Editing Hellblazer (section)

== In the comics ==
===Setting and protagonist===
{{see also|John Constantine|List of Hellblazer characters}}

''Hellblazer'' was set in a contemporary world, albeit a world of [[magic (paranormal)|magic]] and [[supernatural]] conflict behind the scenes.<ref name="God#1"/> Although the official setting of the series was the [[DC Universe]], well-known DC characters were rarely seen or mentioned.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Shedeen|first1=Jesse|title=Between the Panels: DC Needs to Take Vertigo Back to its Roots|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/04/22/between-the-panels-dc-needs-to-take-vertigo-back-to-its-roots|website=[[IGN]]|date=22 April 2016 |access-date=30 November 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202051949/http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/04/22/between-the-panels-dc-needs-to-take-vertigo-back-to-its-roots|archive-date=2 December 2017}}</ref> However, some DC Comics characters{{snd}}most notably the fringe supernatural characters such as [[Zatanna]], the [[Phantom Stranger]], [[Shade, the Changing Man]], [[Dream (comics)|Dream of the Endless]], and the [[Swamp Thing]]{{snd}}made appearances.

John Constantine, the main character of ''Hellblazer'', was portrayed as a kind of [[Confidence trick|confidence man]] and [[occult detective]] who did morally questionable things, arguably for the greater good.<ref name="Pop"/> 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 often [[Psychological manipulation|manipulative]] 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 of [[ghost]]s.<ref name="vert-ency"/>

Constantine made appearances in other comic-book titles, such as ''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]'', ''[[Infinite Crisis]]'', ''[[Green Arrow]]'', ''[[Green Lantern]]'', ''[[The Sandman (Vertigo)|The Sandman]]'', ''[[Lucifer (DC Comics)|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. Some attempts to use the character in other superhero or family-friendly comics were altered due to editorial mandate, such as "Gregori Eilovotich Rasputin" in ''[[Firestorm (comics)|Firestorm]]'' and ''[[Captain Atom]]'' (who refers to Constantine as "an impertinent bumbler in England"). Grant Morrison created "Willoughby Kipling" for ''[[Doom Patrol]]'' after being refused Constantine by DC, changing his appearance to that of [[Richard E. Grant]] in ''[[Withnail and I]]'', following which [[Phil Foglio]] was forced to create "Ambroise Bierce" in ''[[Stanley and His Monster]]'', having been refused both Constantine ''and'' Willoughby Kipling.<ref name=legends />

John Constantine was reintroduced into the DC Universe in 2011, initially in the ''[[Brightest Day]]'' [[crossover event]] title ''Search for the Swamp Thing'', and in the ongoing [[The New 52]] title ''[[Justice League Dark]]''.<ref name=JLD>{{cite news|title=Justice League Dark interview with Peter Milligan|url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dcnu-peter-milligan-justice-league-dark-110609.html|work=[[Newsarama]]|date=9 June 2011|author=Vaneta Rogers|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921114112/http://www.newsarama.com/7775-milligan-dcnu-justice-league-spin-off-emotionally-dark.html|archive-date=21 September 2013}}</ref>

===1988–1991===
====Jamie Delano (#1–24, #28–40, #84, #250)====
[[File:Hellblazercover.jpg|thumb|left|Jamie Delano would often put his own political views in the comic, as seen here in the cover of ''Hellblazer'' #3 by Dave McKean. The artwork depicts John Constantine passing by a vandalized image of [[Margaret Thatcher]] and a sign that says, "Voting [[Conservative Party (UK)|Tory]] can damage your health", both of which are the cause of London burning in the background.<ref name="God#1"/><ref name="Vulture"/>]]

Having previously worked on ''[[D.R. & Quinch]]'' for ''[[2000 AD (comics)|2000 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 editor [[Karen 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 with [[Freemasons]] from the [[Houses of Parliament]]. He also had [[environmentalism|environmentalist]] 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.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hellblazer #40|page=38|publisher=[[DC Comics]]}}</ref>

