John Constantine, Hellblazer
Cover ofHellblazer #1, byDave McKean
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics Vertigo Titan Books DC Black Label
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Ongoing series
Genre	Horror,occult detective
Publication date	January 1988 – February 2013; November 2019 – October 2020; January 2024 – December 2024
No. of issues	300 (original series) 12 (new series)
Main character	John Constantine
Creative team as of April 2011
Created by	Alan Moore Stephen R. Bissette John Ridgway
Written by	Peter Milligan
Artist(s)	Giuseppe Camuncoli Stefano Landini Simon Bisley (cover art)
Colorist	Jamie Grant
Collected editions
Original Sins	ISBN 1-40123-006-7
The Devil You Know	ISBN 1-40123-302-3
The Fear Machine	ISBN 978-1401235192
The Family Man	ISBN 978-1401236908
Dangerous Habits	ISBN 978-1401238025
Bloodlines	ISBN 1-40124-043-7
Tainted Love	ISBN 1-40124-303-7
Rake at the Gates of Hell	ISBN 1-40124-749-0
Critical Mass	ISBN 1-40125-072-6
In The Line of Fire	ISBN 978-1401251376
Last Man Standing	ISBN 1-40125-529-9
How to Play With Fire	ISBN 1-40125-810-7
Haunted	ISBN 1-40126-141-8
Good Intentions	ISBN 1-40126-373-9
Highwater	ISBN 1-40126-579-0

John Constantine, Hellblazer is an American contemporaryhorrorcomic-book series published byDC Comics since January 1988, and subsequently by itsVertigo imprint since March 1993, when the imprint was introduced. Its central character is the streetwise English sorcerer and con manJohn Constantine, who was created byAlan Moore andStephen R. Bissette, and first appeared as a supporting character inSwamp Thing (vol. 2) #37 (June 1985), during that creative team's run on that title.Hellblazer was released as launch title for Vertigo in March 1993, becoming the imprint's longest-running series and the only launch title to continue its run into the new century.^[1] In 2013, the series concluded with issue 300, and was replaced byConstantine, which returned the character to the mainstreamDC Universe.^[2] The original series was revived in November 2019 for twenty-four issues as part ofThe Sandman Universe line of comics, under theDC Black Label brand. Well known for its extremely pessimistic tone and social/political commentary, the series has spawned a film adaptation, television show, novels, and multiple spin-offs and crossovers.

The series was the longest-running and one of the most successful titles of DC's Vertigo imprint, and was the stepping stone for many British writers. Notable writers who have contributed to the series includeJamie Delano,Garth Ennis,Eddie Campbell,Paul Jenkins,Warren Ellis,Grant Morrison,Neil Gaiman,Brian Azzarello,Mike Carey,Denise Mina,Andy Diggle, andPeter Milligan.Hellblazer was one of the first modernoccult detective fiction works and heavily influenced the genre to come.^{[citation needed]}

After favorable reader reaction to John Constantine's appearances in the comic-book seriesSwamp Thing, where he had been introduced by writer Alan Moore, the character was given his own comic-book series in 1988.^[3][4] The series was intended to bear the titleHellraiser, but this title was revised before publication due to the contemporaneous release ofClive Barker's unrelatedfilm of the same name.^[5] Initial writer Jamie Delano was, in his own words, "fairly ambivalent" about the change of title.^[6]

The initial creative team was Delano and artistJohn Ridgway, withDave McKean supplying distinctive painted andcollage covers. Delano introduced a political aspect to the character, about which he stated: "...generally I was interested in commenting on 1980s Britain. That was where I was living, it was shit, and I wanted to tell everybody."^[4] The book, originally published as a regular DC Comics title, became aVertigo title with the imprint's launch in March 1993 (issue #63 of the series). In October 2011, it was announced that this would join DC titles in being published digitally on the same day as its physical release, starting in January 2012.^[7]

Many writers after Delano's foundational run had lengthy runs on the series, such asGarth Ennis andMike Carey, who respectively had the second- and third-longest runs on the book (only behindPeter Milligan). Other writers who wrote for the series includePaul Jenkins,Warren Ellis,Brian Azzarello,Neil Gaiman,Grant Morrison,Denise Mina, andAndy Diggle.^[1][8]

Numerous artists worked on the series, as well, such asJohn Ridgway (the original series artist),Simon Bisley,Mark Buckingham,Richard Corben,Steve Dillon,Marcelo Frusin,Jock,David Lloyd,Leonardo Manco, andSean Phillips. Cover artists included Dave McKean (who designed the first run of the series' covers),Tim Bradstreet (who designed the most),Glenn Fabry,Kent Williams,David Lloyd, andSean Phillips.^[1][8]

Hellblazer was set in a contemporary world, albeit a world ofmagic andsupernatural conflict behind the scenes.^[9] Although the official setting of the series was theDC Universe, well-known DC characters were rarely seen or mentioned.^[10] Some DC Comics characters – most notably the fringe supernatural characters such asZatanna, thePhantom Stranger,Shade, the Changing Man,Dream of the Endless, and theSwamp Thing – made appearances.

