JOHN CONSTANTINE, HELLBLAZER!!! Originally launched as a supporting character in Alan Moore's Swamp Thing, John Constantine, The DC universe's most screwed up and complicated Mage, eventually got his own book. In 1993, the book switched from DC proper to become the first Vertigo title. Vertigo was a new DC line that was specifically for mature readers. There was also an okay movie, but Keanu Reeves, a dark haired American, was incredibly miscast as a character that originally was drawn to look like and, I imagine, sound like Sting. First appearance The Saga of The Swamp Thing #37 June 1985. Created by Alan Moore, Steven Bissette and Jamie Delano. The first issue of John Constantine, Hellblazer appeared in January 1988. It became a Vertigo title in March 1993 and had a run of 300 issues. It was then cancelled and JC was brought into the new DC 52 universe.