Five main storylines were in the run. The first, collected as "Original Sins",<ref>{{cite book|title=Original Sins|publisher=Vertigo|date=October 1998|isbn=1-56389-052-6}}</ref> deals with John travelling to America to exorcise a demon, [[Mnemoth]], and investigate a strange cult known as Damnation's Army, crossing paths with a demon called [[List of Characters in Hellblazer#Nergal|Nergal]] (from whom he gains demon blood), and having to be responsible for killing an old friend, [[List of Characters in Hellblazer#The Ghosts|Gary Lester]], and betraying another friend, called [[List of Characters in Hellblazer#Mary 'Zed' Martin|Zed]], in the process. The following four issues, "The Devil You Know"<ref name="Rare Cuts">{{cite book|title=Rare Cuts|publisher=Vertigo|date=May 2007|isbn= 978-1-4012-1269-8}}</ref> finally explain John's failure to save a young girl, [[List of Characters in Hellblazer#The Ghosts|Astra]], from a demon in [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]], 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 with ''Swamp 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",<ref>{{cite book|title=The Fear Machine|publisher=Vertigo|date=June 2008|isbn=978-1-4012-1810-2}}</ref> 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, including [[List of characters in Hellblazer#Other Supporting Characters|Mercury]], a young psychic girl, and [[List of characters in Hellblazer#Other Supporting Characters|Marj]], her mother, with whom he becomes romantically involved. The penultimate major run of Delano's tenure was "[[List of characters in Hellblazer#The Family Man|The Family Man]]",<ref>{{cite book|title=The Family Man|publisher=Titan Books|date=November 2008|isbn= 978-1-84576-978-9}}</ref> which differed from the main body of the series thus far in that Constantine's nemesis is not supernatural (beyond an opening [[metafiction]]al encounter with a fictional [[Fence (criminal)|fence]]), 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, [[List of Characters in Hellblazer#The Ghosts|Thomas]], frames this story. During this run on the title, Grant Morrison (issues #25 & 26) and [[Neil 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 "[[List of Characters in Hellblazer#The Golden Child|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.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hellblazer #40|publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> 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 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV6Sl_u1s3M "Venus of the Hardsell"].

Jamie Delano returned to the title on several occasions. Between the Garth Ennis and Paul Jenkins runs on ''Hellblazer'', 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 miniseries ''[[The Horrorist (comics)|The Horrorist]]'' in 1995, and ''[[Hellblazer Special: Bad Blood|Bad Blood]]'' in 2000, both featuring John Constantine. A more substantial return was made in 2010 for a hardcover graphic novel ''[[Hellblazer: Pandemonium]]'' with artist Jock to commemorate the 25th anniversary of John Constantine's first appearance in ''Swamp Thing''.<ref name=cbr10971>{{cite web |first=Emmett |last=Furey |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=10971 |title=Back into Hell: Jamie Delano returns to John Constantine's world |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=July 27, 2007 |access-date=July 28, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508045734/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=10971 |archive-date=May 8, 2008 }}</ref>

===1991–1995===
====Garth Ennis (#41–50, #52–83, #129–133)====
[[File:FirstoftheFallen.jpg|thumb|right|The First of the Fallen, a principal antagonist in Garth Ennis' run on ''Hellblazer'', as drawn by William Simpson]]

Irish writer Garth Ennis then took over the title in 1991, again from ''2000 AD'', where he had been working on ''[[Judge Dredd]]''. He proceeded to write the second-longest run for any writer on the title.<ref name="vert-hell"/> 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 the [[First of the Fallen]], and some storylines, such as the relationship between an angel, Tali, and a [[succubus]] demon, Ellie, would go on to be used again as a major plot device in ''[[Preacher (comic)|Preacher]]'', one of his most popular works. He also references the music of [[The Pogues]] and the poetry of [[Brendan Behan]], both of these being relevant to Ennis' Irish heritage.

His run started with "[[Dangerous Habits]]" (41–46),<ref>{{cite book|title=Dangerous Habits|publisher=Vertigo|author=Garth Ennis|year=1994|isbn=1-56389-150-6}}</ref> which was the basis for the 2005 film ''[[Constantine (film)|Constantine]]'', and dealt with John Constantine contracting [[lung 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 with [[Heartland (comics)|Kit 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 the [[List of Characters in Hellblazer#The King of the Vampires|King of the Vampires]]. One minor story in this arc (issue #51) was written by guest writer [[John Smith (comics writer)|John Smith]].<ref name="Rare Cuts"/><ref>{{cite book|title=Bloodlines|author=Garth Ennis|year=2007|publisher=Vertigo|isbn=978-1-40121-514-9|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/johnconstantineh0000enni_s5x4}}</ref>

