 John Constantine , the main character of Hellblazer , was portrayed as a kind of confidence man and occult detective who did morally questionable things , arguably for the greater good . He usually triumphed through <unk> , deceit , and <unk> , but often made more enemies in the process than he defeated . Indeed , it was a common theme in the book that Constantine was unable to effect any lasting change or enjoy <unk> victories . While sometimes striving for the good of mankind , Constantine was often <unk> and a dangerous person to have as a friend , as the lives and souls of those around him became <unk> involved in his <unk> . He took pains to protect himself from direct attacks , but his friends and relatives were often endangered in order to strike at him . The spirits of deceased friends haunted him , individually or as an entourage of ghosts . 
