History Headscratchers / Hellblazer

At the story climax, during the final issue, an antichrist is born. All opponents of the father demon are dead except for Chas and Constantine. The demon's plan has succeeded, but Constantine tells the demon to go back to hell or Constantine will kill the baby antichrist right there. So the demon goes back to hell, and then Constantine kills that demon baby anyway. So why did that demon leave based on Constantine's weak threat? The father demon could have killed Chas and Constantine as easily as he had killed powerful human gangsters earlier. Surely the demon wasn't stupid enough to not realize that Constantine would kill the baby anyway after he left? The demon lost for no reason, and giving up right then doesn't make any sense.

[[WMG: The First of the Fallen vs Lucifer Morningstar.]]

Is it just me, or is the attempt to explain the discrepancy between Sandman's and Hellbalzer's takes on Satan in issue #59 somewhat contradictory? Basically, the First was, well first, totally twice as evil and badass ("he could never match such power") but Morningstar was actually the guy in charge of hell until then and the one keeping First in check? Given that Fallen would show himself to be, when it comes down to it, a pathetic and petty loser, while Morningstar would be characterized as MagnificentBastard, this also seems like a case of EarlyInstallemntWeirdness.

* It always seemed to me like an emergency retcon after they wrote themselves into a corner. Constantine appeared in Sandman, so Hell has to be run by Gaiman's anti-hero Lucifer; but the stories they wanted to write (and had written) used the more traditional powerful-but-stupid Devil. And the First of the Fallen got {{Flanderization}} from there until it was surprising he could tie his own shoes, let alone swindle mortals out of their souls.

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<<|ItJustBugsMe|>>

So it's explained that only literary characters who have achieved "enduring fame" can run around the real world freely. Sherlock Holmes (who explains this) and Dr. Watson, of course — they're probably amongst the, if not the, most enduring literary characters of all time. Tarzan, sure. Peter Pan, I can buy. But [[OliverTwist Bill and Nancy Sykes]]? I had to look them up to figure out who they were. I can't see them achieving the kind of fame necessary to be "allowed" out into the real world.

<<|ItJustBugsMe|>>

** First, as John himself once stated and several stories proved the First of the Falled is kind of stupid. He is constantly outsmarted and tricked by nearly everyone and sucks at the rule manipulation demons rely on. He runs Hell and is incredibly dangerous because he is the most powerful demon. Second, it is alluded and stated in several stories that demons, and most supernatural creatures, are bound by various rules that limit how much they can interact on the mortal plane. These rules are never completely spelled out, but they are what John manipulates to prevent the first from teleporting into the store when John goes out to buy cigerates, ripping his heart out and dragging him down to Hell.

[[WMG:ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}}]]

* Ennis’ run proper (excepting “Son of Man”) was good in many ways, but I never did feel that he was particularly good about the magical/theological part of the DC / Vertigo ’verse, and I’m okay with Milligan contradicting that. All writers make their own Constantine.

[[WMG:Main/{{Hellblazer}}]]

It's not that I'm opposed to the idea of giving John Constantine a love interest who is a match for him in the wits department. I just wish that [[http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/4717/hell4h.jpg they didn't outright say that her death had more of an effect on John than Kit]] (John's girlfriend from the Garth Ennis run), who was the one decent love John had in his whole life until this point. The woman who was such a positive influence that when John created [[http://www.insanerantings.com/hell/characters/cpp/demon.html The Demon Constantine]], he let the demon have those happy memories - the best days of his life - so it wouldn't be all bad. It really seems like a case of InformedAbility... Informed Love Interest perhaps?

It's not that I'm opposed to the idea of giving John Constantine a love interest who is a match for him in the wits department. I just wish that [[http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/4717/hell4h.jpg they didn't outright say that her death had more of an effect on John than Kit]] (John's girlfriend from the Garth Ennis run), who was the one decent love John had in his whole life until this point and such a positive influence that when John created The Demon Constantine, he let the demon have those happy memories - the best days of his life - so it wouldn't be all bad. It really seems like a case of InformedAbility... Informed Love Interest perhaps?

It's not that I'm opposed to the idea of giving John Constantine a love interest who is a match for him in the wits department. I just wish that [[http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/4717/hell4h.jpg they didn't outright say that her death had more of an effect on John than Kit]], who was the one decent love John had in his whole life until this point. It really seems like a case of InformedAbility... Informed Love Interest perhaps?
* At least he acknowledges Kit, unlike Ennis who seems to have skipped most parts of Delanos run. That’s OK, not every writer needs to bring Jenkins’ continuity-obsessed view to the table. As for “the biggest love ever”, isn’t that always the case? Tove Jansson quipped: You always think your first love is the last, and your last love is the first. (As in, “first ''real''”, or really special.)

Along with the issues regarding John's feelings about Kit described above, the page scan above blatantly contradicts the Garth Ennis story '''Son of Man''', which hinges upon the fact that the FirstLawOfResurrection does not apply to magic in the Hellblazer universe. That is to say, you cannot use magic to bring the dead back to life. Ever.