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 of [[Old Bushmills Distillery|Bushmills]] whiskey and [[marijuana]]. The story then takes him to his lowest point, through his dealings with the [[National Front (United Kingdom)|National Front]], their threats towards Kit, and her leaving him to return to Ireland.<ref>{{cite book|title=Fear and Loathing|author=Garth Ennis|year=1997| isbn=1-56389-202-2|publisher=Vertigo}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book|title=Tainted Love|author=Garth Ennis|date=1992 |isbn=1-56389-456-4|publisher=Vertigo}}</ref> 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 adversary [[List of Characters in Hellblazer#Papa Midnite|Papa Midnite]], a [[Haitian Vodou|Vodun shaman]]. He is accompanied by the spirit of [[John F. Kennedy|JFK]], who has to hold his brain in place from his [[Assassination of John F. Kennedy|infamous wound]]. He eventually learns how to escape, shortly before running into the First of the Fallen, in the guise of [[Abraham 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.<ref>{{cite book|title=Damnation's Flame|author=Garth Ennis|year=1999|isbn=1-56389-508-0|publisher=Vertigo}}</ref> Ennis' run ends with "Rake at the Gates of Hell", a story which finally brings together the racism storyline, with riots in [[Mile End]], echoing the real-life [[Brixton Riots (disambiguation)|Brixton]] and [[Broadwater Farm riot|Broadwater Farm]] riots in London, 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 eventual Pyrrhic victory leaves this run with closure, and a relatively clean slate for a new writer to take over.<ref>{{cite book|title=Rake at the Gates of Hell|author=Garth Ennis|year=2003|isbn=1-4012-0002-8|publisher=Vertigo}}</ref>

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 an [[East End of London#Crime|East London gangster]], using the spirit of a demon.<ref>{{cite book|title=Son of Man|author=Garth Ennis|year=2004|isbn=1-4012-0202-0|publisher=Vertigo|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/johnconstantineh0000enni}}</ref> He also had two specials published during his run on the title, the ''Hellblazer Special'' and ''Heartland'', which follows Kit Ryan's return to Ireland.

===1995-1999===
====Paul Jenkins (#89–128)====
Following issue #84 by Jamie Delano and a brief interlude by ''[[From Hell]]'' artist [[Eddie Campbell]] (issues #85-88), the series' direction was taken over by [[Paul Jenkins (writer)|Paul Jenkins]] in 1995. He had been the former editor of ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Mirage Studios)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' and other [[Mirage Studios]] lines.<ref name="CBR Marvel PR">{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=6258|title=Paul Jenkins Signs Exclusive to Marvel|access-date=28 February 2008|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|year=2005|author=Jonah Weiland|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026235244/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article|archive-date=26 October 2008}}</ref> He had pitched to several comic houses, having tired of editing, and eventually managed to gain stewardship of ''Hellblazer'', the first largely untested writer to achieve this.<ref name="CBDB Bio">{{Cite web|url=http://comicbookdb.com/creator.php?ID=157|title=Comic Book DB – Paul Jenkins|access-date=28 February 2008|publisher=ComicBookDB.com|year=2005|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015071233/http://comicbookdb.com/creator.php?ID=157|archive-date=15 October 2012}}</ref> Jenkins' run is more traditionally English in its themes, with [[Albion]], [[King Arthur|Arthurian legend]], and old English battles all featuring, and even an appearance by [[Samuel Taylor Coleridge]], and a speculative explanation of the writing of [[Kubla Khan]], and what the interruption of the '[[person on business from Porlock|man from Porlock]]' may have been. He also returns to Jamie Delano's coverage of [[Anarchism|anarchist]] lifestyles, and the effects of the [[Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994|Criminal Justice Act of 1994]], a controversial law which restricted the ability of the public to throw [[rave]]s and large demonstrations.<ref>Gilbert J. (1999)''Discographies: Dance Music, Culture, and the Politics of Sound'', Page 150, Routledge {{ISBN|0-415-17032-X}}</ref><ref>Meaden, B. (2006) ''TRANCENational ALIENation'' Page 19, Lulu, {{ISBN|1-4116-8543-1}}</ref>