John Constantine, the main character ofHellblazer, was portrayed as a kind ofconfidence man andoccult detective who did morally questionable things, arguably for the greater good.^[8] He usually triumphed through guile, deceit, and misdirection, but often made more enemies in the process than he defeated. Indeed, it was a common theme in the book that Constantine was unable to effect any lasting change or enjoy unequivocal victories. While sometimes striving for the good of mankind, Constantine was oftenmanipulative and a dangerous person to have as a friend, as the lives and souls of those around him became perilously involved in his misadventures. He took pains to protect himself from direct attacks, but his friends and relatives were often endangered in order to strike at him. The spirits of deceased friends haunted him, individually or as an entourage ofghosts.^[1]

Constantine made appearances in other comic-book titles, such asCrisis on Infinite Earths,Infinite Crisis,Green Arrow,Green Lantern,The Sandman,Lucifer, andShade, the Changing Man. He was a recurring supporting character in bothSwamp Thing andThe Books of Magic throughout their numerous incarnations. Some attempts to use the character in other superhero or family-friendly comics were altered due to editorial mandate, such as "Gregori Eilovotich Rasputin" inFirestorm andCaptain Atom (who refers to Constantine as "an impertinent bumbler in England"). Grant Morrison createdWilloughby Kipling forDoom Patrol after being refused Constantine by DC, changing his appearance to that ofRichard E. Grant inWithnail and I, following whichPhil Foglio was forced to create "Ambroise Bierce" inStanley and His Monster, having been refused both Constantine and Kipling.^[6]

John Constantine was reintroduced into the DC Universe in 2011, initially in theBrightest Daycrossover event titleSearch for the Swamp Thing, and in the ongoingThe New 52 titleJustice League Dark.^[11]

Having previously worked onD.R. & Quinch for2000 AD, a title made popular by John Constantine's creator Alan Moore, Delano was selected to start the character's first run in his own comic by then editorKaren Berger in 1988. Delano's run was characterised by his political satire, taking on late-1980s and -90s tropes such as with city financiers being literal demons, and Constantine meeting withFreemasons from theHouses of Parliament. He also hadenvironmentalist issues crop up, especially in "The Fear Machine" (issues #15–22), where John fell in with a travelling community of environmental activists. Indeed, editor Karen Berger noted on Delano's departure the irony that his final issue was handed in the week that Thatcher was forced out of office.^[13]

Five main storylines were in the run. The first, collected as "Original Sins",^[14] deals with John travelling to America to exorcise a demon,Mnemoth, and investigate cult Damnation's Army, crossing paths with a demon calledNergal (from whom he gains demon blood), and having to be responsible for killing an old friend,Gary Lester, and betraying another friend, calledZed, in the process. The following four issues, "The Devil You Know"^[15] finally explain John's failure to save a young girl,Astra, from a demon inNewcastle, an event that left him near insane and incarcerated in an asylum known as Ravenscar, and still haunted him to the comic's end. He eventually discovers that the demon responsible for this was Nergal, and uses a technological scheme to trap him, and lead him back to hell. It also contains a crossover withSwamp Thing, where Constantine loses his body while the Swamp Thing uses it to procreate.

This was followed by a lengthy nine-issue story arc, "The Fear Machine",^[16] revolving around a masonic plot to collect people's fears, to raise a dormant god known as Juntakillokian, and his efforts to prevent this with the help of environmentalists, includingMercury, a young psychic girl, andMarj, her mother, with whom he becomes romantically involved. The penultimate major run of Delano's tenure was "The Family Man",^[17] which differed from the main body of the series thus far in that Constantine's nemesis is not supernatural (beyond an openingmetafictional encounter with a fictionalfence), but a former policeman turned serial killer. John's ethical quandary as to whether murder is ever acceptable, and his coping with the murder of his father,Thomas, frames this story. During this run on the title, Grant Morrison (issues #25 & 26) andNeil Gaiman (issue #27) both filled in during a three-month break, with Morrison's story dealing with nuclear fear, and Neil Gaiman's being a ghost story about homelessness.

Delano's run ended with "The Golden Child", where John is reunited with Marj and Mercury, who help him discover that he murdered his more perfect twin in the womb, culminating in an extended story, in which what would have occurred had the other twin survived in his place is revealed.^[18] During his run, there was also a stand-alone issue,Hellblazer Annual #1, exploring Constantine's ancestry, and featuring the video to John's punk band, Mucous Membrane's song"Venus of the Hardsell".

