Hellblazer

Supercbbox| title = John Constantine: Hellblazer
comic_color = background:#ff8080


caption = Cover of "Hellblazer" #1 By Dave McKean.
schedule = Monthly
format = Ongoing series
publisher = Vertigo
DC Comics
Titan Books
date = 1988–Present
issues = 246 plus two specials, one annual, one graphic novel and four miniseries as of 2008
main_char_team = John Constantine
past_current_color = background:#5be85b
writers = Andy Diggle
artists = Leonardo Manco
pencillers =
inkers =
colorists = Lee Loughridge
creative_team_month = January
creative_team_year = 2008
creators = Jamie Delano
John Ridgway
TPB = Original Sins
ISBN = 1-56389-052-6

"Hellblazer" is a contemporary horror comic book series published by the Vertigo imprint of DC Comics. Its central character is the streetwise magician John Constantine. It has been published continuously since January 1988.

Origins

After favourable reader reaction to John Constantine's appearances in the comic book series "Swamp Thing", where he had been introduced by Alan Moore during his authorship of the title, the character was given his own comic book series in 1988.cite web
last = McMahon
first = John
title = John Constantine: Who Is He?
url=http://www.insanerantings.com/hell/constantine/index.html
accessdate = 2007-05-31 ] cite web
last = Carroll
first = David
title = Trail Blazers: Interviews with Jamie Delano and Garth Ennis
url=http://www.tabula-rasa.info/AusComics/Hellblazers.html
accessdate = 2007-05-30 ] The series was intended to bear the title "Hellraiser", but this title was revised before publication due to the contemporaneous release of Clive Barker's unrelated film of the same name.cite web
last = McMahon
first = John
title = Straight to Hell: A Hellblazer Site - FAQ
url=http://www.insanerantings.com/hell/faq/index.html#mq2
accessdate = 2007-05-30 ]

The initial creative team was writer Jamie Delano and artist John Ridgway, with Dave McKean supplying distinctive painted and collage covers. Delano introduced a political aspect to the character: "...generally I was interested in commenting on 1980s Britain. That was where I was living, it was shit, and I wanted to tell everybody."cite web
last = Carroll
first = David
title = Trail Blazers: Interviews with Jamie Delano and Garth Ennis
url=http://www.tabula-rasa.info/AusComics/Hellblazers.html
accessdate = 2007-05-30 ]

Other creators

Others who have worked on the series include writers Garth Ennis, Paul Jenkins, Warren Ellis, Darko Macan, Brian Azzarello, Neil Gaiman, Grant Morrison, Eddie Campbell, John Smith, Mike Carey, Denise Mina, and Andy Diggle; and artists Mark Buckingham, Tim Bradstreet, Steve Dillon, Marcelo Frusin, Leonardo Manco and Sean Phillips. Peter Hogan also wrote two "Hellblazer" spinoff stories, entitled "Love Street" and " [http://www.swampthingroots.com/marquee.html Marquee Moon] ". In 2006 popular crime novelist Ian Rankin announced that he was working on a six-issue pitch for Hellblazer that may eventually become a graphic novel.cite web
last = Malvern
first = Jack
title = Times Online: Bestselling author plots a new career in comics
url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article613682.ece
accessdate = 2007-05-30 ]

etting and protagonist

"Hellblazer" is set in a contemporary world, albeit a world of magic and supernatural conflict behind the scenes. Although issue 14 made a passing reference to superheroes, the series has since developed its own pocket universe in which the supernatural or paranormal does not play a large role in the lives of most ordinary people, and in earth threatening circumstances no superhero interventions are shown or hinted at, suggesting that superheroes no longer exist there. However, some DC Comics characters—most notably the fringe supernatural characters such as Zatanna, The Phantom Stranger and Swamp Thing have made appearances. This could be because they have the ability to move between universes. Fact|date=October 2008

"Hellblazer"'s main character is portrayed as a kind of confidence man, doing morally questionable things, sometimes for the greater good. Constantine usually triumphs in his conflicts through guile, deceit and misdirection, but often makes more enemies in the process than he defeats. Indeed, it is a common theme in the book that Constantine is unable to effect any lasting change or enjoy unequivocal victories. While sometimes striving for the good of mankind, Constantine is often manipulative and a dangerous person to have as a friend, as the lives and souls of those around him become perilously involved in his misadventures. He takes pains to protect himself from direct attacks, but his friends and relatives are often endangered in order to strike at him. The spirits of deceased friends haunt him, individually or as an entourage of ghosts.