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, [[List of characters in Hellblazer#The Demon Constantine|Demon Constantine]], with the assistance of [[Aleister Crowley]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Hellblazer issues #93–97|publisher=Vertigo|author=Paul Jenkins}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hellblazer issue #100|publisher=Vertigo|author=Paul Jenkins}}</ref> "Last Man Standing" reveals that his friend Rich is the current descendant of King Arthur, and [[Merlin]]'s attempt to discover God's secret, an act which would destroy England, using John's few remaining friends as bait.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hellblazer issues #110–114|publisher=Vertigo|author=Paul Jenkins}}</ref>

The 10th-anniversary issue breaks from the usual format, in breaking the [[Fourth Wall|fourth 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 with [[Death (DC Comics)|Death of the Endless]] from ''Sandman''. Also, appearances are made by writers and artists, including series creator Alan Moore, Garth Ennis, and Jenkins himself.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hellblazer issue 120|publisher=Vertigo|author=Paul Jenkins}}</ref> 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 literal ''[[deus ex machina]]'', in a campfire conversation with [[Presence (DC Comics)|God]].<ref name="God#1">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/10/20/comics-history-101-constantine|title=''Comics History 101: Constantine''|website=[[IGN]]|author=Scott Collura|date=20 October 2014 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219144939/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/10/20/comics-history-101-constantine|archive-date=2014-12-19}} October 20, 2014</ref><ref>[http://www.insanerantings.com/hell/comics/ongoing/hb128.html Straight to Hell: A Hellblazer Site: Sifting Through The Ashes (HTPWF: Part Four)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304235952/http://www.insanerantings.com/hell/comics/ongoing/hb128.html |date=March 4, 2016 }}</ref> However, at that time Rich and his family finally sever their friendship with John, and the latter ends the run alone.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hellblazer issues 121–128|publisher=Vertigo|author=Paul Jenkins}}</ref>

===1999–2000===
==== Warren Ellis (#134–143) ====
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Smart-Ass John.jpg|thumb|right|John Constantine as drawn by Marcelo Frusin in Warren Ellis, Brian Azzarello and Mike Carey's run.]] -->

[[Warren Ellis]] took over the title in 1999, after his work on ''[[Transmetropolitan]]'' which had moved to the Vertigo imprint, following the closure of [[Helix Comics]].<ref name="vert-hell">{{Cite book | last = Irvine | first = Alex | author-link = Alexander C. Irvine | contribution = John Constantine Hellblazer | editor-last = Dougall | editor-first = Alastair | title = The Vertigo Encyclopedia | pages = 102–111 | publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]] | place = New York | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-0-7566-4122-1 | oclc = 213309015}}</ref> 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 (Hellblazer)|Shoot]]", about high school shootings, following the [[Columbine High School massacre]], despite the fact it had been written and submitted prior to the event.<ref>Holmes, Thomas Alan (2005) "Warren Ellis’ 'Shoot' and Media Passivity." ''[[International Journal of Comic Art]]''. '''7''' (2). 370–374</ref> The story was finally published in 2010.<ref>{{cite book|title=VERTIGO RESURRECTED – Shoot #1 100-Page Spectacular|author=Warren Ellis|publisher=Vertigo}}</ref>

His brief run began with "Haunted", a London-based story in which John investigates the brutal murder of a former girlfriend, Isabel by an [[Aleister 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 on [[London Underground|tube]] renovations in his part as custodian of London.<ref>{{cite book|title=Haunted|publisher=Vertigo|author=Warren Ellis|year=2003|isbn=1-56389-813-6}}</ref> The remainder of Ellis' brief tenure was taken up with single issue stories, collected as "Setting Sun".<ref>{{cite book|title=Setting Sun|publisher=Vertigo|author=Warren Ellis|year=2004|isbn=1-4012-0245-4 }}</ref>

===2000-2002===
====Brian Azzarello (#146–174)====
Following a brief interlude by Croatian writer [[Darko Macan]], the series was then taken over by [[Brian 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,<ref>{{cite book|title=Hard Time|publisher=Vertigo|author=Brian Azzarello|year=2001|isbn=1-56389-696-6}}</ref> then variously uncovering a pornography ring,<ref>{{cite book|title=Good Intentions|publisher=Vertigo|author=Brian Azzarello|year=2002|isbn=1-56389-856-X}}</ref> catching a serial killer,<ref>{{cite book|title=Freezes Over|publisher=Vertigo|author=Brian Azzarello|year=2003|isbn=1-56389-971-X}}</ref> taking on a [[Neo Nazi]] group before finally dealing with the architect of his incarceration, Stanley W. Manor,<ref>{{cite book|title=Highwater|publisher=Vertigo|author=Brian Azzarello|year=2004|isbn=1-4012-0223-3}}</ref> a thinly-veiled pastiche of [[Batman]]. 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.

