This is a review of the whole series.

I enjoyed this work mostly for its storytelling and deeply interesting character backstories. Segments that detail the histories of main characters left me thinking for days after. They make the characters lush and multi-dimensional, without fixating on single traits and quirks.

That being said, the two things this book gets its notoriety for: its blasphemy and attitude, are actually the biggest drawbacks. Maybe in the mid-1990s this was edgy, but as of this writing these ideas and mockeries are not only common, they've become cliche.

The worst thing about this series is the machismo. There are pages worth of dialogue that seem to be an outlet for Ennis to vent about his frustrations with modern psychology. To me it basically read "we need more manly men who don't talk about their feelings!" These parts didn't add to any story, and while you could argue they might have contributed to building the characters, it only made me more annoyed with them.

Despite these drawbacks, it's a masterfully told story with some of the most memorable moments and characters the medium's ever produced. Highly recommended if you can stomach the above-mentioned flaws.