John Constantine, Hellblazer | |
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![]() Cover of Hellblazer #1, by Dave 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 |
No. of issues | 300 (original series) 12 (new series) |
Main character(s) | 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(s) | 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 contemporary horror comic-book series published by DC Comics since January 1988, and subsequently by its Vertigo imprint since March 1993, when the imprint was introduced. Its central character is the streetwise English sorcerer and con man John Constantine, who was created by Alan Moore and Stephen R. Bissette, and first appeared as a supporting character in Swamp Thing (vol. 2) #37 (June 1985), during that creative team's run on that title. Hellblazer had been published continuously since January 1988, and was Vertigo's longest-running title, the only remaining publication from the imprint's launch.[1] In 2013, the series concluded with issue 300, and was replaced by Constantine, which returned the character to the mainstream DC Universe.[2] The original series was revived in November 2019 for twelve issues as part of The Sandman Universe line of comics, under the DC 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 include Jamie Delano, Garth Ennis, Eddie Campbell, Paul Jenkins, Warren Ellis, Grant Morrison, Neil Gaiman, Brian Azzarello, Mike Carey, Denise Mina, Andy Diggle, and Peter Milligan. Hellblazer was one of the first modern occult detective fiction works and heavily influenced the genre to come.