Hellblazer , also known as John Constantine, Hellblazer , is an American comic book series starring John Constantine . The character, created by Alan Moore , Stephen R. Bissette , and John Totleben first appeared in Swamp Thing (vol. 2) #37 (June 1985) as a supporting character, and later appeared as the protagonist of his own series in 1988. In 1993, the series started being published under DC's newly founded imprint Vertigo , and by its cancellation it was the imprint's longest-running series.[ 1]
Hellblazer has been incompletely collected into many trade paperbacks . The first UK editions, printed by Titan Books , reprinted the original colour issues in black and white. Though subsequent editions were in color, they were not numbered and not always released chronologically. While some issues were never collected in trade form, some early issues appear in books. Starting in April 2011, Vertigo began republishing the series in new numbered editions, collecting the series in proper chronological order and including issues that had been left out of earlier editions. The new editions also include short stories, prose pieces, original graphic novels, related mini-series, and crossover issues from other series, most commonly Swamp Thing .
John Constantine first starred in his own solo series Hellblazer in 1988, which ran until its cancellation in 2013. The character was then introduced into the main DC continuity with the fourth wave of the New 52 releases in Constantine , which featured a younger version of the character with a new backstory, and ran until 2015.[ 1] It was relaunched as Constantine: The Hellblazer under a new creative team which attempted to bring back to "the core tenets of [Constantine's] character", running for thirteen issues.[ 2] [ 3] The series was once again cancelled and relaunched to coincide with the release of DC Rebirth , including an introduction one-shot titled The Hellblazer: Rebirth , and running for twenty-four issues. This series brought back elements from the original series, while still being rated PG-13.[ 4] In July 2019, it was announced that a new series would be released under The Sandman Universe line, published under Vertigo's successor imprint DC Black Label , starting with a new one-shot titled The Sandman Presents: Hellblazer .[ 5] The series was cancelled with issue twelve.[ 6]
Title
Cover date
Imprint
Notes
Hellblazer Annual #1
September 1989
Vertigo Comics
Hellblazer Special #1
November 1993
Heartland
March 1997
Spin-off of Hellblazer . However, John Constantine makes no appearance.
Millennium Edition: Hellblazer #1
July 2000
Vertigo Comics ; DC Comics Millennium Edition
Reprints Hellblazer #1.
Vertigo Secret Files: Hellblazer #1
August 2000
Vertigo Comics
2005
New printing coinciding with the release of the film Constantine .[ 17]
Constantine: The Official Movie Adaptation
January 2005
Comic adaptation of the 2005 film Constantine. [ 18]
Hellblazer - Special Constantine DVD Issue
April 2005
In-case extra with the Constantine - 2-Disc Deluxe Edition DVD. Reprints Hellblazer #41 and Vertigo Secret Files: Hellblazer #1
Hellblazer #1 Special Edition
July 2010
Reprints Hellblazer #1.
Vertigo Resurrected: Hellblazer #1
February 2011
Reprints Hellblazer #57–58, 245–246.[ 19]
Vertigo Resurrected: Hellblazer: Bad Blood #1
June 2011
Reprints Hellblazer: Bad Blood #1–4.[ 20]
Hellblazer Annual 2011
February 2012
[ 21]
Constantine: Futures End #1
November 2014
DC Comics
Tie-in one-shot to the Futures End event. 3D lenticular cover.[ 22]
Constantine/Hellblazer #1 Special Edition
December 2014
Flipbook reprinting Constantine #1 and Hellblazer #1.
The Hellblazer: Rebirth #1
September 2016
Tie-in one-shot to the DC Rebirth relaunch event.[ 23]
The Sandman Universe Presents: Hellblazer #1
December 2019
DC Black Label , The Sandman Universe
Introduction one-shot to the new ongoing series.[ 24]
Story title
Issue
Cover date
Notes
"Tainted Love"
Vertigo Jam #1
August 1993
"Tell Me"
Vertigo: Winter's Edge #1
January 1998
"All Those Little Girls and Boys"
Vertigo: Winter's Edge #2
January 1999
"Another Bloody Christmas"
Vertigo: Winter's Edge #3
January 2000
"Exposed"
9-11 Volume 2
February 2002
Published in a 9-11 benefit book .