Constantine has made appearances in other comic book titles, such as "The Sandman", "Lucifer" and "Shade, the Changing Man". He was a recurring supporting character in both "Swamp Thing" and "The Books of Magic" throughout their numerous incarnations.

Publications

Collected editions

"Hellblazer" has been incompletely collected as a number of trade paperbacks by DC Vertigo. In chronological order, they are:

Other collections include:

"Constantine: The Hellblazer Collection" is a movie tie-in which collects the official film adaptation as well as "Hellblazer" numbers 1, 27 (written by Neil Gaiman), and 41. All of these issues are available in other collections: #1 in "Original Sins", #41 in "Dangerous Habits", and #27 in "Neil Gaiman's Midnight Days", a collection of Gaiman-penned stories.

"Hellblazer: Papa Midnite", collects the five-issue spin-off mini-series written by Mat Johnson. It is set during the early part of the "Staring at the Wall" story arc.

"Hellblazer: Lady Constantine" collects Andy Diggle's four-issue spin-off miniseries.

Graphic novels

There have also been a couple of original graphic novels:

"All His Engines" by Mike Carey involves Constantine trying to solve the mystery of a strange sickness sweeping the globe. [ [http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=3966 CCI, Day 2: Keanu Sold Separately: Carey talks "Hellblazer: All His Engines" OGN] , Comic Book Resources, July 23, 2004.] It also includes a character summary and history of the series taken from "Vertigo Secret Files: Hellblazer".

"Hellblazer: Pandemonium" by Jamie Delano and Jock, is scheduled for release in 2008, to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the series. [ [http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11352 Back into Hell: Jamie Delano returns to John Constantine's world] , Comic Book Resources, July 27, 2007.]

Writers

Main Series

* 1–24: Jamie Delano
* 25–26: Grant Morrison
* 27: Neil Gaiman
* 28–31: Delano
* 32: Dick Foreman
* 33–40: Delano
* 41–50: Garth Ennis
* 51: John Smith
* 52–83: Ennis
* 84: Delano
* 85–88: Eddie Campbell
* 89–128: Paul Jenkins
* 129–133: Ennis
* 134–143: Warren Ellis
* 144–145: Darko Macan
* 146–174: Brian Azzarello
* 175–215: Mike Carey
* 216–228: Denise Mina
* 229: Carey
* 230-244: Andy Diggle
* 245-246: Jason Aaron
* 247-249: Diggle
* 250 onwards: Simon Oliver

pecials and spin-offs

* Mike Carey ("All His Engines" graphic novel)
* Jamie Delano ("Bad Blood" miniseries, "Hellblazer Annual", "The Horrorist" mini-series and "Pandemonium" graphic novel)
* Andy Diggle ("Lady Constantine" mini-series)
* Garth Ennis ("Heartland" and "Hellblazer Special" one-shots)
* Peter Hogan ("Love Street" miniseries and "Marquee Moon" [" [http://www.swampthingroots.com/marquee.html Marquee Moon] "] one-shot; both technically "The Sandman" spin-offs, but feature Constantine)
* Paul Jenkins and John Ney Rieber ("Hellblazer/Books of Magic" mini-series)
* Mat Johnson ("Papa Midnite" mini-series)
* John Ney Rieber ("The Trenchcoat Brigade" mini-series)
* Simon Oliver ("" mini-series) [ [http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=124899 Ww Chicago: The Vertigo Panel - Newsarama ] ]
* John Shirley ("Hellblazer" novels "Subterrenian" and "Warlord")

hort stories

* Brian Azzarello ("The Origin of Vice" in "Vertigo Secret Files: Hellblazer")
* Mike Carey ("Exposed" in "9/11 Volume 2")
* Jamie Delano ("Prodigal Son" in "Vertigo Secret Files: Hellblazer")
* Garth Ennis ("Tainted Love" in "Vertigo Jam" and "All Those Little Girls and Boys" in "Winter's Edge 2")
* Dave Gibbons ("Another Bloody Christmas" in "Winter's Edge 3")
* Paul Jenkins ("Tell Me" in "Winter's Edge 1")
*

