Editing Hellblazer (section)

===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.