Jamie Delano returned to the title on several occasions. Between the Garth Ennis and Paul Jenkins runs onHellblazer, he finally told the story of why John's best friend Chas 'owes' him (issue #84), and he returned again for one of the five Christmas stories in issue #250. He also wrote the miniseriesThe Horrorist in 1995, andBad Blood in 2000, both featuring John Constantine. A more substantial return was made in 2010 for a hardcover graphic novelHellblazer: Pandemonium with artist Jock to commemorate the 25th anniversary of John Constantine's first appearance inSwamp Thing.^[19]

Irish writer Garth Ennis then took over the title in 1991, again from2000 AD, where he had been working onJudge Dredd. He proceeded to write the second-longest run for any writer on the title.^[20] His take on the title was more personal than Jamie Delano's, with John's relationships coming to the fore. It also had a strong religious theme, with John's dealings with theFirst of the Fallen, and some storylines, such as the relationship between an angel, Tali, and asuccubus demon, Ellie, would go on to be used again as a major plot device inPreacher, one of his most popular works. He also references the music ofThe Pogues and the poetry ofBrendan Behan, both of these being relevant to Ennis' Irish heritage.

His run started with "Dangerous Habits" (41–46),^[21] which was the basis for the 2005 filmConstantine, and dealt with John Constantine contractinglung cancer, and the desperate deal he makes with the First of the Fallen, and various other lords of Hell, to save himself. In the course of trying to save himself, he visits Ireland, and later becomes reacquainted withKit Ryan, an old friend of Irish origin. The following few issues follow the early stages of his relationship with Kit, a plot to install a demon on the British throne in the plotline "Royal Blood", and in the extended issue #50, his first meeting with theKing of the Vampires. One minor story in this arc (issue #51) was written by guest writerJohn Smith.^[15][22]

The next major arc, "Fear and Loathing" (issues 62–67), covers a high point of John's personal life, with his relationship with Kit going well, and a 40th birthday party where his friends Ellie,Zatanna, and the Swamp Thing attend, and use their various abilities to create a large quantity ofBushmills whiskey andmarijuana. The story then takes him to his lowest point, through his dealings with theNational Front, their threats towards Kit, and her leaving him to return to Ireland.^[23] Following this, John is defeated, and lives homeless on the streets, drinking to forget his life. This remains the case until the King of the Vampires hunts him out, and is poisoned by his demon blood, leaving him out in the sun at dawn, killing him.^[24] Following his recovery, the storyline "Damnation's Flame" (Issues #72–77) follows a trip to the US, where Constantine is put into an alternative America by his old adversaryPapa Midnite, aVodun shaman. He is accompanied by the spirit ofJohn F. Kennedy,. He eventually learns how to escape, shortly before running into the First of the Fallen, in the guise ofAbraham Lincoln. There then follows a small break where he meets the spirit of a dead friend in Dublin, offering some closure to his recent problems.^[25] Ennis' run ends with "Rake at the Gates of Hell", a story which finally brings together the racism storyline, with riots inMile End; the revenge attempt of the First of the Fallen, started in "Dangerous Habits"; and the end of John's relationship with Kit Ryan. John's eventualPyrrhic victory leaves this run with closure, and a relatively clean slate for a new writer to take over.^[26]

Ennis briefly returned to the title in 1998 with "Son of Man", filling the gaps between Paul Jenkins's and Warren Ellis's runs on the title. This more irreverent story is about the consequences of Constantine resurrecting the dead son of anEast London gangster, using the spirit of a demon.^[27] He also had two specials published during his run on the title, theHellblazer Special andHeartland, which follows Kit Ryan's return to Ireland.

Following issue #84 by Jamie Delano and a brief interlude byFrom Hell artistEddie Campbell (issues #85-88), the series' direction was taken over byPaul Jenkins in 1995. He had been the former editor ofTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and otherMirage Studios lines.^[28] He had pitched to several comic houses, having tired of editing, and eventually managed to gain stewardship ofHellblazer, the first largely untested writer to achieve this.^[29] Jenkins' run is more traditionally English in its themes, withAlbion,Arthurian legend, and old English battles all featuring, and even an appearance bySamuel Taylor Coleridge, and a speculative explanation of the writing ofKubla Khan, and what the interruption of the 'man from Porlock' may have been. He also returns to Jamie Delano's coverage ofanarchist lifestyles, and the effects of theCriminal Justice Act of 1994, a controversial law which restricted the ability of the public to throwraves and large demonstrations.^[30][31]

