I was a bit underwhelmed with the New 52 version of Constantine. While it does retain the darkness of the prior incarnation, it lacks some depth. I think that Constantine has a tendency to be the Trickster, always working angles and not above double-crossing people when it give him an advantage. However, there wasn't enough explanation to go along with the visuals in this graphic novel. I think the writing could have been clearer and more expansive. The storyline itself was interesting, although there were certain aspects that I didn't like much. What happens to the kid that goes along with Constantine on his quest initially, was really hard to get past. I mean, Constantine is not a likable guy, but I hated him for what he did. Even if he felt he had good reasons. I did like how it's evident that Constantine knows he's a b*stard. But I don't think knowing you are a jerk and doing anything to change the situation is that big an advantage. Constantine doesn't mind playing dirty to outwit the dirtier magicians/sorcerers that he goes against. If you like an antihero, then you have to face that aspect of his nature. While I'm not always okay with his methods, I can generally acknowledge that its the nature of Constantine. However, I think maybe he goes too far this time.

I'm not sold on the artwork just yet. And the storyline is a bit obtuse. I'll have to see where this series goes. I won't write it off just yet.

I confess that I started reading this series out of order. I can't say if that affected my rating. I will say I was disappointed with this first read of Constantine in the graphic novel format. I have read a novel with him Hellblazer: War Lord, and I liked that more.

In all honestly, I am completely square when it comes to free love sex, drugs, and alternative religions. None of that are things I would choose for my life. Yes, that's an obstacle with this book, because they play a big part in this story. However, I believe all humans are equally worthwhile, and I care about the connection you form with a character, even if I don't necessarily agree with their choices.

John Constantine is on the run, implicated in a series of brutal murder with occult elements (when he actually saved the world in that situation and didn't kill those people). He runs into a group of earth-religion practitioners and bonds with a strange young girl with precognitive abilties named Mercury. Her mother Marj, is the poster child for an aging flower child/hippie chick. Her friends are all good-hearted, kind people who have a penchant for psychedelic drugs, earth spirituality, and living off the land. They generously take in Constantine, and he bonds with them. Constantine has led a rough, cynical life, but I get the impression that he is a kind person at heart, and goes out of his way not to harm others. When Mercury is kidnapped, he vows to get her back, even though it takes him back into the eye of the dark, occult storm he is trying to escape.

My biggest issue with this story was the graphic violence and the horrible murders that took place. I admit I am sensitive to that kind of thing. Ritual murders and stuff, and pretty much any kind of heinous murder or violence like that disturb me. This was all done by the bad guys, of course. So it's perfectly warranted to dislike them. ( I wish they had gotten more comeuppance in the end.) The Fear Machine concept was interesting, but stomach-turning. I think fundamentally, I hate when people's fears and weaknesses are manipulated, and I certainly hate innocent people getting harmed for whatever reason. Also, some aspects were confusing and didn't translate in the visual medium well. I had some question marks, even when I finished this book.

Constantine himself, is a likable character, what I'd consider an amiable rogue (and I do have a weakness for them and antiheroes). I think ultimately he does save the day, but I wish he had done so a little sooner, and the methods he used were kind of questionable and didn't make a lot of sense to me. I love the graphic novel format, but I feel that prose would have worked better for this storyline, and I might have liked this more.

Will I keep reading this series? Yeah. I really like occult detective stories. And while I didn't like some aspects of this particular volume, I am hoping that I will find other storylines that appeal to me more than this one did. Your mileage may vary.

(Pictured: The first book I've read by each author on the list.)

It's only slightly better than "your favourite book" question. Still not cool.

I already talked about my "love at the first sight" affair with The Professor in my "most re-read book" entry. Naturally, he's on the list. If I really had to pick one, it would have probably been him. (Yes, I should probably feel ashamed of myself.)

Zoran Zivkovic is a writer few have heard of. But he's been translated. Genre-wise, he's usually put in "SF", but there is a lot of fantasy and metafiction there too. I haven't dared to read any of the translated works yet, so I can say nothing about the quality. (Actually, I think one of his short stories was in Fantasy: The Best of the Year, 2008 Edition  and it wasn't badly mangled, so maybe there's hope.) 

Oscar Wilde. I don't think this requires much explanation.

My father described Dostoyevsky as "horrible". (He didn't mean that he is a horrible writer, as in, of bad quality, but that reading his books was a horrifying experience for him.) So of course I just had to see why. And I fell in love.

Many quote Byron as that poet they might have fallen in love with if they met him in person despite knowing better, but for me, it's Vladimir Mayakovsky. As far as the quality goes, he's way higher than Byron on my scale. Don't be discouraged by the fact he was canonised by Stalin. He was there when the revolution was happening and, say what you will about the outcome, to the lower classes of the time it must have seemed more than justified. In fact, my first brush with Mayakovsky was The Bedbug, which was very obviously critical of the contemporary state of USSR. (The fact that they canonised Mayakovsky despite this speaks volumes about selective blindness.) Again, I'm afraid I cannot guarantee the quality of English translations.

I avoided the Nobel-winning Andric for a long time. He seemed so boring. But maybe it's better that I waited, because I probably wouldn't have been able to appreciate him before latter teens. I haven't read a thing of his that was poorly written.

My overall favourite comic writer is Warren Ellis. It's kind of difficult to put my finger on what is it I like so much about his work. I think it's the balance - while few particular elements stand out, they are all of equally good quality. Or maybe it's the humour. Or maybe that when he wants to relay the message, he isn't beating you over the head with it. He makes a gripping, witty story instead.

If this list was compiled ten years ago, Hesse would have been on it. While Steppenwolf still hold a special place in my heart, I'm not sure how I feel about the rest now. Similar happened with Pratchett and Gaiman, except their cutoff is at about five years ago. Somewhere along the way, the magic was lost. I still often read their books, but I'm not getting the warm, fuzzy feelings anymore - except when catching up to older Discworld books. On the other side of the spectrum, I disliked Anna Karenina, but I loved War and Peace, so Tolstoy, along with Proust, might be approaching the entry in "favourite author" list.