===2002–2006===
====Mike Carey (#175–215, #229)====
Following Azzarello's run, writer [[Mike Carey (writer)|Mike Carey]] took over the title, following his [[Eisner Award|Eisner award]]-winning title ''[[Lucifer (DC comics)|Lucifer]]'', set in the ''[[The Sandman (Vertigo)|Sandman]]'' universe.<ref name="vert-luci">{{Citation | last = Irvine | first = Alex | author-link = Alexander C. Irvine | contribution = Lucifer | editor-last = Dougall | editor-first = Alastair | title = The Vertigo Encyclopedia | pages = 118–124 | publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]] | place = New York | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-0-7566-4122-1 | oclc = 213309015}}</ref> 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 first [[Liverpudlian]] 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,<ref name="vert-hell"/> 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.<ref>{{cite book|title=Red Sepulchre|publisher=Vertigo|author=Mike Carey|year=2005|isbn=1-4012-0485-6}}</ref> 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", involving [[Swamp Thing]] and the [[Garden of Eden]] amongst others.<ref>{{cite book|title=Black Flowers|publisher=Vertigo|author=Mike Carey|year=2005|isbn=1-4012-0499-6}}</ref>

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 up [[Swamp Thing#Volume 4|the 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.<ref>{{cite book|title=Staring at the Wall|publisher=Vertigo|author=Mike Carey|year=2006|isbn=1-4012-0929-7|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/johnconstantineh0000care_u0t6}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite book|title=Stations of the Cross|publisher=Vertigo|author=Mike Carey|year=2006|isbn=1-4012-1002-3}}</ref> with three different artists, [[Steve Dillon]], [[Marcelo Frusin]] and [[Leonardo 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.<ref>{{cite book|title=Reasons to be Cheerful|url=https://archive.org/details/johnconstantineh0000care_d7f1|url-access=registration|publisher=Vertigo|author=Mike Carey|year=2007|isbn=978-1-4012-1251-3}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Gift|publisher=Vertigo|author=Mike Carey|year=2007|isbn=978-1-4012-1453-1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/johnconstantineh00mike}}</ref>

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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fantasyliterature.com/reviews/hellblazer-all-his-engines/|title=''Hellblazer: All His Engines'' review|publisher=Fantasy Literature|author=Hawley, Brad|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706055822/http://www.fantasyliterature.com/reviews/hellblazer-all-his-engines/|archive-date=2014-07-06}} May 17, 2013</ref> ''Hellblazer'' graphic novel ''[[All His Engines]]'' about a strange illness sweeping the globe.<ref>{{cite book|title=All His Engines|publisher=Vertigo|author=Mike Carey|year=2006|isbn=1-4012-0317-5|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/johnconstantineh0000care}}</ref>

===2006–2007===
==== Denise Mina (#216–228) ====
[[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 the [[Crime Writers' Association|CWA]] [[CWA New Blood Dagger|award 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.<ref>{{cite book|title=Empathy is the Enemy|url=https://archive.org/details/johnconstantineh0000mina|url-access=registration|publisher=Vertigo|author=Denise Mina|year=2006|isbn=1-4012-1066-X}}</ref> 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 a [[2006 FIFA World Cup|World 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, so [[England and Scotland football rivalry|England's loss is celebrated]], saving the day, and proving there's no source of joy like [[Schadenfreude]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Red Right Hand|publisher=Vertigo|author=Denise Mina|year=2007|isbn=978-1-4012-1342-8}}</ref>

===2007–2009===
==== Andy Diggle (#230–244, #247–249)====
[[Andy Diggle]], having previously written the ''Hellblazer'' special, ''[[Lady Constantine]]'', and Vertigo titles ''[[The Losers (comics)|The Losers]]'' and ''[[Swamp Thing]]'', took over the title in 2007,<ref name="Ref_c">[http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=88058 Andy Diggle Joins ''Hellblazer'' With #230], [[Newsarama]] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929134934/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=88058 |date=September 29, 2007 }}</ref> another former writer for ''2000 AD'' to have done this. He left the title in 2009 after accepting an exclusive contract with [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]].<ref name="Phegley2009">{{cite web|first=Kiel |last=Phegley |url=http://www.marvel.com/news/moviestories.7311/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103232918/http://www.marvel.com/news/moviestories.7311/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 3, 2013 |title=EXCLUSIVE: Diggle on Daredevil |publisher=[[Marvel.com]] |date=March 26, 2009 |access-date=March 27, 2009 }}</ref>