Major storylines in this run include "Critical Mass", where Constantine is forced to use magic to purge his darker side into another human body, to avoid being damned to Hell as part of a trade to save the possessed son of a friend, thus creating the antagonistic character,Demon Constantine, with the assistance ofAleister Crowley.^[32] The landmark hundredth issue gave more detail on John Constantine's father, and the abusive relationship that they had shared. However, it is unclear as to whether this is happening in reality, or in his mind as John convalesces in a coma.^[33] "Last Man Standing" reveals that his friend Rich is the current descendant of King Arthur, andMerlin's attempt to discover God's secret, an act which would destroy England, using John's few remaining friends as bait.^[34]

The 10th-anniversary issue breaks from the usual format, in breaking thefourth wall, and addressing readers as if they are in a pub with Constantine for a monthly get-together to hear his stories. Over the course of the issue, most of the characters from Constantine's history appear, along withDeath of the Endless fromSandman. Also, appearances are made by writers and artists, including series creator Alan Moore, Garth Ennis, and Jenkins himself.^[35] Jenkins' run then draws to a close with two storylines, "Up the Down Staircase" and "How to Play With Fire", which relate the First of the Fallen's new plan, to essentially let mankind ruin itself through television and consumerism, and Ellie's plot to leave Constantine friendless and alone. John eventually saves himself, through a literaldeus ex machina, in a campfire conversation withGod.^[9][36] However, at that time Rich and his family finally sever their friendship with John, and the latter ends the run alone.^[37]

Warren Ellis took over the title in 1999, after his work onTransmetropolitan which had moved to the Vertigo imprint, following the closure ofHelix Comics.^[20] He was meant to become a full-time writer for several years, as Delano, Ennis and Jenkins before him, but left the title early after DC refused to publish the story "Shoot", about high school shootings, following theColumbine High School massacre, despite the fact it had been written and submitted prior to the event.^[38] The story was finally published in 2010.^[39]

His brief run began with "Haunted", a London-based story in which John investigates the brutal murder of a former girlfriend, Isabel by anAleister Crowley style magician, Josh Wright. The story introduces, or reintroduces many characters who became an important part of the Hellblazer universe, including Inspector Watford (originally from Jamie Delano's run on the title), aging magician Clarice, and Map, a powerful magician who works ontube renovations in his part as custodian of London.^[40] The remainder of Ellis' brief tenure was taken up with single issue stories, collected as "Setting Sun".^[41]

Following a brief interlude by Croatian writerDarko Macan, the series was then taken over byBrian Azzarello, once again hired on the strength of his own series for Vertigo,100 Bullets. Azzarello's run is one large meta-story, that follows John Constantine on a trip across America, starting with his incarceration in prison,^[42] then variously uncovering a pornography ring,^[43] catching a serial killer,^[44] taking on aNeo Nazi group before finally dealing with the architect of his incarceration, Stanley W. Manor,^[45] a thinly veiled pastiche ofBatman. Brian Azzarello did return for one of the five stories in issue #250. This arc attracted minor controversy for its depiction of Constantine in a same-sex relationship.

Following Azzarello's run, writerMike Carey took over the title, following hisEisner award-winning titleLucifer, set in theSandman universe.^[46] Carey's run attempted to return John Constantine to his roots, with the title largely set back in London, and featuring many characters from former runs on the title. Mike Carey also has the honour of being the firstLiverpudlian to write the Liverpudlian character. His was the second longest run by any single author on the title up to that time, second only to Garth Ennis,^[20] until Peter Milligan's run.

The start of his run introduces Angie Spatchcock, a fellow magician, and reintroduces his niece, Gemma Constantine, who has also fallen into magic use, to her uncle's consternation. After ridding his sister's house of an evil spirit, and finding out Gemma has gone missing, John returns to London, to find his old colleagues and enemies are all taking sides in the hunt for a mythical item, known as the Red Sepulchre. John eventually locates the item, and finds Gemma, freeing her from his old enemy Josh Wright.^[47] Following several forewarnings, Constantine then travels the world to set up a plan for a forthcoming tragedy, which will occur when "Three doors are opened", involvingSwamp Thing and theGarden of Eden amongst others.^[48]

John's preparations have no effect, however, as he is tricked into killing the guardian that had been preventing the tragedy, freeing a beast which can control the collective unconsciousness of mankind. John Constantine cuts his own wrists, in order to free himself from consciousness, and plays a confidence trick on the beast, allowing his friends time to use the collective consciousness to rebuild the guardian that had kept the beast trapped. However, in this process, Swamp Thing has his human soul removed, setting upthe fourth run of the comic, relaunched shortly afterward. In the process John loses his memory, setting up the events leading up to the 200th issue.^[49] Leading up to the landmark issue, John has little control over events, and is led along by a psychic serial killer, who threatens to kill Chas and his family, and a demon, Rosacarnis, who offers his memories back, at the cost of 24 hours in her service. John eventually gives into this offer, and the 200th issue shows how Rosacarnis manipulates his reality, making him raise three children with her, in the guise of Kit Ryan, from Garth Ennis's time on the title, Zed, from Jamie Delano's, and Angie, from the current run,^[50] with three different artists,Steve Dillon,Marcelo Frusin andLeonardo Manco each drawing one story, as the past, present and future of the title.

