Editing Hellblazer (section)

===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>