"Letter from a Suicide"
House of Mystery Halloween Annual #1
December 2009
"Shoot "
Vertigo Resurrected #1
October 2010
Originally planned for Hellblazer #141, it was not released at that time due to the 1999 Columbine shootings .
"Bonfire Night"
House of Mystery Halloween Annual #2
December 2010
All collected editions were released in trade paperback format, unless noted otherwise.
Originally the series was collected irregularly. These volumes are preceded by volumes 3–7 of Swamp Thing .
In 2011, Vertigo started reprinting the series in new, numbered trade paperbacks in chronological order.
Constantine: The Hellblazer [ edit ]
#
Title
Material collected
Pages
Publication date
ISBN
Notes
1
Going Down
Constantine: The Hellblazer #1–6
DC Sneak Peek: Constantine #1
127
February 16, 2016
978-1401259723
[ 100]
2
The Art of the Deal
Constantine: The Hellblazer #7–13
184
September 27, 2016
978-1401263713
[ 101]
John Constantine: Hellblazer [ edit ] Published under DC Black Label .
#
Title
Material collected
Pages
Publication date
ISBN
Notes
1
Marks of Woe
The Sandman Universe Presents: Hellblazer #1
John Constantine: Hellblazer #1–6
The Books of Magic (vol. 3) #14
216
September 29, 2020
978-1779502896
[ 106]
2
The Best Version of You
John Constantine: Hellblazer #7–12
168
March 30, 2021
978-1779509536
Title
Material collected
Pages
Publication date
ISBN
Notes
Hellblazer: Lady Constantine
Hellblazer Special: Lady Constantine #1–4
March 2006
978-1401209421
[ 107]
Hellblazer: Papa Midnite
Hellblazer Special: Papa Midnite #1–5
April 2006
978-1401210038
[ 108]
Hellblazer Presents: Chas
Hellblazer Special: Chas #1–5
April 2009
978-1401221270
[ 109]
Hellblazer: City of Demons
Hellblazer: City of Demons #1–5
"Another Bloody Christmas" from Vertigo: Winter's Edge #3
May 2011
978-1401231538
[ 110]
Hellblazer: Rise and Fall
Hellblazer: Rise and Fall #1–3
135
April 27, 2021
978-1779513540
[ 111]
John Constantine Hellblazer: Dead in America #1 - 8, 2024Constantine is found in most Swamp Thing collections from volume 3, The Curse . He appears in every subsequent volume of the 1985 series and in volume 1, Bad Seed , of the 2004 series.
Title
Material collected
Pages
Publication date
ISBN
Notes
Constantine: The Hellblazer Collection
Constantine: The Official Movie Adaptation
Hellblazer #1, 27, 41
January 2005
978-1401203405
[ 112]
John Constantine, Hellblazer 30th Anniversary Edition
Saga of the Swamp Thing #37
Hellblazer #11, 27, 41, 63, 120, 146, 229, 240
November 2018
978-1401284794
Hardcover.[ 113]
Hellblazer by Garth Ennis Omnibus
Hellblazer #41–50, 52–83, 129–131, Special #1
"Tainted Love" from Vertigo Jam #1
Heartland
"All Those Little Girls and Boys" from Vertigo: Winter's Edge #2
March 2020
978-1401299910
Oversized hardcover.[ 114]
Author John Shirley has written three Hellblazer -related novels: a novelisation of the film Constantine , released in 2005, War Lord, and Subterranean , a pair of original novels based around the Constantine seen in the comics, both of which were released in 2006. The novel War Lord treats the film Constantine as an alternate universe within the comics' continuity.
