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Hellblazer John Constantine Reading Order, from the Swamp Thing to the Justice League Dark

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Created by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, and John Totleben in 1984 in The Saga of Swamp Thing series, John Constantine is an arrogant foul-mouthed working-class occult detective and con man from London. Originally a supporting character, he continued to appear in the series before getting his own ongoing in 1988, Hellblazer.

As Alan Moore was too busy (or didn’t want to) do it, DC Comics recruited another British writer, Jamie Delano, to develop the Hellblazer comics in which John Constantine was faced with much horror, demons, and others in Great Britain. This quickly cemented him as the antihero of the DC universe. Not loved by many, he still found people to join him during his fight against vile creatures, and they are often the ones who have to pay the harsher price.

Known for his cynicism, his deadpan snarking, his ruthless cunning, and his constant chain-smoking, John Constantine wants to help save lives, but his technique can be deadly if it’s for the greater good. Being his friend can be as dangerous as being his enemy.

The long-running Hellblazer comic book series was part of the Vertigo line and lasted 300 issues. After that, John Constantine was made a little more respectable as he joined the other magic heroes of the DC main universe. He joined teams and helped save the world, the universe, and reality.

John Constantine Hellblazer Reading Order

Where to Start Reading the John Constantine Comics?

If you are a completist, you may want to start reading the adventures of John Constantine in The Saga of Swamp Thing by Alan Moore. In those books, he only plays a supporting role, but he is well-defined from the start.

That said, you don’t need to read anything to pick up the Hellblazer, John Constantine comics from issue One. Jaimie Delano did more than anybody else to define the world of Constantine, introducing some of his traumas, a few recurring characters, and the type of stories he would find himself drawn to for the years to come.

After Delano, Garth Ennis came around and put his own spin on the character, one that may be more accessible to new readers. The Hellblazer comic book lasted a long time, but you really can start at the beginning of a new writer’s run (I started with Mike Carey’s run before going back).

If you want a popular modern take on the character, the John Constantine series launched as part of the Black Label/Sandman Universe is also a good entry point for new readers.

Finally, if you are into the main DC Universe continuity, you better start with the Justice League Dark from the New 52 era for a good introduction to this DCU version of John Constantine.

John Constantine Reading Order

Hellblazer John Constantine Omnibuses Reading Order

Before going into a more detailed for the John Constantine comics, here is a listing of the omnibuses available for collecting his occult adventures:

  • John Constantine, Hellblazer by Jamie Delano Omnibus Vol. 1
    Collects John Constantine: Hellblazer #1-22, John Constantine: Hellblazer Annual #1, Swamp Thing (Vol. 2) #65-77, and The Sandman #3.
  • John Constantine, Hellblazer by Jamie Delano Omnibus Vol. 2
    Collects Hellblazer #23-40, #84, #250; The Horrorist #1-2; Hellblazer Special: Bad Blood #1-4; Vertigo Secret Files: Hellblazer #1.
  • Hellblazer by Garth Ennis Omnibus
    Collects Hellblazer #41-50, #52-83, #129-131, Vertigo Jam #1, Hellblazer Special #1, Heartland #1, Vertigo: Winter’s Edge #2
  • Justice League Dark the New 52 Omnibus
    Collects Justice League Dark #0-40; Justice League Dark Annual #1-2; Justice League Dark: Futures End #1, Constantine #5, #9-12; I, Vampire #7-8; Justice League #22-23; Justice League of America #6-7; The New 52: Free Comic Book Day Special Edition #1; Trinity of Sin: Pandora #1-3, #6-9; and Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger #11, #14 17.
  • Justice League Dark: Rebirth Omnibus
    Collects Justice League Dark #1-29; Justice League Dark Annual #1; Justice League Dark 2021 Annual; Justice League Dark/Wonder Woman: The Witching Hour #1; Aquaman #66; Black Adam: Endless Winter Special #1; The Flash #767, #777-779; Justice League #58, #72-74; Justice League: Endless Winter #1-2; Superman: Endless Winter Special #1; Teen Titans: Endless Winter Special #1; Wonder Woman #56-57; Wonder Woman/Justice League Dark: The Witching Hour #1; and stories from Justice League #59-71, Future State: Justice League #1-2, and Secrets of Sinister House #1.

Saga of the Swamp Thing John Constantine Reading Orde

Reading The First John Constantine, Hellblazer Comics in Order

Before becoming the main protagonist of his ongoing comic series, John Constantine first appeared in The Saga of the Swamp Thing as a recurring guest star wreaking havoc in Alec Holland’s life. The whole Saga of the Swamp Thing comic book is a must-read for those who love horror comics, but Constantine first appeared in Swamp Thing #37.

  • Saga of the Swamp Thing: Book 3
    Collects Saga of the Swamp Thing #35-42. John Constantine appeared in issues #37-40. It’s the beginning of the main storyline developed in the next book.
  • Saga of the Swamp Thing: Book 4
    Collects Saga of the Swamp Thing #43-50. The storyline mostly ends here, but the epilogue is at the beginning of the next book.
  • Saga of the Swamp Thing: Book 5
    Collects Swamp Thing #51-56. Here, John Constantine only appeared in issues #51 and #55.

As John Constantine quickly became a popular character, he started his solo adventures in the new ongoing series, the John Constantine, Hellblazer comics written by Jamie Delano and drawn by John Ridgway. Launched in 1988, the title lasted for 300 issues. It ended in 2013. It started as a DC Comics book and joined the Vertigo imprint with issue #63.