Carey's final run followed the attempts of John's three new children attempting to kill all of his family and friends, culminating in the death of his sister, Cheryl, at the hands of her possessed husband.^[51] John then travels into Hell to try to rescue her soul, with the assistance of Rosacarnis's father, Nergal. The plan ultimately fails, and John returns broken, and intending to renounce magic.^[52]

Mike Carey returned to the title for a single issue between Denise Mina and Andy Diggle's runs on the title, and also wrote the well-received^[53]Hellblazer graphic novelAll His Engines about a strange illness sweeping the globe.^[54]

Denise Mina had not written for comics when she took over the title in 2006, but had three acclaimed crime novels to her name, the Garnethill trilogy, the first of which won theCWAaward for best debut crime novel. Her run on the title took John to Scotland, to attempt to stop a plot to make everybody empathise with each other. However, John fails to stop this, and, overwhelmed by the grief and horror they're forced to empathically share, suicides abound through the people of Glasgow.^[55] With help from Gemma Constantine, Angie Spatchcock and Chas Chandler, a plan to reverse the problem is made, as tension builds among the soldiers now surrounding the city. The soldiers keenly listen to aWorld Cup match between England and Portugal on the radio. When England loses the match, it seems all is lost, but the expected psychic riot fails to materialize. The soldiers are Scottish, soEngland's loss is celebrated, saving the day, and proving there's no source of joy likeSchadenfreude.^[56]

Andy Diggle, having previously written theHellblazer special,Lady Constantine, and Vertigo titlesThe Losers andSwamp Thing, took over the title in 2007,^[57] another former writer for2000 AD to have done this. He left the title in 2009 after accepting an exclusive contract withMarvel.^[58]

The run starts by introducing two main antagonists, an aging politician, who is using a strange portal to enter other people's minds and commit crimes,^[59] and Mako, a cannibalistic mage who devours other magicians in order to obtain their power. Constantine's attempt to play them off one another only succeeds in making them join forces in a further plot.^[60] Constantine then traps them both with considerable ease, and questions how this has been so easy. It then becomes apparent that he has been manipulated by the 'Golden Child', his twin who did not survive childbirth, and has been manipulating events for the whole of the series, including his battle with cancer and many other events. He declines his twin's offer to merge souls, suspicious that his twin has been weakening his will in past years to make him accept this offer, choosing instead to take control of his own destiny.^[61]

Peter Milligan, a veteran of the Vertigo line, having written bothShade, The Changing Man andAnimal Man at the publisher's inception (and another former2000 AD writer), then took over,^[62] starting with a short story in the landmark 250th issue, and taking over full-time following this. His run implemented several major changes, including John Constantine's wedding and the loss of his thumb.

In a rare change, Milligan's run on the title starts with John living in domestic bliss with a nurse, Phoebe. Over the course of the first storyline, several new characters are introduced, including Epiphany Greaves, the alchemist daughter of a notorious London gangster, and Julian, aBabylonian demon. Over the course of the run, John dealt with a demon taking revenge on people involved in theLiverpool dockers' strike^[63] gone insane and sought help fromShade, The Changing Man, after chopping off his own thumb, seen Phoebe die at the hands of Julian,^[64] and traveled to India to try to find a way of saving her.^[65] Following this, he realised that he was in love with Epiphany, and married her in the 275th issue. However, the events of this wedding turned Constantine's niece Gemma against him, due to the Demon Constantine sexually assaulting her in the restroom. The strain of this traumatic incident turned her against John, and she enlisted the help of a coven of witches to kill him, which later came to a head when John was forced to fight off a brutal Demon summoned by them using John's iconic trenchcoat to target him.

Afterwards, John's coat (which Gemma sold oneBay) began to manipulate its various new owners into murder, suicide, or other horrific acts until coming into the hands of a man from the U.S., who tried to kill John and Epiphany. During the time the coat was missing, John's magical abilities had begun to go out of control. John eventually resolves this, and he was re-united with his coat. Since this, Gemma and John have a very shaky relationship with one another, and she began a sexual relationship with Epiphany's crime-boss father Terry to "punish" John. When he confronted her about this relationship though, she told him that she would not stop unless he was able to retrieve her mother's soul from Hell. John agreed.^[66] In order to get his sister to leave Hell, John agreed to track down her son, his adopted nephew, in Ireland.