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,<ref>{{cite book|title=Joyride|publisher=Vertigo|author=Andy Diggle|year=2008|isbn=978-1-4012-1651-1}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Laughing Magician|publisher=Vertigo|author=Andy Diggle|year=2008|isbn=978-1-4012-1853-9}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book|title=Roots of Coincidence|publisher=Vertigo|author=Andy Diggle|year=2009|isbn=978-1-4012-2251-2}}</ref>

===2009–2013===
==== Peter Milligan (#250–300)====
[[Peter Milligan]], a veteran of the Vertigo line, having written both ''[[Shade, the Changing Man (Vertigo)|Shade, The Changing Man]]'' and ''[[Animal Man (comic book)|Animal Man]]'' at the publisher's inception (and another former ''2000&nbsp;AD'' writer), then took over,<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=19012 Peter Milligan Talks “Hellblazer”] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055904/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=19012 |date=September 21, 2013 }}, [[Comic Book Resources]], December 3, 2008</ref> 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, a [[Babylonia]]n demon. Over the course of the run, John dealt with a demon taking revenge on people involved in the [[Liverpool dockers' strike (1995–98)|Liverpool dockers' strike]]<ref>{{cite book|title=Scab|publisher=Vertigo|author=Peter Milligan|date=2010 |isbn=978-1-4012-2501-8}},</ref> gone insane and sought help from [[Shade, The Changing Man]], after chopping off his own thumb, seen Phoebe die at the hands of Julian,<ref>{{cite book|title=Hooked|publisher=Vertigo|author=Peter Milligan|year=2010|isbn=978-1-4012-2728-9}},</ref> and traveled to India to try to find a way of saving her.<ref>{{cite book|title=India|publisher=Vertigo|author=Peter Milligan|year=2010|isbn=978-1-4012-2848-4}},</ref> 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 on [[eBay]]) 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 in order 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.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hellblazer 276–285|publisher=Vertigo|author=Peter Milligan}}</ref> 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 (comics)|Constantine]]'', started at the main imprint of DC comics.<ref name=Cancelled/> By 2013, Constantine was contacted by the [[Three 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 we'd previously seen him, standing in a bar appropriately 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.<ref>{{cite book|title=Death and Cigarettes|publisher=Vertigo|author=Peter Milligan|year=2013|isbn=978-1401240936}}</ref>

===Other writers===
Guest writers were [[Grant Morrison]] (#25–26), [[Neil Gaiman]] (#27), [[John Smith (comics writer)|John Smith]] (#51), [[Eddie Campbell]] (#85–88), [[Darko Macan]] (#144–145), and [[Jason Aaron]] (#245–246).<ref>[http://www.qusoor.com/hellblazer/jcindex.htm ''The Ultimate Hellblazer Index'' at qusoor.com]</ref>

===''Justice League Dark, Constantine'' and ''DC Rebirth''===
In 2011, it was announced that a younger John Constantine would feature in ''[[Justice League Dark]]'', one of the new titles launched as part of September 2011's [[DC Universe]] reboot. He was to be part of a team including [[Shade, The Changing Man]], [[Deadman (DC Comics)|Deadman]] and [[Madame Xanadu]], known as [[Justice League Dark]].<ref name=DCU>{{cite news|title=Justice League Dark interview with Peter Milligan|url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dcnu-peter-milligan-justice-league-dark-110609.html|date=31 May 2011|work=[[Newsarama]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921114112/http://www.newsarama.com/7775-milligan-dcnu-justice-league-spin-off-emotionally-dark.html|archive-date=21 September 2013}}</ref> As part of the [[The New 52|DC 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.<ref name=JLD /> Milligan wrote eight issues of ''Justice League Dark'', with writer [[Jeff Lemire]] taking over on issue nine.

