Hellblazer

Hellblazer, also now known as simply Constantine, is a DC Comics/Vertigo comic book series that focuses on the antihero John Constantine, an English magician, occult detective, and con man. The nature of Hellblazer's connection to the rest of the DCU changed over time and the title occasionally also crossed over with other titles like Swamp Thing, Books of Magic and The Sandman.
==Canon==
The character John Constantine first appeared in Swamp Thing (vol. 2) #37 (June 1985) and then received his first comic book series in 1988 which continuously ran until 2013.
 
John Constantine as the main character in Hellblazer is the epitome of the anti-hero: anti-social, angry, and willing to do whatever it takes to achieve a goal. He was originally created by Alan More as a “character that looks like Sting”(the musician)
. This “Sting like” character’s first appearance was a non speaking part in Swamp Thing, vol. 2, #25. He soon developed into the full-blown character with the launch of the Hellblazer series.
Constantine’s many abilities include magic, divination, summoning, exorcism, necromancy, illusion, arcane knowledge, hypnotist, escapologist, and con artist. John’s powers originated as a result of being healed by the blood of the demon Nagel. Seeing friends and his love interest, Zed, become victims of the supernatural started him on his crusade against dark forces.
===New 52/Constantine title===
In the New 52 reboot the character of Constantine was re-established as part of the Justice League Dark title and Hellblazer was replaced by a new title Constantine that would no longer be published with the Vertigo imprint but as part of the NEW 52 DC Comics Universe. This comic is not a continuation of Hellblazer, but a reboot using John's character, giving him a changed backstory and background cast and stronger ties to the superheroes of the DC Universe and is his solo title branching out of Justice League Dark.
===Adaptions===
Hellblazer was adapted into a live-action film in 2005, titled Constantine, stared Keanu Reeves as the titular character. The film loosely followed the comics. 
In 2014, it was announced that NBC had officially picked up Constantine TV series starring Matt Ryan as the titular characterBreaking News: Constantine's Getting a Series. Tim Beedle at Vertigo. Published May 8, 2014. (Accessed 12 May 2014) and would premiere sometime in Fall 2014 on Fridays after GrimmTV ALERT: Constantine Gets a Trailer. Tim Beedle at DC Comics. Published May 12, 2014. (Accessed 12 May 2014).
==Fandom==
The Hellblazer/Constantine series has many fans, but is not a big fandom when it comes to fanworks number. It's small enough to still be a Yuletide fandom in 2014. 
The fandom often produces crossovers that explore Hellblazer as part of the DCU or as part of the wider Vertigo range, but also with many other fandoms that deal with occultism, magic and the supernatural. 
==Notable Fanworks==
==Archives and Fannish Links==
* Hellblazer & crossovers works at FFN
* Hellblazer works at AO3
* Constantine (comics) works at AO3
* Straight To Hell
===LJ Communities===
* rakeatthegates
* hellblazerslash, a slash community
* chastinelove - Constantine/Chas pairing community
* constantineslash - slash community mostly movieverse but also Constantine fandom in general
===Insane Communities===
* hellblazer
===Mailing List===
* hellblazerlist
==Resources==
* Hellblazer Wikia
* Hellblazer at DC Comics Database
==References==
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