Cover artists

Main series

* Dave McKean (1–19, 27, 40)
* Kent Williams (20–24, 28–39)
* David Lloyd (25–26)
* Tom Canty (41–50)
* Sean Phillips (51, 85–128)
* Glenn Fabry (52–83, 129–133, 144–145, 239–242)
* John Eder (84)
* Tim Bradstreet (134–143, 146–215)
* Greg Lauren (216–217, 219)
* Lee Bermejo (218, 221–238, 243 onwards)
* Leonardo Manco (220)

Note that Tim Bradstreet also supplied cover art for an unpublished version of issue 141. The story that would have appeared in this issue, "Shoot" by writer Warren Ellis and artist Phil Jimenez, was deemed unsuitable for publication after the Columbine shootings, as it focused on an FBI agent investigating school shootings. [http://compsoc.man.ac.uk/~jp/comics/shoot/]

Additionally, there were two covers commissioned for issue 218: [http://www.insanerantings.com/hell/gallery/hb218.html the solicited one] by Greg Lauren showing John Constantine being crucified, and [http://hellblazer.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=3167 the published one] by Lee Bermejo showing Constantine lighting a cigarette in the wind. The reasons for the change of cover remain unknown.

Other Hellblazer covers have also been commissioned but not used, and are available for viewing [http://www.swampthingroots.com/covers_unused.html here] .

pecials and spin-offs

* Tim Bradstreet (Hellblazer novels "Subterrenian" and "Warlord")
* Steve Dillon ("Heartland")
* Glenn Fabry ("Hellblazer Special" and "The Trenchcoat Brigade" 1–4)
* David Lloyd ("The Horrorist" 1–2)
* Leonardo Manco ("All His Engines" OGN)
* Phil Noto ("Lady Constantine" 1–4)
* Sean Phillips ("Bad Blood" 1–4 and "Hellblazer/Books of Magic" 1–2)
* Kent Williams ("Hellblazer Annual")
* Ronald Wimberly ("Papa Midnite" 1–5)

Main interior artists

Main series

* John Ridgway (1–9)
* Richard Piers Rayner (10–16)
* Mike Hoffman (13, 17, 48)
* Mark Buckingham (18–22)
* Ron Tiner (23–24, 28–30)
* David Lloyd (25–26, 56)
* Dave McKean (27, 40)
* Sean Phillips (31, 34–36, 51, 84–100, 102–107, 109–114)
* Steve Pugh (32–33, 37–39)
* Will Simpson (41–47, 50, 52–55, 59–61, 75)
* Steve Dillon (49, 57–58, 62–76, 78–83, 157, 175–176, 200)
* Peter Snejbjerg (77)
* Al Davison (101)
* Charles Adlard (108)
* Warren Pleece (115–128)
* John Higgins (129–139)
* Frank Teran (140)
* Tim Bradstreet (141)
* Javier Pulido (142)
* James Romberger (142)
* Marcelo Frusin (143, 151–156, 158–161, 164–167, 170–174, 177–180, 184–186, 189–193, 197–200)
* Gary Erskine (144–145)
* Richard Corben (146–150)
* Guy Davis (162–163)
* Giuseppe Camuncoli (168–169, 206, 243-244)
* Jock (181)
* Lee Bermejo (182–183)
* Doug Alexander Gregory (187–188)
* Leonardo Manco (194–195, 200–205, 207–212, 214–222, 224–228, 230-242, 247 onwards)
* Chris Brunner (196)
* Frazer Irving (213)
* Cristiano Cucina (223)
* John Paul Leon (229)
* Daniel Zezelj (238)
* Sean Murphy (245-246)

Note that Hellblazer #75 and #142 each contained two stories by two different artists. Issue 75 contained "Damnation's Flame part 4: Hail to the Chief" with art by Steve Dillon and "Act of Union" with art by William Simpson. Issue 142 contained "Setting Sun" with art by Javier Pulido and "One Last Love Song" illustrated by James Romberger.

