Came to the Constantine/Hellblazer comics because of the TV series and picked this up because I love Chas. I was worried this book might mess with my image of him because, having read the first three Hellblazer volumes, I'm aware that they softened some things up for TV.

I was presently surprised to find Chas in this book, though flawed, is still a good man. The story was fun and brought depth to a character who isn't well served (so far as I've read at the moment) by the Hellblazer series. ( )

Came to the Constantine/Hellblazer comics because of the TV series and picked this up because I love Chas. I was worried this book might mess with my image of him because, having read the first three Hellblazer volumes, I'm aware that they softened some things up for TV.

I was presently surprised to find Chas in this book, though flawed, is still a good man. The story was fun and brought depth to a character who isn't well served (so far as I've read at the moment) by the Hellblazer series. ( )

Finally, after how many years reading the John Constantine, Hellblazer series I’ve finally reached the final graphic novel. Sure, it’s technically not part of the main story arc, but it proved to be the hardest to track down - I had to stoop to asking the library (three library systems through the ages) if they could special order it for me (internet purchasing is cheating, obviously)! Thankfully, the RPL is more willing to go the extra mile than the HRL or TNRD, so after a few months waiting it finally arrived!

Taking the form of a typical Constantine supernatural adventure, we finally get to see Chas Chandler (driver, muscle, and surprisingly useful compatriot) front and centre as he goes head to head with a demon bent on wreaking revenge on the City of London through the magic contained in the original taxi-cab routes. Now, I don’t know London well enough to really get the importance of the mini-cabs in the ancient city, but I can definitely see this little branch of urban magic being particularly potent in a city where transportation has always been a key feature. I’ve seen it done particularly well in relation to the underground tube station and the night buses (in Hellblazer and elsewhere), but giving the mini-cab drivers (and therefore Chas) their moment in the spotlight is quite a nice touch that speaks to the age and evolution of London transport systems. ( )

Took me just an hour to finish - occult John Constantine is away chasing a girl his age. Behind his back, a ghost is trying to regenerate to hit the city - as the title suggests - driver Chaas steps in. Lukewarm comic story. ( )

Feeling a bit like a failure at reading and enjoying graphic novels after the last one, I was reluctant to start on Chas. My fears were unfounded, however, as I really enjoyed my first experience with the Hellblazer series, even if I started with a stand alone featuring one of the minor characters of the main series. I labeled this one a horror novel, but it really is a combination of horror and mystery. When an evil is unleashed in the city of London, seeking to finish what it had started hundreds of years before, cab driver Chas must pull himself out of his funk and try and stop it. Not only is his friend's son's life at stake, but so is the city.

While the main plot line was interesting, my favorite aspect of the novel was in the details. The artwork in addition to the writing gave the characters depth, in particular Chas. I look forward to reading more by Simon Oliver in the future. ( )