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Hellblazer: Colección Vertigo
Hellblazer: Freezes Over
"The hearts of men are as cold as ice. No one knows that better than John Constantine, who has forgotten more about evil than most people will ever know. The cost of that knowledge has been high, of course, but luckily for Constantine there have been plenty of others around to help share the pain. Now, as he continues his cross-country trek through America's darkened backroads, he continues to find that the one thing he can count on-- and exploit-- is mankind's everyday viciousness. Some things never change"--Page 4 of cover.
168 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
448 people want to read
About the author
Brian Azzarello
1,296 books1,106 followersBrian Azzarello (born in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American comic book writer. He came to prominence with 100 Bullets, published by DC Comics' mature-audience imprint Vertigo. He and Argentine artist Eduardo Risso, with whom Azzarello first worked on Jonny Double, won the 2001 Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story for 100 Bullets #15–18: "Hang Up on the Hang Low".
Azzarello has written for Batman ("Broken City", art by Risso; "Batman/Deathblow: After the Fire", art by Lee Bermejo, Tim Bradstreet, & Mick Gray) and Superman ("For Tomorrow", art by Jim Lee).
In 2005, Azzarello began a new creator-owned series, the western Loveless, with artist Marcelo Frusin.
As of 2007, Azzarello is married to fellow comic-book writer and illustrator Jill Thompson.
information taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Az...
Azzarello has written for Batman ("Broken City", art by Risso; "Batman/Deathblow: After the Fire", art by Lee Bermejo, Tim Bradstreet, & Mick Gray) and Superman ("For Tomorrow", art by Jim Lee).
In 2005, Azzarello began a new creator-owned series, the western Loveless, with artist Marcelo Frusin.
As of 2007, Azzarello is married to fellow comic-book writer and illustrator Jill Thompson.
information taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Az...
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 27, 2023
Constantine does his thing in regards to a local legend and a bunch of yokels.
Overall, an Awesome, dark throwback to how and why Constantine got to be the way he is.
Very violent and plot-wise, surely influenced the movie Feast and Assault on Precinct 13.
Overall, an Awesome, dark throwback to how and why Constantine got to be the way he is.
Very violent and plot-wise, surely influenced the movie Feast and Assault on Precinct 13.
May 5, 2013
I stopped reading and buying the regular Hellblazer comicas with issue 133, the Son of Man storyarc.
Reading theses stories on a monthly basis didn't have all that hold and the interest just sort of faded.
I've recently started buying the trades of the stories that follw and reading them that way.
The stories are much better when being read as a whole.
In Hellbazer: Freezes Over, you've got 3 short stories. All 3 are so full of plot-holes that you could probably fit a VW Bug right thru em. But, ya know what? When it comes to Con-John story, plot holes work. It gives the bugger an air of mystery that would dissapear if the story was told forthright.
So yeah, I'll be keeping me eyes open for some of Constantine's stories which I missed when I stopped reading the regular comics.
Like a wise man once said... whenever I have money to spend, I buy books (and comic trades), if I have any left over, I buy food and clothes and pay the mortgage and crap.
Reading theses stories on a monthly basis didn't have all that hold and the interest just sort of faded.
I've recently started buying the trades of the stories that follw and reading them that way.
The stories are much better when being read as a whole.
In Hellbazer: Freezes Over, you've got 3 short stories. All 3 are so full of plot-holes that you could probably fit a VW Bug right thru em. But, ya know what? When it comes to Con-John story, plot holes work. It gives the bugger an air of mystery that would dissapear if the story was told forthright.
So yeah, I'll be keeping me eyes open for some of Constantine's stories which I missed when I stopped reading the regular comics.
Like a wise man once said... whenever I have money to spend, I buy books (and comic trades), if I have any left over, I buy food and clothes and pay the mortgage and crap.
December 22, 2017
Read this title again after many years. It was good, with "Freezes over" being the highlight story arc of the tpb. Although I love Preacher, Dillon's drawing style is off when it comes to Hellblazer. Dunno why but it's not suitable, too static for a "dirty" horror protagonist like John Constantine.
