ORIGINAL SINS: i suggest reading all of hellblazer, but some of you may think thats a bit too much, what with there being sixteen volumes and all, so as a bare minimum read Original Sins [vol. 1, issues #1-9] as an introduction of sorts.
THE DEVIL YOU KNOW: this book effectively works as a vol. 2, [issues #10-13], but it also includes HELLBLAZER ANNUAL [issue #1] (johnâs short-lasted forays into the music industry, for those that have heard tale of the legendary band âMucous Membraneâ, and especially those of you that havenât, check this out) and THE HORRORIST [issues #1-2]
HELLBLAZER, ISSUE #100: this specific issue deals with johnâs mortality and demonic blood status without all the confusing shit that keeps comin up throughout hellblazer
STATIONS OF THE CROSS: most books in hellblazer are expected to fuck you up, but this little bevy here is⌠especially harrowing. collects issues #194-#200. toss in REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL and THE GIFT [issues #201-#206 and #207-#215, respectively] to close out the arc
DEATH AND CIGARETTES: the finale to the magnum opus that is hellblazer, this book includes #292-300 and the 2011 hellblazer annual, addressing his transience and detailing the latest standing of his immediate family, as opposed to his extensive occultist ancestry
VERTIGO JAM #1: an issue that would slip in right between HELLBLAZER issues #69 and #70, a short retelling of how exactly john met a certain entity [non-essential]
THE BOOKS OF MAGIC: both issues #1 and #2, this is what i would consider essential, if youâre interested in johnâs childhood
LOVE STREET: three issues total, this run shows a slice of his teenage years following his first attempt to run from his father. its particularly difficult to locate digital-wise, but the series is a personal favorite of mine. the narrator is a rabbi named oliver (if youâre keeping up with the 2015 HELLBLAZER series, itâs not who you think).
VERTIGO SECRET FILES: HELLBLAZER: lays out details about john and the other characters that pop-up in his life, and includes a comprehensive hellblazer timeline
CONSTANTINE: THE HELLBLAZER: honestly im not the biggest fan of the new 52 constantine, and especially not of JTIV, so id save this series for after you check out his earlier appearances. the main reason im including this series is that it contains the first time that john has a reoccurring boyfriend on-page and thats so iconic :â)
read SWAMP THING VOL. 2 [issue #37] to catch the speaking debut of JOHN CONSTANTINE.
before reading pretty much anything here, you gotta rememberâ constantine deals over and over again with some heavy shit. be prepared for that. feel free to shoot me a dm or an anon if you want the lowdown on something or even just a summary on an issue u think u might not be able to handle visually; my inbox is always open â â