John Constantine | |
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Artwork for the cover of Constantine vol. 1, 1 (March, 2013 DC Comics). Art by Juan Jose Ryp.
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Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics/Vertigo |
First appearance | The Saga of the Swamp Thing #37 (June 1985) |
Created by |
Alan Moore Steve Bissette John Totleben |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | John Constantine |
Team affiliations |
The Trenchcoat Brigade Justice League Dark |
Partnerships |
Chas Chandler Swamp Thing Zatanna |
Notable aliases | Hellblazer |
Abilities | Expert user/knowledge of various forms of magic |
John Constantine (/ˈkɒnstəntaɪn/) (also known as Hellblazer) is a fictional antihero, appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and DC Comics's imprints Vertigo. The character first appeared in The Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 37 (June 1985), and was created by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette and John Totleben. He serves as the lead character of the comic books Hellblazer (1988–2013), Constantine (2013–15), Constantine: The Hellblazer (2015–16), and The Hellblazer (2016–).
The titular Hellblazer, Constantine is a working class occult detective and con man stationed in London. He is known for his endless cynicism, deadpan snarking, ruthless cunning and constant chain smoking, but is also a passionate humanist driven by a heartfelt desire to do some good in his life. Originally a supporting character who played a pivotal role in the "American Gothic" Swamp Thing storyline, Constantine received his own comic in 1988. Pop artist Sting served as visual inspiration for the character.