Phil Jimenez supplied art for "Shoot", a Warren Ellis-penned tale focusing on high-school shootings that would have been the original issue 141. It was removed from the publishing schedule after the Columbine shootings occurred. [Holmes, Thomas Alan (2005) "Warren Ellis’ 'Shoot' and Media Passivity". "International Journal of Comic Art". 7 (2). 370–374.] [ [http://compsoc.man.ac.uk/~jp/comics/shoot/ "Shoot" online] ]

pecials and spin-offs

* Tony Akins ("Papa Midnite" 1–5)
* Philip Bond ("Bad Blood" 1–4)
* Steve Dillon ("Heartland and Hellblazer Special")
* Jock ("Pandemonium" OGN)
* Paul Lee ("Hellblazer/Books of Magic" 1–2)
* David Lloyd ("The Horrorist" 1–2)
* Leonardo Manco ("All His Engines" OGN)
* Dean Motter ("Hellblazer Annual" story: "Venus of the Hard Sell")
* Goran Sudžuka ("Lady Constantine" 1–4)
* Bryan Talbot ("Hellblazer Annual" story: "The Bloody Saint")
* John Ridgway ("The Trenchcoat Brigade" 1–4)

hort stories

* Tim Bradstreet ("Prodigal Son" in "Vertigo Secret Files: Hellblazer")
* Steve Dillon ("Tainted Love" in "Vertigo Jam")
* Glyn Dillon ("All Those Little Girls and Boys" in "Winter's Edge 2")
* Marcelo Frusin ("Exposed" in "9/11 Volume 2")
* Dave Gibbons ("Another Bloody Christmas" in "Winter's Edge 3")
* Paul Pope ("Tell Me" in "Winter's Edge 1")
* Dave Taylor ("The Origin of Vice" in "Vertigo Secret Files: Hellblazer")

Other media

Novels

Author John Shirley has written three "Hellblazer"-related novels: an adaptation of the film "Constantine", released in 2005, and "War Lord" and "Subterranean", a pair of original novels based around the Constantine seen in the comics, both of which were released in 2006.

Film

The first adaptation of "Hellblazer" ever filmed for the screen is one of the scenes in the documentary feature film "The Mindscape of Alan Moore" and was shot in early 2002. The dramatization consists of the John Constantine character wandering through London and in the film ending experiencing a mystical epiphany of sorts.

In 2005 "Constantine" was released, a feature film that did not use the same title as the comic book, although the protagonists were of the same name, and the main plot was loosely based on several specific issues.

References

External links

* [http://www.dccomics.com/media/excerpts/1618_1.pdf DC Comics] - Complete "Hellblazer" issue #1 in PDF format
* [http://www.qusoor.com/hellblazer The Ultimate Hellblazer Index] - Index of "Hellblazer" comic and John Constantine's appearances elsewhere
* [http://www.hellblazertrades.com/ "Hellblazer" Trades] - Timeline of John Constantine appearances in collected editions of DC and Vertigo comics
* [http://www.insanerantings.com/hell Straight To Hell] - Fan site with issue summaries and discussion forum
* [http://www.qusoor.com/hellblazer/Sting.htm The Sting connection] - Interview with Alan Moore discussing the creation of John Constantine
* [http://www.iamalwayshungry.com/new/hell1.html Fresh] - designs showing the evolution of the latest "Hellblazer" logo
* [http://www.swampthingroots.com Roots of the Swamp Thing] - An exhaustively detailed timeline of the events of Vertigo's "Swamp Thing" and "Hellblazer" comic series.