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Hellblazer (Single Issues)
Hellblazer #9
Direct sales edition comic book published by DC Comics under their Vertigo imprint. An influential horror comic that stars John Constantine, a man at war with infernal powers. The basis for the movie Constantine. This issue features a cameo appearance by Swamp Thing.
- GenresComicsHorrorComic Book
26 pages, Comic
First published January 1, 1988
25 people want to read
About the author
Jamie Delano
458 books351 followersJamie Delano aka A. William James began writing comics professionally in the early 1980s. Latterly he has been writing prose fiction with "BOOK THIRTEEN" published by his own LEPUS BOOKS imprint (http://www.lepusbooks.co.uk) in 2012, "Leepus | DIZZY" in April 2014, and "Leepus | THE RIVER" in 2017.
Jamie lives in semi-rural Northamptonshire with his partner, Sue. They have three adult children and a considerable distraction of grandchildren.
Jamie lives in semi-rural Northamptonshire with his partner, Sue. They have three adult children and a considerable distraction of grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 27, 2024
Well we solved the entire cult arc with a fuck, an intercourse, a sexual encounter, yeah, sorry, just wanted to make it clear lol
Anyway, I thought Constantine would be cooler but he isn't, I am not sure who is more depressed, me or him!
Still though, Garth Ennis I think will take over this series, and it will be so much better, or so I hear, I am just not sure I'll be reading back to back until then, I'll probably take a break.
Anyway, enough for this "review" my mood isn't so good today, I'd rather not talk anymore.
Anyway, I thought Constantine would be cooler but he isn't, I am not sure who is more depressed, me or him!
Still though, Garth Ennis I think will take over this series, and it will be so much better, or so I hear, I am just not sure I'll be reading back to back until then, I'll probably take a break.
Anyway, enough for this "review" my mood isn't so good today, I'd rather not talk anymore.
August 11, 2014
It occurred to me that anyone who will read Hellblazer for the first time, most naturally by starting it chronologically, might find most of John Constantine's characterizations as reflected by his choices and actions to be rather distasteful and hard to swallow. Our titular 'hero' is not a shining example of the term itself and there are trying times that make us question any sympathy we may have been feeling for him while we read the first eight issues of the series. I'm personally just as torn even though I have known John first in his later adventures and loved him there instantly. Everything has been messy and distorted since the second issue started and although we like John every now and then, he also proves to be difficult to root for, especially whenever we see him not only fail the people he cares about but also himself. Story of the man's life right there.
The cowardice and self-pity that John continues to show us can be wildly disheartening even to a loyal fan, but I believe that this is an integral part of his personality and characterization for the earlier issues; it's his flaws, doubts, fears and often questionable actions that help us not only to know him better as character but also to perhaps identify our shortcomings with his own. I certainly had which is why Hellblazer feels personal to me every time I read it. Just like John, we all experience a sense of foreboding in our lives when we simply lack the faith and courage to overcome the misfortunes before us. There is a point we get to where we hit rock bottom and become very convinced that we will never survive it.
To demonstrate just how hopeless his situations are, this issue Shot to Hell takes us to Gotham City (a perfect place for much needed brooding and enlightenment) where John wanders around the filth-laden streets, drinks himself to near stupor as he fights with ghosts in a bar and was then thrown out of there, and is spooked by his own shadow (or conscience, if you like) taking unnatural physical forms as it chases him down. To make things truly cosmically yet depressingly comedic, it turns out that today is also John's birthday. Whoopee-doo.
What I love about this issue the most comes when John Constantine sits in a sofa in a dark, dank apartment while an ongoing demolition (complete with an illustration of a large wrecking ball swinging around since the very first time John appears in the pages, something I took has symbolic meaning) can be seen in the corner. In a very Dickensian fashion, John gets another ghostly visit, but this time it was his former, younger self (or at least a version of his person who is confident and at the top of his game). I enjoyed how seemingly disgusted his alter ego was with the way he had been behaving since he messed up things in Newcastle. I love the contrast between these two personas as well, especially when I know that this self-assured version of John Constantine is just beneath the surface of pain and suffering that his present self is wallowing in. It has come out to bitch-slap him and get him back in shape. It just goes to show that there remains an empowered John Constantine in their somewhere, who does accept the ills and inconveniences of his career choice with a devil-may-care attitude and a ready middle-finger to the powers-may-be.
Finally, after that self-intervention, John travels back to the Resurrection Crusaders' lair to see Zed. It wasn't a rescue mission, however. John seems to know for a fact that the woman is beyond saving. Strangely enough, they started professing love to each other (which did come off random because it's only been a few days since they became entangled, and yet it was still heartbreakingly sincere, considering the circumstances) and then they had one last shag for old times' sake (which we later found out was exactly what John intended all along. He still has Negral's demon blood coursing through him and an intercourse with Zed would taint her, apparently).