On October 8, 2012, the series was announced as ending with issue 300, following which a new title,Constantine, started at the main imprint of DC comics.^[67] By 2013, Constantine was contacted by theThree Fates, who tell him that he will finally meet his end in five days. Having lived a good and adventurous life, he happily accepts his fate rather than trying to fight it like he always does. When the last day came, Constantine was ambushed and shot in his own home right in front of a horrified Epiphany. After he died, Epiphany and Finn had an affair as a way to comfort each other. John's ghost saw them having sex in a graveyard and seemed to give his blessing, making the fates decide that John wasn't going to try to come back to life. Then, of course, he did. He contacted Epiphany and asked her to help resurrect him by making him cigarettes from his ashes, which, after he smoked them, made him corporeal again. Thinking to disappear and live happily ever after with Epiphany, they moved to a tiny house in Ireland, courtesy of Finn, that was totally off the grid and far removed from any apparent trouble, the last place anyone would think to look for John. That didn't last long, though, as John realized he can never run from his past.

So John left Epiphany in Ireland and returned to England to confront Gemma. He stole the last dart holding the concoction that killed his demon twin, but ultimately gave it back to Gemma and told her either she could kill him, and live her life without him, but be consumed with guilt for killing him or she could let him disappear from her life forever, without any guilt for murdering him. Gemma shot the dart at him, but John disappeared. The final panel of Hellblazer reveals John, looking shocked and much older than previously seen, standing in a bar called "A Long Journey's End" surrounded by people, in front of a shelf full of bottles with the names of the comic's staff over the years.^[68]

Guest writers wereGrant Morrison (#25–26),Neil Gaiman (#27),John Smith (#51),Eddie Campbell (#85–88),Darko Macan (#144–145), andJason Aaron (#245–246).^[69]

In 2011, it was announced that a younger John Constantine would feature inJustice League Dark, one of the new titles launched as part of September 2011'sDC Universe reboot. He was to be part of a team includingShade, The Changing Man,Deadman andMadame Xanadu, known asJustice League Dark.^[70] As part of theDC universe reboot in September 2011, Peter Milligan started the title which featured an alternate version of John Constantine as a prominent part of the team.^[11] Milligan wrote eight issues ofJustice League Dark, with writerJeff Lemire taking over on issue nine.

On November 8, 2012, DC announced thatHellblazer would be cancelled following its 300th issue, and would be replaced byConstantine written byJeff Lemire and Ray Fawkes for issues #1-3 and Ray Fawkes alone for issues #4-23, and drawn by Renato Guedes^[71] starring the younger New 52 John Constantine, rather than the version from Hellblazer, depicted as being in his late 50s.^[70] TheConstantine series ended its run with its 23rd issue in May 2015. Nonetheless, the character would again star in another solo series entitledConstantine: The Hellblazer, co-written byMing Doyle andJames Tynion IV with art by Riley Rossmo, released on June 10, 2015.^[72][73] Writer Ming Doyle expressed excitement in her chance to write Constantine, stating that the reason of putting the termHellblazer back to the character's title was to "take Constantine back to what he was at the start."^[72] On July 20, 2016, a new comic book entitledThe Hellblazer: Rebirth was released as part ofDC Rebirth, a major relaunch in an effort to return famous DC stories from before the New 52 into the reboot. The plot concerns John Constantine finally returning to London after being cursed by a demon that forced him to leave the city. FormerHellblazer characters such asChas Chandler and Mercury made appearances in the series, and the comic was written bySimon Oliver who previously wrote the spin-off seriesHellblazer Presents: Chas - The Knowledge.^[74]

In July 2019, DC announced thatHellblazer would be relaunched as part ofThe Sandman Universe line of comics. The relaunched series, written bySimon Spurrier and illustrated by Aaron Campbell, begins after the events of the 1990 miniseriesThe Books of Magic.Hellblazer began with a one-shot onHalloween 2019, before becoming a regular series in November.^[75] Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the series ended after 12 issues.^[76] However, duringNew York Comic Con 2023, it was revealed that the series would be getting a revival miniseries calledJohn Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America, with Spurrier and Campbell returning and publication beginning in January 2024.^[77] The series came to an end in December 2024.