^ a b Gerding, Stephen (November 8, 2012). "DC Cancels "Hellblazer," Announces New 52-Based "Constantine" Ongoing" . Comic Book Resources . Retrieved November 28, 2020 .
^ DCE Editorial (February 6, 2015). "New Books, New Creative Teams: The Complete List of New and Continuing DC Comics Titles" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ Ching, Albert (March 10, 2015). "Doyle & Tynion Aim to Restore "Constantine: The Hellblazer" as a "Young, Sexy, Dangerous, Bad Dude" " . Comic Book Resources . Retrieved November 28, 2020 .
^ McElhatton, Greg (July 22, 2016). " "The Hellblazer: Rebirth" Harkens Back to John Constantine's Jamie Delano Era" . Comic Book Resources . Retrieved November 28, 2020 .
^ DC Publicity (July 9, 2019). "HELLBLAZER ENTERS THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE THIS OCTOBER FROM DC" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ Dominguez, Noah (August 14, 2020). "John Constantine: Hellblazer - Sandman Universe Series Ends With Issue #12" . Comic Book Resource . Retrieved November 28, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER 1988" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "CONSTANTINE 2013" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "CONSTANTINE: THE HELLBLAZER 2015" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "THE HELLBLAZER 2016" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "JOHN CONSTANTINE: HELLBLAZER 2019" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER SPECIAL: LADY CONSTANTINE 2003" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "JOHN CONSTANTINE – HELLBLAZER SPECIAL: PAPA MIDNITE 2005" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER PRESENTS: CHAS - THE KNOWLEDGE 2008" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "JOHN CONSTANTINE: HELLBLAZER - CITY OF DEMONS 2010" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "Hellblazer: Rise And Fall 2020" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "VERTIGO SECRET FILES: HELLBLAZER #1" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 26, 2020 .
^ "CONSTANTINE: THE OFFICIAL MOVIE ADAPTATION #1" . DC Comics . 4 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "VERTIGO RESURRECTED: HELLBLAZER #1" . DC Comics . 4 March 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2020 .
^ "VERTIGO RESURRECTED: HELLBLAZER: BAD BLOOD #1" . DC Comics . 4 March 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER ANNUAL #1" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 26, 2020 .
^ "CONSTANTINE: FUTURES END #1" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 26, 2020 .
^ "THE HELLBLAZER: REBIRTH #1" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 26, 2020 .
^ "THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE PRESENTS HELLBLAZER #1" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 26, 2020 .
^ "JOHN CONSTANTINE: HELLBLAZER — ALL HIS ENGINES" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "JOHN CONSTANTINE: HELLBLAZER — ALL HIS ENGINES" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "DARK ENTRIES" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "DARK ENTRIES" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: PANDEMONIUM" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: PANDEMONIUM" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "THE MYSTERY OF THE MEANEST TEACHER: A JOHNNY CONSTANTINE GRAPHIC NOVEL" . DC Comics . 29 October 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "CONSTANTINE: DISTORTED ILLUSIONS" . DC . Retrieved 2023-06-18 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: ORIGINAL SINS" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: THE DEVIL YOU KNOW" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: THE FEAR MACHINE" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: THE FAMILY MAN" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: DANGEROUS HABITS" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: BLOODLINES" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: FEAR AND LOATHING" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: TAINTED LOVE" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: DAMNATION'S FLAME" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: RAKE AT THE GATES OF HELL" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: SON OF MAN" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: HAUNTED" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: SETTING SUN" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: SHOOT" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: HARD TIME" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: GOOD INTENTIONS" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: FREEZES OVER" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: HIGHWATER" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: RED SEPULCHRE" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: BLACK FLOWERS" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: STARING AT THE WALL" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: STATIONS OF THE CROSS" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: THE GIFT" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: EMPATHY IS THE ENEMY" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: THE RED RIGHT HAND" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: JOYRIDE" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: THE LAUGHING MAGICIAN" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: ROOTS OF COINCIDENCE" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: SCAB" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: HOOKED" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: INDIA" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: BLOODY CARNATIONS" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: PHANTOM PAINS" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: THE DEVIL'S TRENCH COAT" . DC Comics . 