Best Hellblazer Trade to Pick Up?

[captain-primate]

So, I've always wanted to start reading Hellblazer, but never really knew where to start. I've finally decided to take the plunge...but which trade would be the best to start with?

Thanks in advance

[dave-accampo]

that's a tough question. I love the series, but it hasn't been collected in an ordered format, as all the other Vertigo series now are. There are some odd collections that collect material from various different eras. And while most of Garth Ennis' and Brian Azarello's stuff has been collected, there are big gaps in the earliest Jamie Delano stuff.

THAT said, the beauty of this book is that you can start almost anywhere.

I would recommend picking up Andy Diggle's first trade, "Joyride" when it comes out in February. It's a perfect starting point.

If you're a Garth Ennis fan, I'd recommend starting with Dangerous Habits, which is arguably his most famous arc.

If you're a Warren Ellis fan, I'd recommend starting with "Haunted" - his collection of Hellblazer stories.

If you're a Mike Carey fan, I'd recommend the Original Graphic Novel "All His Engines."

If you want to start at the beginning, then I'd recommend getting "Original Sins" -- which recounts the first arc by Jamie Delano.

Really? There's no wrong answer.

[wellthatsalright]

I was planning on asking the same thing, haha. Thanks for posting this!

[ryan79]

Thanks from me, too. I've been wanting to hop on the Hellblazer bandwagon for some time and really didn't know where to begin. I'm glad to hear that the last issue was a good jumping on point.

[neb]

I would recommend picking up Andy Diggle's first trade, "Joyride" when it comes out in February. It's a perfect starting point.

If you're a Garth Ennis fan, I'd recommend starting with Dangerous Habits, which is arguably his most famous arc.



If you pick up Joyride, it would be the perfect lead in to picking up the title monthly as there was some filler inbetween this arc and the current one that just started.

I believe that Dangerous Habits was the "inspiration" for Constantine, no?

[dave-accampo]

I believe that Dangerous Habits was the "inspiration" for Constantine, no?

Yes, it's actually kind of a mash-up of Dangerous Habits (for the devil and the cancer stuff) and Delano's Original Sins (for elements like Papa Midnite and Gary Lester and such).

[humphrey-lee]

Dangerous Habits is the only answer here. Pretty much the definitive Constantine story. I'd also throw Ellis' "Haunted" arc into the mix, or hell, just get the "All His Engines" OGN. That's about as perfect a Hellblazer story as you get.

[captain-primate]

cool - thanks for the suggestions. I've ordered All His Engines, Haunted, and Dangerous Habits. Once I'm through those, I'll probably have a better idea where to head next.

[shaundaniels]

Dangerous Habbits
Haunted
Orginal Sins

Go in that order Dangerous Habbits and Haunted give a good set up of the character and Orginal Sins is the first arc.

[dave-accampo]

cool - thanks for the suggestions. I've ordered All His Engines, Haunted, and Dangerous Habits. Once I'm through those, I'll probably have a better idea where to head next.

That's a good set right there.