On November 8, 2012, DC announced that ''Hellblazer'' would be cancelled following its 300th issue, and would be replaced by ''[[Constantine (comic book)|Constantine]]'' written by [[Jeff Lemire]] and Ray Fawkes for issues #1-3 and Ray Fawkes alone for issues #4-23, and drawn by Renato Guedes<ref name=canned>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=42083|title=DC Cancels "Hellblazer," Announces New 52-Based "Constantine" Ongoing – Comic Book Resources|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=8 November 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215223/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=42083|archive-date=2016-03-03}}</ref> starring the younger New 52 John Constantine, rather than the version from Hellblazer, depicted as being in his late 50s.<ref name="DCU"/> The ''Constantine'' series ended its run with its 23rd issue in May 2015. Nonetheless, the character would again star in another solo series entitled ''Constantine: The Hellblazer'', co-written by [[Ming Doyle]] and [[James Tynion IV]] with art by Riley Rossmo, released on June 10, 2015.<ref name="The Hellblazer">{{cite web|title=DOYLE & TYNION AIM TO RESTORE "CONSTANTINE: THE HELLBLAZER" AS A "YOUNG, SEXY, DANGEROUS, BAD DUDE"|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/doyle-tynion-aim-to-restore-constantine-the-hellblazer-as-a-young-sexy-dangerous-bad-dude|date=March 10, 2015|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|author=Albert Ching|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508182831/http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/doyle-tynion-aim-to-restore-constantine-the-hellblazer-as-a-young-sexy-dangerous-bad-dude|archive-date=May 8, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Constantine To Relaunch With Ming Doyle And Riley Rossmo As Constantine: The Hellblazer|url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/02/06/constantine-relaunch-ming-doyle-riley-rossmo-constantine-hellblazer/|date=February 6, 2015|publisher=[[Bleeding Cool]]|author=Johnston, Rich|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429034521/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/02/06/constantine-relaunch-ming-doyle-riley-rossmo-constantine-hellblazer/|archive-date=April 29, 2015}}</ref> Writer Ming Doyle expressed excitement in her chance to write Constantine, stating that the reason of putting the term ''Hellblazer'' back to the character's title was to "take Constantine back to what he was at the start."<ref name="The Hellblazer"/> On July 20, 2016, a new comic book entitled ''The Hellblazer: Rebirth'' was released as part of ''[[DC 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. Former ''Hellblazer'' characters such as [[Chas Chandler (comics)|Chas Chandler]] and Mercury made appearances in the series, and the comic was written by [[Simon Oliver]] who previously wrote the spin-off series ''[[Hellblazer Presents: Chas - The Knowledge]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Constantine To Relaunch With Ming Doyle And Riley Rossmo As Constantine: The Hellblazer|url=http://www.cbr.com/the-hellblazer-rebirth-harkens-back-to-john-constantines-jamie-delano-era/|date=July 22, 2016|publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]|author=McElhatton, Greg|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907115343/http://www.cbr.com/the-hellblazer-rebirth-harkens-back-to-john-constantines-jamie-delano-era/|archive-date=September 7, 2016}}</ref>

=== Relaunch (2019) ===
[[File:John Constantine, Hellblazer No. 1.jpg|thumb|Textless cover of the first issue. Art by [[John Paul Leon]]]]
In July 2019, DC announced that ''Hellblazer'' would be relaunched as part of ''[[The Sandman Universe]]'' line of comics. The relaunched series, written by [[Simon Spurrier]] and illustrated by Aaron Campbell, begins after the events of the 1990 miniseries ''[[The Books of Magic]]''. ''Hellblazer'' began with a one-shot on [[Halloween]] 2019, before becoming a regular series in November.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Polo |first1=Susana |title=John Constantine returns to the Sandman Universe this fall |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/7/9/20676996/sandman-john-constantine-hellblazer-dc-comics |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |access-date=July 9, 2019 |date=July 9, 2019}}</ref> Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the series ended after 12 issues.<ref>[https://www.cbr.com/john-constantine-hellblazer-sandman-universe-ends-issue-12-november/ "John Constantine: Hellblazer - Sandman Universe Series Ends With Issue #12"]</ref> However, during [[New York Comic Con|New York Comic Con 2023]], it was revealed that the series would be getting a revival miniseries called ''John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America,'' with Spurrier and Campbell returning and publication beginning in January 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brooke |first=David |date=2023-10-14 |title=NYCC 2023: John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America coming January 2024 • AIPT |url=https://aiptcomics.com/2023/10/14/nycc-2023-john-constantine-hellblazer-dead-in-america/ |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=aiptcomics.com |language=en-us}}</ref> The series came to an end in December 2024.