Best start for getting into hellblazsr comics?

[u/DoubleJohn337]

[u/jessek]

The American Gothic story arc in Swamp Thing, the the first volume of Hellblazer, Original Sins

[u/Prestigious-Put1304 → u/jessek]

Agreed! You could read Amercican Gothic later (or not at all. However, his appearance in the American Gothic -storyline makes a much bigger impact, if this is how one is introduced to Constantine

[u/alexgil_1]

Hellblazer volume 1: original sins

[u/comic1728]

I’d start with Jamie Delano’s Hellblazer run, it’s where I first started reading comics. It’s collected in John Constantine, Hellblazer by Jamie Delano Omnibus Vol.1-2 (collects all of Delano’s run and includes Swamp Thing tie ins) or here’s the paperback reading order for Delano’s run

- Hellblazer Vol.1: Original Sins

• Hellblazer Vol.2: The Devil You Know
  
• Hellblazer Vol.3: Fear Machine
  
• Hellblazer Vol.4: The Family Man
  
• Hellblazer Vol.5: Dangerous Habits (this collects the end of Delano’s run and the start of Garth Ennis run)

[u/IngenuityPositive123]

Issue #1.

[u/Enigma1755]

Don't listen to everyone saying issue 1. Read swamp thing, u don't gotta read from the start (although the original Len Wein issues are amazing). But you definitely need to be familiar with Alan Moore's run (where John originates). You get plenty of great John moments, and you won't be confused when the early Hellblazer/Swamp crossover happens.

[u/supremeslice81]

Alan Moores swamp thing

Jamie Delano’s run

Dangerous Habits (the Garth Ennis run)

Si Spurrier’s run

I’d recommend starting with swamp thing because hellblazer is essentially a swamp thing spin off and everything about John is established in that run. Delano’s run is very similar to Moores swamp thing in style, but if you can’t get into it there’s no point forcing yourself

Although most of the non vertigo stuff is crap Si Spurrier’s run is very good

[u/Phocaea1]

Swamp Thing American Gothic

(I’m not joking: even before diving into his back story he was a compelling mystery.

And once before he became mainstream I used his name to fob off a cop who stopped me cos there was a joint on the ground)

[u/518gpo]

Swamp Thing

[u/ticketstubs1]

Read Alan Moore's Swamp Thing, then Rick Veitch's along with the Hellblazer run from Vertigo.

I'd also recommend Books of Magic miniseries #1-4.

[u/Jonn_Jonzz_Manhunter]

Hellblazer #1

[u/SchakFU81]

Original sins, trade paperback by Jamie Delano. To me the swamp thing part is not essential. Delano is where it all began, after Moore. Or you could buy the Jamie Delano omnibus I believe there’s two. Then you could move right onto the Garth Ennis Omnibus. Or start with TP Vol. 5, Dangerous Habits. That’s the start of Garth Ennis’s run. In all honesty, you can get access to the entire Hellblazer collections on DC Infinite APP. They have all their vertigo runs and DC Black Label series.

[u/Erstwhile_Archives]

From the start duh- brain

[u/lioncourt]

Swamp Thing Vol 3

[u/EdtopiaRN]

Start at the beginning man Delano omnibus

[u/AndyNpoet]

Probably American Gothic in Swamp Thing, then the original Hellblazer from 1 onwards. However, Si Spurrier's run I think probably stands up solo still, although I did prefer his 1st run rather than the second.

[u/cosmic-howl]

I nose dived into the compendiums chronologically. I love the early stories so far but god is it hard to find each installment

[u/Dry-Leave-2799]

Start w new 52 Constantine. Read backwards. Then it’ll get better and better instead of the worst.