Hellblazer was first published during the early days of theModern Age of Comics, and so its themes were as dark, edgy, and politically and morally complex as its contemporaries.^[9][79] The comic mixed supernatural and real life horror, akin to contemporarygothic, withnoire,surrealism and occult detective fiction elements.^[78][79][80] Unlike other comic books, it is also unique as it follows real time in its span of 20 years, with its protagonist John Constantine aging in every publication. Because of this, writers of the series often place their era's culture andsocial commentary in their run.^[9][81] WhenJamie Delano first wrote the series in the late 1980s and early 1990s, his issues were heavily inspired by the era such aspunk rock and the British economy. Delano would be the first to put his political views in the series,^[12] such as his negative views ofThatcher's regime and by 2005 includes thewar on terror.^[82] This made John Constantine different from other comic book characters at that time, in that he fights the political and social injustice of Great Britain.^[83]

WhenGarth Ennis took over writing, he included his trademark representation ofracism andreligious fanaticism, as well his depictions of theFalklands War. The most controversial writer,Brian Azzarello, tackled issues such asneo-Nazism,prison rape andhomosexuality. DuringWarren Ellis' run, he included Americanschool shootings in a one-shot issue which led to a major controversy. In his run,Peter Milligan managed to putpunk ideology in the series, with the protagonist trying to reacquire his former punk self, while also characterizing theConservative government as a demon infestation with thepunk subculture fighting against this supposed subversion and abuse.^[84] As such, much of Hellblazer's horror often comes in the crisis and controversies of its time.^[12][81] Being set in the UK, many famous British personalities have appeared or made cameos such asSid Vicious,Margaret Thatcher,Aleister Crowley andAlan Moore.

As stated by Warren Ellis, Hellblazer's major themes werecynicism,nihilism and "sudden violence", with the protagonist often narrating the story in dark proses with occasionalbreaking of the fourth wall.^[12][78] In many story arcs every victory Constantine makes has a negative side effect and often leads to tragedy. His friends, family, and others would be sacrificed or be caught in the crossfire, many of them are dead or have left him. John tries his best to make something good in his life, but most of it leading to failure.^[1][8]

Over the two decades that it had been published,Hellblazer had normally been quite well received. While not attaining the sales of 'mainstream' comics, it had sustained healthy figures, consistently being one of the top selling Vertigo titles, and was sustained by healthy sales oftrade paperbacks.^[85] Hillary Goldstein ofIGN described it as, "Sometimes surreal, often provocative and almost always entertaining, the adventures of the Hellblazer are among the best Vertigo has to offer."^[86] Well-known comic book writerWarren Ellis also praised the series as his favorite, calling it as "among the very best horror works of the 1990s."^[78] Andre Borges fromDNA India listed it in the "15 Must Read Graphic Novels", describing it as "one of the first of its kind", and that its "writing and art work have been praised throughout its run."^[87] Robert Tutton ofPaste listed the series at #4 in its "13 Terrifying Modern Horror Comics", stating that "Constantine’s most frightening encounters have hewn close enough to that kernel of truth to remind readers that real life can be as terrifying as any succubus or demon spawn."^[88]

Jamie Delano's original run on the title is looked on fondly, with journalist Helen Braithwaite stating, "His take on the character of John Constantine has never been equalled. Delano'sOriginal Sins graphic novel should be in every comic book fan's collection." She added that, "His writing evokes an incredible sense of dread and terror in a reader."^[89]IGN listed the title as one of the 25 Best Vertigo Books, calling John Constantine as "one of Vertigo's best characters."^[90]

Garth Ennis' run is also much loved, particularlyDangerous Habits, which was voted the best Garth Ennis story on Comic Book Resources, ahead of his work onPreacher,The Boys andThe Punisher. In the same article Brian Cronin describes John's one time love, Kit Ryan, as one of the series' most memorable characters.^[91] The popularity of Ennis and Dillon's run onHellblazer is also credited for Vertigo agreeing to publish their seminal seriesPreacher.^[92]Empire calledDangerous Habits storyline as "rightly one of the most celebrated in comic book history."^[93]Glenn Fabry who was the cover artist during Ennis' run, won anEisner Award for "Best Cover Artist" in 1995.^[94]

The creator of the protagonist, Alan Moore, praised Jamie Delano's portrayal of the character, commenting "[Delano] demonstrates brilliantly that English horror didn't vanish with the fog and gas lit cobblestones at the end of the Victorian era."^[95] Moore also liked Brian Azzarello's run on the series, commenting that Azzarello and Corben captured the character "down, cold and to the life."^[96]

The character received positive critical reception while starring in the series.Empire ranked Constantine third in their 50 Greatest Comic Characters of All Time,^[93] whileIGN ranked him #29 in their Top 100 Comic Book Heroes,^[97] and the character ranked #10 inWizard Magazine's Top 200 Comic Book Characters of All Time.^[98]

The comic book's initial cancellation, and the introduction of the character to DC led to many negative feedback and reception.I, Vampire writerJoshua Hale Fialkov expressed sadness he would never get to write "the 'real' John Constantine", noted crime author and formerHellblazer writerIan Rankin stated that Constantine was the only comic book character he ever wanted to write for, and Alan Moore's daughter,Leah Moore expressing doubt thatConstantine could replaceHellblazer, among others.^[67] As a result, DC co-publisherDan Didio issued a statement defending this decision, stating that, "Hellblazer's had a long and incredibly successful run and that's a tip of the hat to all the great creators that have worked on the book over the years. The new Constantine series will return him back to his roots in the DCU and hopefully be the start of another incredible run."^[99]Comic Alliance describedHellblazer's cancellation as marking "the end of an era for Vertigo" while adding it to be "one of a handful of comics from the late eighties that helped comic books and their readers grow up."^[100]

