Reasons to Be Cheerful

I don't write reviews terribly often, but felt almost obligated to, here. The two and a half stars this title has at present would lead one to think that Mike Carey somehow slipped in his otherwise superb run of Hellblazer. He didn't. This book was as good as the rest, or close to it. And while I'm aware this is blasphemy in some circles, I find I much prefer Carey's work to Garth Ennis. The plot has been pretty well summarized in other reviews, so I'll only add that Leonardo Manco's artwork is impressive as always, and that the humanity Carey shows in these characters is a testament to his skill as a storyteller. The scene between Chas and John's 'daughter' was perhaps the most striking in the book, at least for me. In conclusion, well worth the read, and well worth your money. It does end with a cliff hanger, but in this instance, all that means is that I'll definitely be buying the next book.

Everyone's favorite chain smoking master of black magic once again has his hands full. In Mike Carey's previous storyarc, Stations of the Cross, John Constantine finally got his memories back by celebrating a very long birthday that also the birth of his three demonic children. With Reasons to Be Cheerful, Constantine's three begotten kids attempt to make his life a living hell (literally) as they strike at his friends and loved ones. The only thing you have to know about Reasons to Be Cheerful is that this is the kind of pure Hellblazer you'd come to expect from the series. Carey knows what he's doing, although without any previous knowledge from Carey's excellent run on the title, it's quite easy to get lost quickly. That being said, this TPB features great dialogue as well as more excellent artwork from Leonardo Manco, but the best part of this TPB is the opening issue in which a group of dope heads run afoul of Constantine. All in all, Reasons to Be Cheerful isn't the best Hellblazer story on the market, but it's plenty enjoyable and definitely worth picking up for fans.