11 June 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: DEATH AND CIGARETTES" . DC Comics . 11 February 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 1: ORIGINAL SINS - NEW EDITION" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 2: THE DEVIL YOU KNOW NEW EDITION" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 3: THE FEAR MACHINE NEW EDITION" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 4: FAMILY MAN NEW EDITION" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 5: DANGEROUS HABITS NEW EDITION" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 6: BLOODLINES NEW EDITION" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 7: TAINTED LOVE" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 8: RAKE AT THE GATES OF HELL" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 9: CRITICAL MASS" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 10: IN THE LINE OF FIRE" . DC Comics . 20 October 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 11: LAST MAN STANDING" . DC Comics . 21 April 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 12: HOW TO PLAY WITH FIRE" . DC Comics . 15 September 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 13: HAUNTED" . DC Comics . 19 January 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 14: GOOD INTENTIONS" . DC Comics . 18 April 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 15: HIGHWATER" . DC Comics . 19 September 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 16: THE WILD CARD" . DC Comics . 23 January 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 17: OUT OF SEASON" . DC Comics . 22 May 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 18: THE GIFT" . DC Comics . 18 September 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 19: THE RED RIGHT HAND" . DC Comics . 19 March 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 20: SYSTEMS OF CONTROL" . DC Comics . 17 September 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER VOL. 21: THE LAUGHING MAGICIAN" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 28, 2020 .
^ "JOHN CONSTANTINE, HELLBLAZER VOL. 22: REGENERATION" . DC Comics . 19 December 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2020 .
^ "JOHN CONSTANTINE, HELLBLAZER VOL. 23: NO FUTURE" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 28, 2020 .
^ "JOHN CONSTANTINE, HELLBLAZER VOL. 24: SECTIONED" . DC Comics . 26 January 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021 .
^ "JOHN CONSTANTINE, HELLBLAZER VOL. 25: ANOTHER SEASON" . Penguin Random House . Retrieved March 16, 2021 .
^ JOHN CONSTANTINE, HELLBLAZER VOL. 26: THE CURSE OF THE CONSTANTINES . ISBN 1779514980 .
^ "CONSTANTINE VOL. 1: THE SPARK AND THE FLAME" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "CONSTANTINE VOL. 2: BLIGHT" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "CONSTANTINE VOL. 3: THE VOICE IN THE FIRE" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "CONSTANTINE VOL. 4: THE APOCALYPSE ROAD" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "FOREVER EVIL: BLIGHT" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 28, 2020 .
^ "CONSTANTINE, THE HELLBLAZER VOL. 1: GOING DOWN" . DC Comics . 19 October 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "CONSTANTINE, THE HELLBLAZER VOL. 2: THE ART OF THE DEAL" . DC Comics . 16 May 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "THE HELLBLAZER VOL. 1: THE POISON TRUTH" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "THE HELLBLAZER VOL. 2: THE SMOKELESS FIRE" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "THE HELLBLAZER VOL. 3: THE INSPIRATION GAME" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "THE HELLBLAZER VOL. 4: THE GOOD OLD DAYS" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "JOHN CONSTANTINE, HELLBLAZER VOL. 1: MARKS OF WOE" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: LADY CONSTANTINE" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: PAPA MIDNITE" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER PRESENTS: CHAS — THE KNOWLEDGE" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: CITY OF DEMONS" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER: CITY OF DEMONS" . DC Comics . Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "CONSTANTINE: THE HELLBLAZER COLLECTION" . DC Comics . 9 March 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "JOHN CONSTANTINE: HELLBLAZER 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION" . DC Comics . 18 June 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .
^ "HELLBLAZER BY GARTH ENNIS OMNIBUS" . DC Comics . 17 April 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020 .