July 30, 2018
The Hateful Constantine
So the reason I read this book is cuz I’m still on a Hellblazer kick since June or whatever and I found this at a book store for $8.50. That money was gone very quickly. And I had heard that Freezes Over was one of Brian Azzarello‘ only great Hellblazer stories along with Hard Time and
Ashes to Dust. I love stories where a bunch of people who don’t like each other are trapped away from society in the winter playing a game of messed up clue. (There’s a run on sentence if I’ve ever seen one) I found this story to be fun yet disjointed. This is a very very entertaining story. Not necessarily a very well written one. I knew what Azzarello was going for here and I don’t know if he quite hit it. This is the era of the smiling, non magic, and snarky Constantine that I believe started at the end of Warren Ellis’s run. His characterization is fairly weak here but I won’t fault the book for that. This isn’t supposed to be a super emotional story like Rake at the Gates of Hell or something like that. The reason I think the story doesn’t land properly is because there is never a clear focus on a plot point and the characters don’t get well rounded attention. Intern making this a very directionless feeling story. Keep in mind if you are just looking for a fun quick read in Hellblazer this is the epitome of what you are looking for. But I am coming right off of Garth Ennis’s run. So I can’t help but see this is definitely not a perfect story what so ever.
The first issue before Freezes Over is alright. Again entertaining but nothing special. Lapdogs and Englishmen shows Constantine and Chas in their early days as ass hole punks making shady deals and shit like that. I enjoyed this story for what it was but the art was ehhhhhhhhjhhhmsmdnddmdkdjxx not good. Steve Dillon and Frusin do a very good job with the art even if Dillon’s isn’t what it used to be in Ennis’s run.
In the end this was a fun quick read that let me know what the more modern Hellblazer is like. The main storyline is not written as well as it could have been but again it kept me from being bored.
Letter Grade: (C+)
So the reason I read this book is cuz I’m still on a Hellblazer kick since June or whatever and I found this at a book store for $8.50. That money was gone very quickly. And I had heard that Freezes Over was one of Brian Azzarello‘ only great Hellblazer stories along with Hard Time and
Ashes to Dust. I love stories where a bunch of people who don’t like each other are trapped away from society in the winter playing a game of messed up clue. (There’s a run on sentence if I’ve ever seen one) I found this story to be fun yet disjointed. This is a very very entertaining story. Not necessarily a very well written one. I knew what Azzarello was going for here and I don’t know if he quite hit it. This is the era of the smiling, non magic, and snarky Constantine that I believe started at the end of Warren Ellis’s run. His characterization is fairly weak here but I won’t fault the book for that. This isn’t supposed to be a super emotional story like Rake at the Gates of Hell or something like that. The reason I think the story doesn’t land properly is because there is never a clear focus on a plot point and the characters don’t get well rounded attention. Intern making this a very directionless feeling story. Keep in mind if you are just looking for a fun quick read in Hellblazer this is the epitome of what you are looking for. But I am coming right off of Garth Ennis’s run. So I can’t help but see this is definitely not a perfect story what so ever.
The first issue before Freezes Over is alright. Again entertaining but nothing special. Lapdogs and Englishmen shows Constantine and Chas in their early days as ass hole punks making shady deals and shit like that. I enjoyed this story for what it was but the art was ehhhhhhhhjhhhmsmdnddmdkdjxx not good. Steve Dillon and Frusin do a very good job with the art even if Dillon’s isn’t what it used to be in Ennis’s run.
In the end this was a fun quick read that let me know what the more modern Hellblazer is like. The main storyline is not written as well as it could have been but again it kept me from being bored.
Letter Grade: (C+)
December 1, 2017
There is less magic and more psychology in this story, very much like in the last one. Sadly at this point I can hardly wait for the next author change. These arcs don't do it for me. The suspense is welcomed, but John feels too detached. I liked him better in a more active role where his cynicism carries the story.
A snow storm forces several people to seek shelter in a bar. John also walks in some time before a guy is found dead in his car with a huge icicle in his chest. The people in the bar suspect one another and also the Iceman, a killer who has been terrifying the locals for a while. Some claim he is ust a myth and recount tales of the Iceman as far back as 100 years before.
A story from John's youth always adds to the character and this one has more focus on magic in a time when John is familiar with it, but to a lesser extent. He is approached by a rich American who wants him to retrieve Rasputin's clock that can manipulate time.
A snow storm forces several people to seek shelter in a bar. John also walks in some time before a guy is found dead in his car with a huge icicle in his chest. The people in the bar suspect one another and also the Iceman, a killer who has been terrifying the locals for a while. Some claim he is ust a myth and recount tales of the Iceman as far back as 100 years before.
A story from John's youth always adds to the character and this one has more focus on magic in a time when John is familiar with it, but to a lesser extent. He is approached by a rich American who wants him to retrieve Rasputin's clock that can manipulate time.
