10 John Constantine, Hellblazer Comic Books You Have to Read Now

(Image courtesy FB/DC)
John Constantine is one of the most charismatic, cunning, narcissistic, and dangerously unpredictable characters in the DC Universe. Even if you’ve never picked up a Hellblazer comic, chances are you’ve heard of him. Matt Ryan brought the character to life on TV, while Keanu Reeves starred as Constantine in the 2005 film. These days, Constantine appears regularly in animated series and video games, solidifying his place in pop culture. But if you’re ready to explore the source material, where should you start? Here are 10 essential Hellblazer comics you need to read.
1. “Newcastle: A Taste of Things To Come” (1988)
This story stands out as one of the most tragic entries in the Hellblazer series. John Constantine is known for his cocky, smug, and selfish demeanor—but beneath that bravado lies a deeply haunted man burdened by endless guilt. In his younger years, Constantine and a group of occultists attempted a spell that went terribly wrong. An innocent child paid the ultimate price, and the fallout from that moment left permanent scars on everyone involved.
This story is one of the features in the 250-page paperback John Constantine, Hellblazer Vol. 2: The Devil You Know. Get it for $32 at Amazon now.
2. “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” (1998)
This story is part of a larger arc that revisits Constantine’s infamous battle with a demon in the “Newcastle” incident. While investigating a sinister occult conspiracy, Constantine finds himself in a quiet Iowa town with a dark secret. The townspeople are warping reality through mystical prayers, desperate to bring back their missing sons—Vietnam POWs lost to time and war. What he uncovers is both heartbreaking and terrifying.
This story is part of the 288-page paperback John Constantine, Hellblazer 1: Original Sins. Buy it now for $11.38 at Amazon.
3. “Rise and Fall” (2020)
English billionaires are turning up dead in the most gruesome, unsettling ways imaginable. As the investigation unfolds, a detective begins to suspect an old acquaintance—John Constantine—might be connected. But Constantine quickly realizes there’s a far more sinister force at play. The Devil himself is pulling the strings—and he’s got unfinished business with Constantine.
Buy the 152-page hardcover, Hellblazer, Rise and Fall, for $21.80 at Amazon now.
4. “Dead in America” (2024)
One of the most beloved recent entries in the Hellblazer series takes Constantine on an unforgettable ride—literally. Now a fugitive wanted for murder in London, he travels across the U.S. with his son Noah and his sharp-tongued Scottish bodyguard Nat, all aboard a bright red double-decker bus. But there’s a grim secret: Constantine is already dead. Only his magic keeps him moving, while his body quietly decays. His only hope may lie with Morpheus, the Sandman—but to earn that help, Constantine must retrieve a powerful magical weapon that’s been stolen from the Dream Lord himself.
Get the 368-page hardcover, John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America, for $27.26 at Amazon now.
5. “A Feast of Friends” (1988)
This storyline—one of the most infamous in Hellblazer history—inspired an episode of NBC’s short-lived Constantine series from 2014. (Matt Ryan, who portrayed the character, later brought him back for the cult-favorite CW series Legends of Tomorrow.) In this arc, Constantine teams up with the notorious Papa Midnite to trap a demon. But the plan comes at a terrible cost: Constantine must betray a close friend in a particularly heartless way. You can find this unforgettable tale in the massive 1,584-page hardcover John Constantine, Hellblazer by Jamie Delano Omnibus.
Buy it now for $118.18 at Amazon now. This omnibus contains the first 22 issues of the 1988 Hellblazer run as well as many contemporaneous issues from the era.
6. Hellblazer by Garth Ennis Omnibus (1991)
Although Jamie Delano was the first to write Hellblazer as an ongoing series, his work wasn’t fully appreciated at the time. The character truly gained cult-favorite status when Garth Ennis took over in 1991. The popularity of Ennis’s run not only redefined Constantine—it also sparked a newfound appreciation for Delano’s earlier work.