Hellblazer boosted the popularity and image of theoccult detective fiction genre and shaped it to its modern form.^[101] Many modern examples of the genre such asHellboy,Supernatural,Grimm,The Originals, andThe Dresden Files have been influenced by it,^{[83][101][102]} and many imitators of both the series and its character flourished such asCriminal Macabre,Gravel,Planetary, and others.^[103] Its elements and style have been used countless of times in other works and many analogues of the cynicalJohn Constantine have appeared.^[104]

The first filmed adaptation ofHellblazer is one of the scenes in the documentary feature filmThe Mindscape of Alan Moore, which was shot in early 2002. The dramatization consists of the John Constantine character wandering through London and, in the film ending, experiencing a mysticalepiphany of sorts.^[114]

In2005,Constantine was released, a feature film that did not use the same title as the comic book, in order to avoid confusion with theHellraiser horror franchise. The only links to the character of John Constantine were the name and a plotline loosely based on the "Dangerous Habits" story arc (Hellblazer #41–46).^[115] DC Comics announced a sequel to the 2005Constantine film was in the works, with producerLorenzo di Bonaventura linked to the project. He stated: "I'd love to do it... We want to do a hard, R-rated version of it. We're going to scale back the size of the movie to try and persuade the studio to go ahead and make a tough version of it."^[116] In late 2012, directorGuillermo del Toro discussed the notion of creating a film that would star John Constantine alongside other DC/Vertigo characters such asZatanna,Swamp Thing, and more.^[117]

Constantine appears in the animated filmsJustice League Dark andJustice League Dark: Apokolips War, with Matt Ryan reprising his role from theArrowverse.^[118][119]

In January 2014 it was announced thatDavid Goyer andDaniel Cerone were developing a TV series based onHellblazer to air on NBC.Neil Marshall directed the pilot episode. The series follows Constantine in defending humanity against dark forces from beyond.^[120][121] On February, 21 it was announced that Welsh actorMatt Ryan was cast as the titular Constantine.^[122] The show ran for 13 episodes in Fall 2014, and on May 8, 2015, NBC cancelledConstantine midway through its first season.^[123]

Ryan reprised his role as John Constantine in the fourth season of The CW'sArrow^[124] and in multiple episodes of the third season ofLegends of Tomorrow. In March 2018 it was announced Ryan's Constantine would join the cast as a series regular for the fourth season.^[125] An animated series featuring Ryan as the voice of John Constantine,Constantine: City of Demons, was announced in January 2017 and was released to The CW's streaming platform in March 2018. The series was developed byWarner Bros. Animation and Blue Ribbon Content, withGreg Berlanti, Schechter andDavid S. Goyer (one of the creators of the live-action series) serving as executive producers, and Butch Lukic served as producer.J. M. DeMatteis wrote the series, and it was directed by Doug Murphy.^[126] Warner Bros Animation and Blue Ribbon Content Vice President Peter Girardi said the series aimed to be "darker" than the live-action series, and closer to the Hellblazer comics published byVertigo.^[127]

Constantine appears inJustice League Action, voiced byDamian O'Hare^[128]

THQ released a video game tie-in of the filmConstantine.^[129] The song "Stranger in the Mirror" byOokla the Mok is written from Constantine'spoint of view, including a lyrical reference to 'the Newcastle incident'.^[130][131] The song "Venus of the Hardsell", which first appeared inHellblazer Annual #1 and written by Jamie Delano, was adapted by the rock group Spiderlegs.^[132]

Fantasy fiction authorJohn Shirley is credited in writing threeHellblazer novels, including the novelisation of theConstantine film. The novelHellblazer: War Lord features Constantine talking about "another John Constantine in analternate universe, [who] has black hair and lives most of his life in Los Angeles" whilst giving a brief summary of the film's plot.^[133]

• The Ultimate Hellblazer Index—Index of theHellblazer comic and John Constantine's appearances elsewhere
• Hellblazer Trades—Timeline of John Constantine appearances in collected editions of DC and Vertigo comics
• Straight To Hell—Fan site with issue summaries and discussion forum
• The Sting connection—Interview with Alan Moore discussing the creation of John Constantine
• FreshArchived 2009-12-25 at theWayback Machine—designs showing the evolution of the latestHellblazer logo
• Roots of the Swamp Thing—An exhaustively detailed timeline of the events of Vertigo'sSwamp Thing andHellblazer comic series.

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