May 12, 2017
Vo velkej sneznej burke sa John ocitne niekde v prdelove, kde je len motorest. A povest o Icemanovi. V motoreste sa ukryje pred burkou aj rodinka s detmi a po chvili pridu dalsi protagonisti. Pred motorestov v aute zatial sedi mrtvolka s cenculom zapichnutym v tele. Ma to na svedomi Iceman? A kto je ten Iceman? Vsetko skomplikuje aj parta zlocincov, ktory sa tiez pridu schovat pred pocasim.
Druhy pribeh je z Johnovej mladosti, ked ho bohaty amik poziada o kradez Rasputinovych hodin.
Kresna fajn, pribehy ma nezaujali.
Druhy pribeh je z Johnovej mladosti, ked ho bohaty amik poziada o kradez Rasputinovych hodin.
Kresna fajn, pribehy ma nezaujali.
July 19, 2021
It is a mysterious story about murder and local legend. John is cold man just like an ice man. He is mysterious and unreliable and when he speaks,he chooses words that can be dangerous. All he says is the right choice of words. I love when they allow themselves to die.The ending of story is very satisfying. This is a wonderful story and i like to read this many times. I really like art. Art is precise and clean. Thanks to Brian Azzarello and Marcelo Frusin
May 2, 2020
The main story works quite well, although you can feel that this could be so much more. The biggest drawback of the book is again Azarello's Constantine. Instead of a jaded hero with guilt problems and so on we got snarking smiling idiot with just one line that made me smile a little.
But still worth the read, also thanks to very nice atmosphere building art.
But still worth the read, also thanks to very nice atmosphere building art.
June 10, 2024
Tak tohle mi nesedlo. Statický děj, který je spíše psychologicky laděný než magicky. Constantine je tu kolosální vůl a to mám rád, jenomže příběh samotný nenabízí nic dalšího, co by stálo za řeč. John je stále zábavnej hulvát, ale tahle story je prostě zamrznutá a rozhodně ne zábavná.
May 24, 2017
Brilliant just brilliant writing from Azzarello.One of the best story arc of Hellblazer....
April 18, 2018
Trosku zklamani z tech chyb v textu/prekladu, ale jinak super.
September 18, 2019
That book is unquestionably terrific.
March 11, 2020
Constantine is a lot like pizza....even when bad he's pretty good.
November 13, 2021
The legend of the Iceman lives on.
July 28, 2016
This was a collection of three separate stories, all of which were good in their own way.
The main story, Freezes Over, is set in a diner in the middle of a blizzard. There's a serial killer lurking outside, and some bank robbers on the inside. There's also normal people caught in the middle. Plus, there's Constantine.
The sense of suspense and dread was palpable in this one. It's really rare for a comic to generate this type of true gut wrenching suspense, but Azzarello pulled it off.
The final story was a two parter set during Constantine's punk band days, which was also a good one. Azzarello has gotten some criticism that Constantine doesn't seem "British enough" on his run, and I sort of get that because something does seem to be missing. However, in this story, Azzarello presented him as very British. Also, Azzarello's run has mostly dealt with Constantine's travels across America, so the setting alone makes the stories seem less British.
The art fits the stories well, including Steve Dillon returning for a one shot. I think Hellblazer is my favorite Azzarello work yet, as 100 Bullets tended to lose me at times.
Hellblazer fans, check this one out.
The main story, Freezes Over, is set in a diner in the middle of a blizzard. There's a serial killer lurking outside, and some bank robbers on the inside. There's also normal people caught in the middle. Plus, there's Constantine.
The sense of suspense and dread was palpable in this one. It's really rare for a comic to generate this type of true gut wrenching suspense, but Azzarello pulled it off.
The final story was a two parter set during Constantine's punk band days, which was also a good one. Azzarello has gotten some criticism that Constantine doesn't seem "British enough" on his run, and I sort of get that because something does seem to be missing. However, in this story, Azzarello presented him as very British. Also, Azzarello's run has mostly dealt with Constantine's travels across America, so the setting alone makes the stories seem less British.
The art fits the stories well, including Steve Dillon returning for a one shot. I think Hellblazer is my favorite Azzarello work yet, as 100 Bullets tended to lose me at times.
Hellblazer fans, check this one out.
February 7, 2008
Definitely a great Hellblazer collection. The main story arc, "Freezes Over," is a neat, self-contained story about a group of travellers snowed in at a roadhouse -- including, of course, our buddy Constantine. I don't know if it's quite what I mean, but I kept thinking that it was kind of like if the Coen brothers ("Fargo") did John Constantine. It's just a cool story, very neatly done, where everything is not what it seems.