This 1,328-page, 8-pound omnibus includes some of the most iconic stories in Hellblazer history. Among them is the unforgettable arc where Constantine is diagnosed with cancer, makes a desperate deal with the Devil, and somehow manages to outwit him, not once, but three times. Buy the hardcover now for $116.67 at Amazon now.
7. Justice League Dark, “The Books of Magic” (2011)
While this entry isn’t technically part of the core Hellblazer comic book run, Justice League Dark deserves a spot for prominently featuring John Constantine as a key team member. The series brings together a supernatural super-team made up of magic and occult-powered heroes. Alongside Constantine, the lineup includes Zatanna, Madame Xanadu, Deadman, Shade the Changing Man, Timothy Hunter, Mindwarp, Swamp Thing, and others.
One of the early standout arcs, “The Books of Magic,” plunges the team into chaos as they face a global vampire invasion—setting the tone for the dark, mystical battles to come.
Buy the 1,624-page hardcover Justice League Dark the New 52 Omnibus for $118.64 at Amazon now.
8. “The Spark and the Flame” (2014)
Hellblazer comics have long existed in their own gritty, mystical corner of the DC Universe. Aside from occasional appearances alongside fellow occult figures like Swamp Thing, Constantine’s adventures were typically solo affairs—rarely involving icons like Batman or Superman. That changed in 2014 with the launch of a new Constantine series as part of DC’s New 52 relaunch. Set in New York City, this version of Constantine was more integrated into the broader superhero world.
In this controversial run, Constantine frequently teams up with characters like Wonder Woman and other mainstream heroes. In the arc The Spark and the Flame, he partners with a young sidekick to hunt down a powerful magical relic—but ultimately must choose between loyalty and a higher, darker purpose.
Get the 144-page paperback Constantine 1: The Spark and the Flame, for $10.99 at Amazon now.
9. “Going Down” (2015)
Constantine: The Hellblazer was another bold attempt to modernize and reintroduce the character to a new generation of DC Comics readers. In this run, a chilling new threat emerges—one that’s targeting the ghosts of people Constantine once knew. But this time, it’s more than death on the line. If these spirits are destroyed, they’ll vanish entirely, erased from existence itself.
Buy the 144-page paperback for $35 at Amazon now.
10. ”Growth Patterns” (1985)
Swamp Thing #37 (1985) marks the first-ever appearance of John Constantine—a pivotal moment that would eventually make Hellblazer essential reading for comic book fans. In this issue, Swamp Thing is forced to regenerate itself, leaf by leaf, while Constantine emerges from the shadows, tracking a looming supernatural threat. His mysterious presence immediately set him apart. Interestingly, the character’s look was inspired by Sting, one of the era’s biggest rock icons, adding to Constantine’s cool, enigmatic vibe from the very beginning.
Buy the 24-page digital version of this landmark comic for $1.99 on Kindle. Used, physical versions of this comic are selling on Amazon for as much as $3,000.
Hellblazer Comic Books
Hellblazer comic books are not for the faint of heart. If you believe comics should steer clear of politics, this series will challenge that notion—and maybe give you a headache. Hellblazer is unapologetically political, often laced with sharp commentary on U.K. politics. When written by British authors, it leans heavily into local slang and cultural references, demanding extra attention from readers unfamiliar with the vernacular.
The series is intended for mature audiences, filled with occult themes, dark magic, and graphic violence. John Constantine is most compelling when he’s walking the line between hero and anti-hero—a sympathetic figure wrapped in selfishness, driven more by survival than morality. He wants to do right, but often chooses what’s best for himself, making him the kind of character you’ll either hate to love or love to hate.
Constantine is utterly magnetic. And if you only know him from TV or film, you’re missing out—his true magic lives on the page.
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Allen Francis is a full-time writer, prolific comic book investor and author of The Casual’s Guide: Why You Should Get Into Comic Book Investing. Allen holds a BA degree from Marymount Manhattan College. Before becoming a writer Allen was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including saving and investing in your own small business.