A fairly weak entry in the Hellblazer series (along with the first part, [b:Hellblazer: Empathy is the Enemy|133019|Hellblazer Empathy is the Enemy|Denise Mina|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172015795s/133019.jpg|128141]) -- hey, I'm all in favor for multiverses where superheroes get to save their particular universe every few weeks, but Hellblazer has always been rooted in a very specific time (the grimy present, mostly) and place (a grimy London), and doesn't quite lend itself to the usual sorts of global apocalyptic meltdowns. There's a reason Garth Ennis' [b:Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits|133018|Hellblazer Dangerous Habits|Garth Ennis|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172015795s/133018.jpg|128140] is still one of the best story arcs in the series: Constantine as grubby mortal, not as man of steel.

This time around, it's Glasgow that's infected by an epidemic of over-empathy; the poor Glaswegians end up overdosing on the terrible memories of the people around them. Chas and Gemma are dutifully trotted out, as always, but they have nothing better to do than to guilt-trip our Johnny into saving the universe (again). Mina's Empathy Engine sounds an awful lot like Jamie Delano's [b:Hellblazer: The Fear Machine|2382804|Hellblazer The Fear Machine|Jamie Delano|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51jpkNF9THL._SL75_.jpg|2389816], an arc that never worked in the first place, and the ending fizzles out, predictably, in an anticlimactic fashion. ( )

COnstantine's escapade in Scotland comes to a conclusion - as much as it ever does with him - with one of his companions taking the place of the demon who was causing the overabundance of empathy. The story doesn't really seem to be concluded though, since the man in question could become like the demon in time and continue to create havoc! Constantine isn't really convinced either it seems - or maybe that's just his typical cynicism kicking in again. ( )

I just don't enjoy Mina's work on Hellblazer nearly as much as I'd like to.
The concept of this story is great, and there are a few neat bits, but overall it isn't nearly as good as it could be. The end feels like a cheat rather than the brilliant surprise victory I'm guessing it was conceived as.
Manco's art continues to be brilliant. ( )