"Lapdogs and Englishmen" is both hilarious and unsettling. We get treated to a peek at Constantine in his youth, when he was fronting for Mucus Membrane and sporting some impressively spiked hair. Throughout the series, Constantine has often pulled cons and double-crosses without giving much thought to the consequences, and this brief story shows what turns out to be one of his bigger mistakes.
"Lapdogs and Englishmen" is both hilarious and unsettling. We get treated to a peek at Constantine in his youth, when he was fronting for Mucus Membrane and sporting some impressively spiked hair. Throughout the series, Constantine has often pulled cons and double-crosses without giving much thought to the consequences, and this brief story shows what turns out to be one of his bigger mistakes.
December 28, 2024
It's a really good story, in which John is not exactly the main character, not until the last chapter. I have some problem with that, but I feel the experience that Azzarello did is a nice valid one. I really loved the art, Marcelo Frusin with colors of James Sinclair reaches it's peak in here. The angles, the face expressions, the way the story is told, sometimes without words, all very well done, and cinematographic. I also liked the plot and the idea, all the setting inside the sallon in a blizzard was terrific. It's not a real supernatural story, but it's about myths. The horror in here is psychological and claustrophobic.
February 17, 2016
Jällegi maiteamitmendat korda lugedes tundus oluliselt parem kui esimest. Mõrvamüsteerium/krimithriller lume poolt suletud teeäärses kõrtsis oli hea. Veel parem oli aga "Sandman Mystery Theatre'st" tuttava joonega külalisartisti Guy Davise poolt joonistatud kaheosaline "Lapdogs & Englishmen". Azzarello residentkunstniku Marcello Frusini stiil aga hakkab järjest rohkem pinda käima - eriti see Constantine'le iga lehekülg vähemalt korra joonistatud altkulmu "saatanlik" irve, millega ta justkui miskeid sügavmõttelisi fraase poetab.
Üldmulje siiski kogumikust väga meeldiv, kindel "4".
Üldmulje siiski kogumikust väga meeldiv, kindel "4".
February 17, 2013
It looks like Constantine has taken up the reins of justice, and is working at righting some wrongs in this collection. The question is: whose wrongs is he righting? They don't seem to be his own (for once), but I doubt that the shady guy he met in the bar is really pulling the strings. But why would Constantine bother do to what he's told? He must owe someone big time, because this is totally out of character for him. Hopefully they explain everything at some point in the next set of comics.
September 30, 2009
The first story, "The Iceman Cometh" is beautiful; pure Constantine psychological thriller. The art is a bit Neuvo for my tastes, but it's pulled off well. I had to actually read this one a few times to get all the subtle nuances, very nice. The second story is also damn good Constantine, art more to my liking, and a very smart story.
March 14, 2011
As I have said before, I am not a fan of graphic novels. However, I rather enjoyed this one. The artwork was not as dark or campy as some others I have seen and between chapters the artist provides a more lifelike drawing of the characters. The book contained three stories, the second of which I enjoyed very much. I would read others in this series.
June 7, 2015
Azzarello's Constantine is a very creepy guy. He really rubs people the wrong which is fine as that's what makes him stand out in this particular run.
One goes in thinking there's going to be some magic and mysticism, but instead its an analysis of the human nature in the seediest corners of the country.
One goes in thinking there's going to be some magic and mysticism, but instead its an analysis of the human nature in the seediest corners of the country.
June 21, 2020
Tak tohle je John Constantine tak, jak jej dobře známe. Není to žádný fešák Keanu Reaves s dobrým srdcem, je to cynický hajzl a každý by si před ním měl dát pozor na to co říká, protože u Constantina rozhodně platí že vše co řeknete může být použito proti vám.
August 24, 2009
Azzarello's writing just seems off half the time and I do not care for his endings. I think he tries too hard to impress.
May 30, 2010
Everything came together in this collection. Constantine, when done correctly, is that perfect scary, charismatic bastard of an antihero that warms the cockles of black hearts the world over.
June 14, 2011
Frusin's art is really impressive.
November 24, 2012
More crime stories with magic. :)
November 1, 2013
My favorite of his stories. A little touch of panic, lore, and murder.
December 3, 2014
story is good, but personally i like the art in this one.
February 12, 2018
Im partial to Ennis, Carey and Ellis but this is pretty good - albeit a bit less complex than i like -and stands up to a re-reading
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews