- "That's the problem, isn't it, John Constantine? You've tasted Satan's heady brew -- and it's tempted you."
- ―Sister Anne-Marie
| "Shot to Hell" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Hellblazer | |
| Title: | "Shot to Hell" |
| Volume: | 1 |
| Number: | 9 |
| Cover price: | $1.25 |
| Cover date: | September, 1988 |
| Publisher: | DC Comics |
| Credits | |
| Chief: | Jenette Kahn |
| Ex. Ed: | Dick Giordano |
| Writers: | Jamie Delano |
| Pencilers: | John Ridgway |
| Inkers: | Alfredo Alcala |
| Cover artists: | Dave McKean |
| Cover inker: | Dave McKean |
| Cover colorist: | Dave McKean |
| Colorists: | Lovern Kindzierski |
| Letterers: | Todd Klein |
| Editors: | Karen Berger |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: | Hellblazer #8 |
| Next: | Hellblazer #10 |
"Shot to Hell" is the title to the ninth issue of the Hellblazer ongoing comic book series published by DC Comics. The story was written by Jamie Delano with artwork by John Ridgway and inks by Alfredo Alcala. It was colored by Lovern Kindzierski and lettered by Todd Klein. The story was edited by Karen Berger. This issue shipped with a September, 1988 cover date and carries a cover price of $1.25 per copy.
Synopsis[]
John Constantine walks the back streets of Gotham City. Tired and unkempt, he passes by an apartment complex in the process of being demolished and sees a man attacking a woman. He stops inside of a bar and orders a drink. He sees a local copy of the Gotham Gazette and realizes with some distress that it is thirty-fifth birthday.
The ghosts of old friends and acquaintances appear, congratulating him on his birthday. Feeling responsible for their deaths, John begins yelling at them. The bartender can't see the spirits, of course, and tosses John out on his ear for causing a ruckus and being a drunk. Ray Monde's ghost is the only spirit that follows after him, but John tells him to leave him alone. Ray tells John that the infusion of blood he received from Nergal has given him a sort of "psychic poisoning," which he should be careful about spreading. Not wanting to hear it, John yells at Ray and takes off.
Alone again, John rents a room and contemplates his misery. A pile of dirty clothes begins moving by itself, pantomiming the movements of a human being. The being inhabiting this "clothes-man" begins chasing John, who runs out into the night. Finally, John stops at the demolition site he had seen earlier and sits down to rest. He doesn't seem to care that the building is still in the process of being destroyed by a wrecking ball. Suddenly, black tar from the walls begins stretching forward, as if to attack him. John flashes his cigarette lighter at the goo, and escapes.
The mysterious spirit plagues him, taking the form of an ambulating pile of newspaper, and chasing him further down the street. It later causes dollar bills to spring from a cash register that swirls all about him.
John eventually returns to the partially demolished building and sits on an old sofa. Another spirit appears before him. It is actually John's subconscious mind trying to deal with all of his recent pain and guilt. The spirit admonishes Constantine for feeling sorry for himself and tells him that it's time to get his act together. The "tough love" approach appears to work, and John cleans himself up. He scores a few dollars from a back alley craps game and books a flight back to England.
He goes to Glastonbury where he finds Zed wandering alone in a field. He beckons her inside the bole of a large tree and the two make love. John feels that if he taints Zed with his demonic stain, then the Resurrection Crusaders will no longer desire her. Afterwards, and unaware of his deceit, Zed lies down to rest and John leaves.
He returns to his apartment where he finds the Swamp Thing manifesting from the tobacco of his cigarettes. The Swamp Thing complains that he is tired of chasing John around, as the Englishman pinches a wad of tobacco from the Swamp Thing's new body, rolling it into a cigarette. Swamp Thing criticizes John for his behavior, warning that the lives of an entire species are at stake. As the Swamp Thing grips him by his lapels, Constantine pleads that he has a plan, one he thinks the Swamp Thing will like.
Appearances[]
Featured characters
Supporting characters
Villains
Minor characters
Organizations
Races & Animals
Locations
Items
Vehicles
Powers
Miscellaneous
Notes & Trivia[]
- John Constantine was created by writer Alan Moore and artist Rick Veitch. he first appeared in The Saga of the Swamp Thing #37 in June, 1985.
- This issue is reprinted in the Hellblazer: Original Sins trade paperback.
- This issue continues from a story that began in Swamp Thing #75. It continues in Swamp Thing #76.
- Benjamin Cox, Emma, Frank North, Gary Lester, Ray Monde and Sister Anne-Marie all appeared last (as spirits) in Hellblazer #7. Benjamin, Frank, Gary and Anne-Marie appear next in Hellblazer #11.
- This is the first appearance of Mad Hettie. She appears next in The Sandman, Volume 2 #3.