He leaves her after that, taking comfort in knowing that losing another woman like that will at least neutralize the war between demons and the religious fanatics for a while. John has learned to count small victories by now.
The last scene was humorous yet confusing. Swamp Thing appears by using John's box of smokes as a physical manifestation (which, of course, promptly pisses off John). Swamp Thing would have beaten him to bits but then John proposes his plan which he guaranteed would be something they'd both like. And then the issue ends mysteriously enough with a note that the story will continue in a Swamp Thing issue I'm not even sure I should pick up or not.
It seemed like a supplement I could get away not reading so I'll proceed with the general review of the first volume of Hellblazer (issues #1-9) next.
RECOMMENDED: 8/10
DO READ MORE OF MY HELLBLAZER REVIEWS
The cowardice and self-pity that John continues to show us can be wildly disheartening even to a loyal fan, but I believe that this is an integral part of his personality and characterization for the earlier issues; it's his flaws, doubts, fears and often questionable actions that help us not only to know him better as character but also to perhaps identify our shortcomings with his own. I certainly had which is why Hellblazer feels personal to me every time I read it. Just like John, we all experience a sense of foreboding in our lives when we simply lack the faith and courage to overcome the misfortunes before us. There is a point we get to where we hit rock bottom and become very convinced that we will never survive it.
To demonstrate just how hopeless his situations are, this issue Shot to Hell takes us to Gotham City (a perfect place for much needed brooding and enlightenment) where John wanders around the filth-laden streets, drinks himself to near stupor as he fights with ghosts in a bar and was then thrown out of there, and is spooked by his own shadow (or conscience, if you like) taking unnatural physical forms as it chases him down. To make things truly cosmically yet depressingly comedic, it turns out that today is also John's birthday. Whoopee-doo.
What I love about this issue the most comes when John Constantine sits in a sofa in a dark, dank apartment while an ongoing demolition (complete with an illustration of a large wrecking ball swinging around since the very first time John appears in the pages, something I took has symbolic meaning) can be seen in the corner. In a very Dickensian fashion, John gets another ghostly visit, but this time it was his former, younger self (or at least a version of his person who is confident and at the top of his game). I enjoyed how seemingly disgusted his alter ego was with the way he had been behaving since he messed up things in Newcastle. I love the contrast between these two personas as well, especially when I know that this self-assured version of John Constantine is just beneath the surface of pain and suffering that his present self is wallowing in. It has come out to bitch-slap him and get him back in shape. It just goes to show that there remains an empowered John Constantine in their somewhere, who does accept the ills and inconveniences of his career choice with a devil-may-care attitude and a ready middle-finger to the powers-may-be.
Finally, after that self-intervention, John travels back to the Resurrection Crusaders' lair to see Zed. It wasn't a rescue mission, however. John seems to know for a fact that the woman is beyond saving. Strangely enough, they started professing love to each other (which did come off random because it's only been a few days since they became entangled, and yet it was still heartbreakingly sincere, considering the circumstances) and then they had one last shag for old times' sake (which we later found out was exactly what John intended all along. He still has Negral's demon blood coursing through him and an intercourse with Zed would taint her, apparently).
He leaves her after that, taking comfort in knowing that losing another woman like that will at least neutralize the war between demons and the religious fanatics for a while. John has learned to count small victories by now.
The last scene was humorous yet confusing. Swamp Thing appears by using John's box of smokes as a physical manifestation (which, of course, promptly pisses off John). Swamp Thing would have beaten him to bits but then John proposes his plan which he guaranteed would be something they'd both like. And then the issue ends mysteriously enough with a note that the story will continue in a Swamp Thing issue I'm not even sure I should pick up or not.
It seemed like a supplement I could get away not reading so I'll proceed with the general review of the first volume of Hellblazer (issues #1-9) next.
RECOMMENDED: 8/10
DO READ MORE OF MY HELLBLAZER REVIEWS
May 9, 2025
Sometimes to get to the other side you have to go through absolute hell, and leaving John off the last issue pumped full of demon blood to heal him…we see him go to the hellish place in the world…Gotham! While in Gotham we see John at his lowest, haunted not only by the ghosts of his past residing in his mind that constantly rile him up, but somehow he is also being hunted by physical forces that manifest in heaps of everyday objects to try and chase him. Stack of dirty cloths or money chasing him here, a spill of gasoline trying to take him here…it’s an utter mess and he isn’t listening to any of his ghosts when they try and tell him that is is basically suffering from demon aids. And to make matters worse…it’s his birthday! Happy 35th Constantine!