The following reading order is based on the complete Hellblazer paperback comics collection. Some of those books are becoming hard to find though and DC Comics is now republishing some of the stories in a different format (omnibus). Still, reprints may come as the collection is popular, we never know.

John Constantine made an appearance in an early issue of The Sandman comics. You can find it in Sandman – Volume 1: Preludes and Nocturnes collected edition.

John Constantine Reading Order

John Constantine Reading Order

Jamie Delano stopped writing the John Constantine, Hellblazer comics after issue #40. Garth Ennis became the main writer of the book. Take a look at the listing at the beginning of the article for the omnibuses collecting all of Delano and Ennis’s stories.

Once Ennis stopped writing the Hellblazer comics, From Hell artist Eddie Campbell wrote a story-arc (#85-88), then Paul Jenkins (#89–128) took over and was followed by Warren Ellis (#134–143) and Brian Azzarello (#146–174).

Through the years, after John Ridgway left, a lot of now-renowned artists worked on the John Constantine comic book like Simon Bisley, Mark Buckingham, Richard Corben, Steve Dillon, Marcelo Frusin, Jock, David Lloyd, Leonardo Manco, and Sean Phillips. Most of the covers were done by Dave McKean and Tim Bradstreet, but also by Glenn Fabry, Kent Williams, David Lloyd, and Sean Phillips.

John Constantine went back into the Sandman Universe, first in the miniseries The Trenchcoat Brigade, a follow-up to The Books of Magic, then in another comics miniseries, Sandman Presents: Love Street.

John Constantine Reading Order

Hellblazer Special: Papa Midnite – This five-issue comics spin-off limited series collected in John Constantine, Hellblazer Vol. 23: No Future is set during the early part of the “Staring at the Wall” story arc collected in Hellblazer Vol. 17.

Saga of the Swamp Thing John Constantine Reading OrdeSwamp Thing – Volume 1: Bad Seed by Andy Diggle
Collects Swamp Thing v.4 #1–6. This relaunch of the Swamp Thing comic book takes place after the “Staring at the Wall” story arc collected in Hellblazer Vol. 17. John Constantine played a role in the first storyline (6 issues).

John Constantine Reading Order

  • Books of Magick: Life During Wartime by Si Spencer. Set in an alternative universe, during a war amongst beings of magic linked to Tim Hunter’s power, prophesied in the original Books of Magic, John Constantine is the leader of the remainder of the human race with Zatana.

John Constantine Reading Order

John Constantine joined the Justice League Dark (New 52)

At that point in time, DC Comics chose to take John Constantine out of the Vertigo imprint. He is now part of the main DC Comics universe. It’s a big departure for the series, in style, tone, and more. It’s kind of a soft Constantine, even if he is the same character. Well, not exactly the same, some elements of the story were retconned. It’s New 52 after all.

Before going back to his solo adventures, John Constantine joined the Justice League Dark (the guide to read the Justice League Dark comics in order)–This era of the JLD series is now collected in one big omnibus edition.

Saga of the Swamp Thing John Constantine Reading OrdeSwamp Thing Vol. 4: Seeder – Following the events of the Swamp Thing series taking place in Justice League Dark Vol. 3, John Constantine made a guest appearance in the Whiskey Tree storyline of the Swamp Thing comics.

John Constantine Reading Order

John Constantine: The Hellblazer (DC You)

For a short time before the DC Rebirth relaunch, there was the DC You era, and a short Constantine solo comics series written by Ming Doyle and James Tynion IV with art by Riley Rossmo was published.

John Constantine Reading Order

John Constantine: Rebirth Reading Order

The big DC Rebirth relaunch also touched The Hellblazer comics. Another John Constantine solo series and a new Justice League Dark series were published during that era. At this point, while still set in the classic DC Universe, the original backstory of the character was restored as well as many key aspects of the original Hellblazer series.

Simon Oliver wrote the first two storylines, and then Tim Seeley took over. They worked with multiple artists like Moritat, Pia Guerra, Philip Tan, Davidé Fabbri, Richard Kadrey, Jesús Merino…

Following the Dark Nights: Metal event and the Justice League: No Justice one-shot, there’s a new Justice League Dark comics written by James Tynion IV and Alvaro Martinez. This era of the JLD series is now collected in one big Omnibus.

John Constantine Reading Order

John Constantine joined the new Sandman Universe (Black Label)

Vertigo didn’t exist anymore at that point, the Black Label imprint was launched in its place. The John Constantine, Hellblazer comics is back as part of the new Sandman Universe (see the Guide to the Sandman Comics in Order).

As part of the Black Label, writer Tom Taylor and artist Darick Robertson worked on an out-of-continuity miniseries:

John Constantine Reading Order

John Constantine during the Infinite Frontier era and beyond

In the regular DC Universe, John Constantine continues his activities without his own series, but still with the Justice League Dark, Zatanna, and Wonder Woman. Most of his apparitions are not listed here as they are quite optional.

Si Spurrier who wrote the Sandman Universe Hellblazer comics is back with artist Aaron Campbell for a maxiseries following John and his allies on the run in America where Constantine is trying to save his own life. This is the follow-up to their previous story.

John Constantine Reading Order

Browse the latest John Constantine Hellblazer titles on Amazon.

Note: An earlier version of this article originally appeared on the site in 2020. With the release by DC Comics of Jamie Delano’s run on Omnibus, the reading order has been updated with new images and recent collected editions!

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