Hellblazer: 10 Best Comic Issues Ever

John Constantine, A.K.A. the Hellblazer, is popularly known as a member of Justice League Dark. However, he has had memorable standalone adventures in his own series. Hellblazer introduced an unconventional hero catering towards a more mature readership. Rather than donning a costume and saving the day, the titular character is an everyday man plagued with his inner demons.

Now, he is a mainstay at DC comics, but he debuted with DC’s Vertigo imprint, turning into one of its most popular properties over time. Even though several writers have penned storylines for Constantine, the most memorable runs remain to be by legends Garth Ennis and Neil Gaiman.

10 Original Sins (Hellblazer #1-9)

After serving as a side character in Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing comics, John Constantine finally received his own series debuting with Original Sins. The storyline builds upon his supernatural powers and his uncertain alliances. He finds himself in the middle of a war between the demonic Damnation Army and the militant Christian collective The Resurrection Crusade.

The comic is a great example to show the grey areas within the world of Hellblazer. Even though both angels and demons are depicted in the series, not all of them can fit within the binaries of good and evil. Constantine finds flaws in both sides of the war and gets involved only to save his niece who is abducted by one of the Army’s demons.

9 The Rakes At The Gate Of Hell (Hellblazer #76-83)

This was one of the many collaborations between writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon that redefined Constantine’s mythos. The Rakes at the Gate of Hell finds the lead encountering several demons including Satan himself. Also desperate to save the few of his remaining friends, Constantine unexpectedly encounters a former lover.

Like the other arcs within Hellblazer, Garth Ennis’ depiction of Satan makes for an interesting origin. Instead of just being seen as a one-dimensional antagonist, there are a few empathetic undertones to reveal why Satan exists in the first place. Even though Constantine gives his all to take down the ‘First of the Fallen’, the comic also reveals his exhaustion with the endless cycle of violence he’s trapped in.

8 Hold Me (Hellblazer #27)

In the Neil Gaiman one-shot project Hold Me, Constantine isn’t the only lonely soul; a subplot involves a ghost who craves human company. But his pursuit is futile, as, whenever he touches or embraces a human soul, he kills them instantly. Constantine, on the other hand, is asked by a lesbian couple to help conceive a child. As the ghost and Constantine’s paths cross, the latter just ‘holds’ the cold spirit hoping to share some warmth.

This is a pretty unconventional Hellblazer story as he hardly uses any of his powers. Instead, readers can find the usually-detached Constantine to be more loving and caring in this case. Just like the couple and the ghost, he too dwells in loneliness and hopes for better days.

7 In The Dark (Justice League Dark #1-6)

Marking the advent of Justice League Dark comic book characters in The New 52 continuity, In The Dark reintroduced some new and familiar faces to teen readers. Zatanna, Constantine, Deadman, and Shade The Changing Man united as a team as they face off a global threat by the Enchantress.

More than the action, the team dynamics make the six-issue storyline exciting. Contrasting with the Justice League, this team is a set of misfits who struggle to work together. But when they start realizing each other’s flaws, a sense of camaraderie starts building up. Fans would be delighted for the Hellblazer as he finally starts finding loyal friends who don’t give up on him.

6 Fear And Loathing (Hellblazer #62-67)

Fear and Loathing starts off with Constantine’s 40th birthday party. With a few friends and his longtime love interest Kit Ryan, Constantine feels that he can finally take a breather. But when a close associate dies with Gabriel’s arrival on Earth and Kit leaves him, the tragic hero yet again falls into a downward spiral.

The comic humanizes his character further and shows how despite all the supernatural forces, his biggest enemy can be his own self-destructive attitude. Back in his usual life, Constantine goes through bouts of alcoholism and trauma. It’s a disturbing dive into his psyche and would make the readers empathize with him even more.

5 Newcastle (Hellblazer #11)

Recounting Constantine’s early years, Newcastle is of paramount importance in the Hellblazer universe. This is chiefly because it traces the origin of his perpetual guilt. A cockier Constantine’s mistakes result in the loss of the first damned soul on his conscience. Even though Constantine is a powerful DC superhero, he’s still a flawed human.

The subsequent grief that he goes through is painful to read. Eventually, it shows how one incident can shape a person’s entire future. As the story plays out as a flashback, it is evident that Constantine will never get over the incident.

4 Dangerous Habits (Hellblazer #41-46)

Constantine has fought one adversity or the other and still survived through it all. And, ironically, it’s lung cancer that poses to be a cause of death for him. In Dangerous Habits, Constantine struggles to extend his life and end his unfinished business on Earth. What follows is a visit to Hell and cheating Death itself.

The comic brings out some of the best moments in Garth Ennis’s run and also served as an influence on the Constantine film adaptation. Apart from being overly dramatic, Dangerous Habits also benefits greatly from a dose of Constantine’s dark humor.

3 Hellblazer: All His Engines (One-Shot)

Intended to be an introduction for newly-converted fans after the Keanu Reeves Constantine movie, All His Engines is a one-shot special that deals with the hero visiting Los Angeles. His mission is to rescue the soul of his best friend’s granddaughter as she’s held captive by the demon Beroul.

The antagonist Beroul makes for an interesting character as he lives on Earth as a film executive, serving as an allegory on the exploitation of the film industry. A change in location from the gloomy British landscapes to a bustling American city might also come off as a good change for loyal readers.

2 Royal Blood (Hellblazer #52-55)

Royal Blood opens with a series of brutal murders in London prompting some to suggest the resurrection of Jack the Ripper. However, Constantine’s investigation leads him to a larger connection that points the killings towards a member of the English Monarchy.

The Royal Family has been a source of conspiracy theories for a long time, and adding a touch of demonic possession on the Queen’s family makes Royal Blood a wildly imaginative storyline. Be it on Earth or Hell, the so-called Hellblazer’s life is always filled with unexpected surprises.

1 Down All The Days/Rough Trade (Hellblazer #68-69)

The self-proclaimed ‘King of the Vampires’ was the first-ever vampire in the world of Hellblazer. As he returns to quench his thirst after centuries, he preys on the multitude of homeless people on the streets of London. Constantine steps up to protect innocent civilians while combating his ever-increasing alcoholism.

Authored yet again by Garth Ennis, this storyline also took an empathetic look at the issue of vagrancy and homelessness. The vampire’s victims are the ones who are forgotten by everyday society and forced to the point of marginalization. The villain only makes use of the system’s faults to meet his own needs.

About The Author

Shaurya Thapa
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Shaurya Thapa is an Indian freelance journalist who mostly dabbles in writings on cinema, music, and human interest features. When it comes to Screen Rant, he writes lists on a wide array of subjects ranging from international films to mainstream Netflix series and comic book trivia. He also hosts a podcast called ‘BhindiWire’, an Indian parody of IndieWire.

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