But eventually things get so bad that John is visited by another ghost…himself. The version of himself who jumped into the world of the occult to save people and have some laughs along the way. Now his past heroic self looks down on him, tells him off for buckling at the first sign of trouble. When all he really needs to do is think a bit. Think about the prophecy, and especially think about the girl, which he knows Constantine likes doing, and then the path forward will become clear. And sure enough it does, things start to come back to John as easily as he shaves his face to reveal the jawline underneath. He plays a few backstreet games and gets a plane ticket back home. And then he sets forward on his plan.
Back in Glastonbury we see that Zed has accepted her fate as Mary. But she still walks out to the barbed fence around the compound and wonders about John and wishes she could see him again, wishes that she told him how much she loved him. But tonight it seems that wish will come true, she doesn’t have to wait until her purpose is fulfilled and new Jerusalem conquers Hell…John is here right now! He pulls her off to the side in a hollowed out tree. She is glad to see him but she cannot leave with him she has accepted the purpose she was born for. He does not try and fight her, and embraces her in a hug. But as they embrace they both look at each other and decide…what could be wrong with one last time? As they make love and relish in each other’s memories, John leaves Zed to sleep as he leaves her behind. This part of the plan is over and John has succeeded, if he didn’t interfere she may have been the mother of his. But instead she had been tainted with the demon’s blood that runs through his veins. No Angel will come near her now, and once again we see John in his apartment drinking away the regrets, who knows what will happen. With the messiah not coming the damnation army may hold the cards…but who knows?! But this time he takes one drink…then pours the rest out! Is this the return of the old John who got excitement out of the occult? But this is not the only problem John has had to worry about, the elementals have also been up his rear and through his duty free tobacco…none other than swamp thing shows himself. Seems that swamp thing is in a very urgent predicament and needs Constantine’s help immediately. As John pulls off a piece of swamp thing to roll up a smoke, he calms swamp things anger…he has a plan that he thinks swamp thing will like. Hahahaha, I’ve got to hear this.
But eventually things get so bad that John is visited by another ghost…himself. The version of himself who jumped into the world of the occult to save people and have some laughs along the way. Now his past heroic self looks down on him, tells him off for buckling at the first sign of trouble. When all he really needs to do is think a bit. Think about the prophecy, and especially think about the girl, which he knows Constantine likes doing, and then the path forward will become clear. And sure enough it does, things start to come back to John as easily as he shaves his face to reveal the jawline underneath. He plays a few backstreet games and gets a plane ticket back home. And then he sets forward on his plan.
Back in Glastonbury we see that Zed has accepted her fate as Mary. But she still walks out to the barbed fence around the compound and wonders about John and wishes she could see him again, wishes that she told him how much she loved him. But tonight it seems that wish will come true, she doesn’t have to wait until her purpose is fulfilled and new Jerusalem conquers Hell…John is here right now! He pulls her off to the side in a hollowed out tree. She is glad to see him but she cannot leave with him she has accepted the purpose she was born for. He does not try and fight her, and embraces her in a hug. But as they embrace they both look at each other and decide…what could be wrong with one last time? As they make love and relish in each other’s memories, John leaves Zed to sleep as he leaves her behind. This part of the plan is over and John has succeeded, if he didn’t interfere she may have been the mother of his. But instead she had been tainted with the demon’s blood that runs through his veins. No Angel will come near her now, and once again we see John in his apartment drinking away the regrets, who knows what will happen. With the messiah not coming the damnation army may hold the cards…but who knows?! But this time he takes one drink…then pours the rest out! Is this the return of the old John who got excitement out of the occult? But this is not the only problem John has had to worry about, the elementals have also been up his rear and through his duty free tobacco…none other than swamp thing shows himself. Seems that swamp thing is in a very urgent predicament and needs Constantine’s help immediately. As John pulls off a piece of swamp thing to roll up a smoke, he calms swamp things anger…he has a plan that he thinks swamp thing will like. Hahahaha, I’ve got to hear this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2024
A pretty striking achievement of visual and introspective storytelling. It uses the visual language established by earlier issues for the ghosts that typically haunt John, but it adds some other powerful moves, too.
The very end (when actual stuff starts happening) loses me slightly, but the rest is pretty extraordinary.
The very end (when actual stuff starts happening) loses me slightly, but the rest is pretty extraordinary.
April 1, 2018
John é o melhor personagem já criado, principalmente na personalidade. HUAEIAUSA
Tirou um pedaço do Monstro do pântano pra fumar...
Tirou um pedaço do Monstro do pântano pra fumar...
April 12, 2025
F slur took me off guard.
July 31, 2015
John Constantine can be a right bastard sometimes.
November 27, 2015
Everyone may need a time to fall to the ground and pick up the pieces... just like Constantine, putting his **** together and stuff.
December 17, 2016
3.5/5.
Llevo tanto tiempo tocando fondo que creo tocar el cielo.
Llevo tanto tiempo tocando fondo que creo tocar el cielo.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews