This Just Happened: BRIGHTEST DAY #24

Today marks the last issue of BRIGHTEST DAY. If you haven’t picked up your copy yet, then clicking on the jump is the very last thing you want to do (major spoiler alert!)

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John Constantine was first introduced to the DC Universe in Alan Moore’s SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #37 (1985), in which the always suave and mysterious Brit’s first role was that of a supernatural advisor to Swamp Thing. Upon their introduction, John’s vast knowledge of Swamp Thing’s origins caused him to embark on a quest of self-discovery. It was on this journey that Swamp Thing first encountered many other characters in the DC Universe, including the Phantom Stranger, Deadman, and Etrigan the Demon.

John then took on the role of the protagonist with the launch of his own series, HELLBLAZER, which has run continuously since its initial release date in January of 1988. A chain-smoking occult detective, he has often struggled to balance the powers of Heaven and Hell on earth. While John has been known to take on the role of a hero, he is often cynical and not unwilling to compromise with darker forces for his own benefit.

Going forward, Vertigo will continue publishing HELLBLAZER as an ongoing comic book series. The series recently celebrated its 275th anniversary issue by its current creative team of acclaimed writer Peter Milligan and artists Giuseppe Camuncoli and Stefano Landini. Through the years, John Constantine’s stories have been written by a diverse and prolific cast of writers, including Jamie Delano, Brian Azzarello, Neil Gaiman, Ian Rankin, Mike Carey, Garth Ennis, Andy Diggle, Warren Ellis, and Grant Morrison. The series has also been illustrated by such artists as David Lloyd, Leonardo Manco, Steve Dillon, Rick Veitch, Marcelo Frusin, and John Ridgway.

John Constantine’s return to the DC Universe follows BRIGHTEST DAY #23’s shocking reveal of Swamp Thing. With the plant elemental on the loose, who better to help find him and restore his identity than he who helped him learn it in the first place? The story continues in BRIGHTEST DAY AFTERMATH: THE SEARCH FOR SWAMP THING #1, written by TOKYO DAYS, BANGKOK NIGHTS author (and former Vertigo editor) Jonathan Vankin and with art by Marco Castiello, in stores this June.

Head on over to Comic Book Resources and Newsarama for exclusive interviews with Co-Publisher Dan DiDio  about the series' final issue.

You may have been worried that the events of BRIGHTEST DAY were coming to an end with this ultimate issue of the series, but as John Constantine would say, that’s just “bollocks.”

Newly reissued HITMAN, VOL. 4: ACE OF KILLERS features two rare pieces of art

Featuring two pieces of extremely rare pin-up art, the newly reissued and repackaged HITMAN, VOL. 4: ACE OF KILLERS collects issues #15-22 of Garth Ennis and John McCrea’s acclaimed series. The first is a cover that was never before published and the second is from our previous WHO’S WHO series. Take a look at both of these below.

In these issues, Tommy Monaghan sends Etrigan the Demon into the depths of Hell to retrieve the Ace of Winchesters, the only weapon that can defeat the demon Mawzir. Once he has it in his possession, Tommy, along with Catwoman, Natt and the crazy heroes of Section Eight, can fight Mawzir and his gangster henchmen on Earth. Featuring such landmark issues as the Steve Pugh illustrated “Kiss Me,” and the Christmas-centered “The Santa Contract,” HITMAN, VOL. 4: ACE OF KILLERS is available now.

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