Hellblazer bites the dust

[Ancient Otter]

Hellblazer is ending at issue number 300 but the character of Constantine will be used in DC Universe title, called simply, Constantine:

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/constantine-relaunch-dc-comics.html

and reactions from creators on Twitter:

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/industry-reacts-hellblazer-cancelation.html

[Link Prime]

Gah...
I was no fan of Milligans stint, but I had always assumed a new creative team would've taken over after issue 300, and that I would pick it up again someday.
Shame really.

'Constantine' is probably doomed to fail. And rightly so.

[Dark Jimbo]

'Constantine' is probably doomed to fail. And rightly so.

Oh, no question. Probably followed by some lame 'event' ressurection/reboot of Hellblazer, having pissed all over the heritage of a 300-issue unbroken run. Fuck off, DC.

[von Boom]

Hellblazer is the only DC title I purchase. Now there will be none. Bastards.

[Daveycandlish]

I buy the trades but rarely pick up the monthly and I'm not impressed that there will soon be no more.

I bloody hate reboots. DC have already knacked up Jonah Hex and are now doing it to the only other character I care about.

[Jim_Campbell]

To be slightly fair to DC, Hellblazer's been selling less than 10,000 copies a month for some considerable time now, and I suspect that it's only its historic nature and reputation as the Vertigo flagship that stopped it being cancelled before now.

However, folding the character into the mainstream DCU with the attendant compromises that will require is a commercial decision that pisses all over the character creatively. I would have much preferred Hellblazer to move to standalone minis or self-contained GNs where high profile teams could take turns trying do something really special with Constantine's particular brand of horror.

I wouldn't be remotely surprised if Vertigo is gone completely within the next year or so...

How thoroughly depressing.

Bah.

Jim

[Ancient Otter]

Probably followed by some lame 'event' ressurection/reboot of Hellblazer...

I'm not so sure, ending the flagship title of Vertigo makes me wonder about how long is left in the old horse. New titles announced by them just sound like they are following trends instead of making them; For example, Collider, Vertigo's action scientists comic, by the time this is released it will be competing against The Manhattan Projects, Nowhere Men and Think Tank from Image Comics. The Wake, a marine sci-fi comic from Scott Snyder and Sean Murphy, will be up against The Massive from Dark Horse and The Great Pacific from Image. Vampires are in? Lets release American Vampire. Zombies are in? New Deadwardians.

Also on a side note, when should have Hellblazer really ended if the character was supposed to age in real time as the series progressed?

[Ancient Otter]

And Jim Campbell pips me in my arguments! Goalsnatcher! 

[JayzusB.Christ]

Ah, shite.  I always thought 'Constantine' would be a better name for than Hellblazer, but.. he'll be missed.  A DC Universe version just isn't half as cool.  I suppose he must be ancient now anyway, given the Dredd-like real-time aspect of Hellblazer; but that's demon blood for you

[Professor Bear]

I wouldn't be remotely surprised if Vertigo is gone completely within the next year or so...

When discussion turns to how utterly knacked DC is these days, doesn't pretty much everyone offer the proviso that "Vertigo books don't count"?  I can't help but think that dissolving that Chinese wall between Vertigo and 'regular' DC would have the effect of making Preacher, Sandman, Hellblazer/Constantine, etcetera a part of the regular DC roster and allow the current administration to claim sole credit for books they had nothing to do with.
Although don't get me wrong - the likes of Image, IDW and Dark Horse have actually made Vertigo irrelevant for years now, as they support much lower sales levels for titles than Vertigo would.

[Art]

I'll miss it. Are people really not digging the Milligan run? It seems like one of the better and more distinctive post-Ennis Hellblazer runs, particularly the issues where Bisley has been on art.

IIRC it was the longest running DC comic without a rename or renumbering. I guess some double digit title takes the crown now.

[The Adventurer]

I wouldn't be remotely surprised if Vertigo is gone completely within the next year or so...

What a Crock. Vertigo has itself a dynamite line up right now I'm reading more Vertigo titles then I ever have. And though Hellblazer goes off into the sunset, Fables is still roaring along. So Vertigo still has a tent-pole series.

As long as they keep putting out books as good as Punk Rock Jesus and Saucer Country they ain't going anywhere.

[Jim_Campbell]

As long as they keep putting out books as good as Punk Rock Jesus and Saucer Country they ain't going anywhere.

*shrug* I'd be delighted to be proved wrong, but I hear persistent mutterings that Didio feels rather differently about Vertigo.

Cheers

Jim

[TordelBack]

*shrug* I'd be delighted to be proved wrong, but I hear persistent mutterings that Didio feels rather differently about Vertigo.

How many summer blockbusters has Vertigo given us, hmmm?  How many theme park attractions?  How many hit video games or TV series?  Comics exist to fuel other more profitable ventures, Vertigo doesn't - Fantagraphics have a better record in that line.  That's where your bottom line is, not 10,000 lousy copies. 

[Andy_Lee]

Bugger! I've been buying this since it started.

I moved down to London in 1987 with everything I owned in a rucksack. One of my priorities besides finding a job or somewhere to live was to early visit to Forbidden Planet on Denmark Street. I remember picking up issue 1 and an issue of Dark Knight Returns. Nice to now I still have the same priorities.