Editing Hellblazer (section)

==Themes and style==
{{Quote box|width=30em|bgcolor=#c6dbf7|quote="[Hellblazer] retains the occult connections, but what sets it apart from the sad, played out "dark fantasies" that you'll find on the shelf next to it is its clear knowledge that real horror is perpetrated not by eye-soiling pantomime monsters, or pale things in black with stupid names. Real horror comes from people. Just people. They're the scariest things in the world."|source=– In an introduction by [[Warren Ellis]], he describes the comic and how it differs from others of the same genre.<ref name="Ellis"/>}}

''Hellblazer'' was first published during the early days of the [[Modern Age of Comics]], and so its themes were as dark, edgy, and politically and morally complex as its contemporaries.<ref name="God#1"/><ref name="Doyle">{{cite web |url=http://www.geek-pride.co.uk/john-constantine-hellblazer-farewell-2/ |title=John Constantine Hellblazer Farewell |last=Haigh |first=Andy |publisher=Geek Pride |date=March 16, 2013 |access-date=February 2, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518091625/http://www.geek-pride.co.uk/john-constantine-hellblazer-farewell-2/ |archive-date=May 18, 2015 }}</ref> The comic mixed supernatural and real life horror, akin to contemporary [[Gothic fiction|gothic]], with [[Hardboiled|noire]], [[surrealism]] and occult detective fiction elements.<ref name="Ellis">{{cite book|title= ''Fear and Loathing: Introduction''|author=[[Warren Ellis]]|year=1997| isbn=1-56389-202-2|publisher=Vertigo}}</ref><ref name="Doyle"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shelfabuse.com/graphic-novel-reviews/hellblazer-hard-times-tpb-review/ |title=Hellblazer: Hard Times TPB review |author=Carl Doherty |publisher=Shelf Abuse |date=January 5, 2007 |access-date=October 14, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103063203/http://www.shelfabuse.com/graphic-novel-reviews/hellblazer-hard-times-tpb-review/ |archive-date=November 3, 2014 }}</ref> 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 and [[social commentary]] in their run.<ref name="God#1"/><ref name="Social">{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?id=54149&page=article |title=Hellblazer's past weighs in on Constantine's future |author=Josie Campbell |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=July 22, 2014 |access-date=October 14, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008015201/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=54149 |archive-date=October 8, 2014 }}</ref> When [[Jamie Delano]] first wrote the series in the late 1980s and early 1990s, his issues were heavily inspired by the era such as [[punk rock]] and the British economy. Delano would be the first to put his political views in the series,<ref name="Vulture">{{cite web |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/10/secret-history-of-john-constantine.html |title=The Secret History and Uncertain Future of Comics Character John Constantine |last=Riesman |first=Abraham |publisher=Vulture |date=October 23, 2014 |access-date=February 2, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024002355/http://www.vulture.com/2014/10/secret-history-of-john-constantine.html |archive-date=October 24, 2014 }}</ref> such as his negative views of [[Margaret Thatcher|Thatcher's regime]] and by 2005 includes the [[War on Terror]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cultofghoul.blogspot.com.au/2009/10/jamie-delano-interview-1.html |title=Jamie Delano interview |author=Draško Roganović |publisher=Cult of Ghoul |access-date=February 2, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221231015/http://cultofghoul.blogspot.com.au/2009/10/jamie-delano-interview-1.html |archive-date=February 21, 2014 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Cooll">{{cite web |url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/12/08/the-real-difference-between-john-constantine-hellblazer-and-constanteen-look-it-moves-by-adi-tantimedh/ |title=The Real Difference Between John Constantine, Hellblazer and 'Constanteen' |author=Rich Johnston |publisher=[[Bleeding Cool]] |date=December 8, 2014 |access-date=September 22, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923193114/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/12/08/the-real-difference-between-john-constantine-hellblazer-and-constanteen-look-it-moves-by-adi-tantimedh/ |archive-date=September 23, 2015 }}</ref>

When [[Garth Ennis]] took over writing, he included his trademark representation of [[racism]] and [[religious fanaticism]], as well his depictions of the [[Falklands War]]. The most controversial writer, [[Brian Azzarello]], tackled issues such as [[neo-Nazism]], [[prison rape]] and [[homosexuality]]. During [[Warren Ellis]]' run, he included American [[school shootings]] in a one-shot issue which led to a major controversy. In his run, [[Peter Milligan]] managed to put [[punk ideology]] in the series, with the protagonist trying to reacquire his former punk self, while also characterizing the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative government]] as a demon infestation with the [[punk subculture]] fighting against this supposed subversion and abuse.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/04/28/committed-why-you-wish-you-read-hellblazer/ |title=Committed: Why You Wish You Read Hellblazer |author=Sonia Harris |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=April 28, 2010 |access-date=December 3, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022141824/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/04/28/committed-why-you-wish-you-read-hellblazer/ |archive-date=October 22, 2012 }}</ref> As such, much of Hellblazer's horror often comes in the crisis and controversies of its time.<ref name="Vulture"/><ref name="Social"/> Being set in the UK, many famous British personalities have appeared or made cameos such as [[Sid Vicious]], [[Margaret Thatcher]], [[Aleister Crowley]] and [[Alan Moore]].

As stated by Warren Ellis, Hellblazer's major themes were [[Cynicism (contemporary)|cynicism]], [[nihilism]] and "[[Aestheticization of violence|sudden violence]]", with the protagonist often narrating the story in dark proses with occasional [[Breaking the fourth wall|breaking of the fourth wall]].<ref name="Vulture"/><ref name="Ellis"/> 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.<ref name="vert-ency"/><ref name="Pop"/>