Hellblazer #146

Hellblazer number 146, published in 2000, stands as a notable entry in the long-running Vertigo series following the cynical occultist John Constantine. This issue was crafted during a period of transition for the character, reflecting the dark, gritty, and politically charged tone that defined the title throughout the late nineties and early two-thousands. It emerged from a creative era where the series leaned heavily into British societal critique and supernatural horror, maintaining the mature-reader aesthetic that distinguished the imprint from mainstream superhero comics.

The issue features the creative work of writer Brian Azzarello and artist Marcelo Frusin. Azzarello’s tenure on the series is often characterized by a stark, noir-inspired approach that stripped back some of the more fantastical elements of earlier runs in favor of visceral, character-driven storytelling. Marcelo Frusin’s illustrative style, known for its moody shadows and expressive, often grotesque character designs, complemented this shift, aiming to ground Constantine’s supernatural dilemmas in a world that felt perpetually grimy and morally ambiguous. The run was generally received as a stylistic departure that emphasized the character’s internal decay.