all varying shades of grey.

There are also some really spectacular (if incredibly bleak) scenes in the book that I would have thought were crying out to be expressed through film, but I was a bit disappointed to see they'd been left out.  Things like the corpse-strewn cities, the solidified melted glass
pouring down buildings, and most importantly the cannibal army:  The hundreds of red-scarfed men with chained up slaves and catamites really made me realise how dangerous and different the post-apocalyptic world had become.  Perfect for film, surely, but left out completely.

I'll admit that maybe transferring the idea of the cotton masks that they wear in the book would have been a bad idea as regards obscuring the expressions of the actors.

All in all, I couldn't fault the script or performances, though felt the production design was a bit lacking.[/spoiler]

P.S.

I'd say there was Nil by Mouth afterwards.

WHAMMO!