Hellblazer Presents: Chas - The Knowledge
Encyclopedia
Hellblazer Presents: Chas - The Knowledge is a comic book
limited series
, written by Simon Oliver
, with artwork by Goran Sudzuka
, and cover art by Glenn Fabry
. It is a spin off from the Vertigo series Hellblazer
, featuring John Constantine
's oldest and closest friend, Francis 'Chas' Chandler.
The first issue was printed in July 2008. The series ran for five issues, which is now collected in a trade paperback format.
July 2nd 2008
Cab driver Francis "Chas" Chandler leads an unremarkable existence. His greatest moments have come tagging along with John Constantine -- as a chauffeur. His home life is nothing special, and his beloved London is becoming a soulless metropolis. In middle age, Chas is stuck in a rut.
But Chas is a master of "The Knowledge," the elaborate system of routes and landmarks which every London cabbie must memorize. Until now, The Knowledge has been just a tool for Chas. But now, he's about to discover a more sinister significance of The Knowledge.
An ominous entity from London's grim history has reemerged, and only someone with The Knowledge can stop it.
#2
August 6th 2008
A demon is loose in London, and where's John Constantine? On a beach in Ibiza with a mai tai and a Brazilian model. That leaves Chas alone to solve a bloody mystery – but when one of his old friends goes missing and a new friend emerges to turn his life upside down, saving the city is the last thing on Chas's overburdened mind.
#3
September 3rd 2008
Chas continues to have emotional problems just when London needs him the most. John is off in a tropical paradise causing trouble, a new women tempts Chandler and old promises go neglected.
#4
October 1st 2008
Red vs. Blue. The demon possessing Chas's would-be protégé, Nicky, has unlocked the secrets of "The Knowledge," and now it's looking to rip the soul right out of London. And where better to start than a football match between two of the city's most heated rivals? The ensuing chaos creates a moment of decision in the life of "Chas."
#5
November 5th 2008
The demon Tuma'el stands poised to take control of London's very soul. Chas has managed to array a small group of friends and allies, which does not include John, to fight back against the demonic force.
sales table.
:
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
, written by Simon Oliver
Simon Oliver
Simon Oliver is the writer of the Wildstorm comic book series Gen¹³ and the Vertigo comic book series The Exterminators and Hellblazer Presents: Chas - The Knowledge.-Biography:...
, with artwork by Goran Sudzuka
Goran Sudzuka
-Biography:Sudžuka who began his work in animation and later began to publish with Darko Macan in Croatia and Germany.His works include Outlaw Nation, Y: The Last Man, and Hellblazer: Lady Constantine with Andy Diggle....
, and cover art by Glenn Fabry
Glenn Fabry
Glenn Fabry is an Eisner Award-winning British comics artist known for his detailed, realistic work in both ink and painted colour.-Biography:...
. It is a spin off from the Vertigo series Hellblazer
Hellblazer
Hellblazer is a contemporary horror comic book series, originally published by DC Comics, and subsequently by the Vertigo imprint since March 1993, the month the imprint was introduced, where it remains to this day...
, featuring John Constantine
John Constantine
John Constantine is a fictional character, an occult detective anti-hero in comic books published by DC Comics, mostly under the Vertigo imprint. The character first appeared in Swamp Thing #37 , and was created by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, John Totleben and Rick Veitch...
's oldest and closest friend, Francis 'Chas' Chandler.
The first issue was printed in July 2008. The series ran for five issues, which is now collected in a trade paperback format.
Issues
#1July 2nd 2008
Cab driver Francis "Chas" Chandler leads an unremarkable existence. His greatest moments have come tagging along with John Constantine -- as a chauffeur. His home life is nothing special, and his beloved London is becoming a soulless metropolis. In middle age, Chas is stuck in a rut.
But Chas is a master of "The Knowledge," the elaborate system of routes and landmarks which every London cabbie must memorize. Until now, The Knowledge has been just a tool for Chas. But now, he's about to discover a more sinister significance of The Knowledge.
An ominous entity from London's grim history has reemerged, and only someone with The Knowledge can stop it.
#2
August 6th 2008
A demon is loose in London, and where's John Constantine? On a beach in Ibiza with a mai tai and a Brazilian model. That leaves Chas alone to solve a bloody mystery – but when one of his old friends goes missing and a new friend emerges to turn his life upside down, saving the city is the last thing on Chas's overburdened mind.
#3
September 3rd 2008
Chas continues to have emotional problems just when London needs him the most. John is off in a tropical paradise causing trouble, a new women tempts Chandler and old promises go neglected.
#4
October 1st 2008
Red vs. Blue. The demon possessing Chas's would-be protégé, Nicky, has unlocked the secrets of "The Knowledge," and now it's looking to rip the soul right out of London. And where better to start than a football match between two of the city's most heated rivals? The ensuing chaos creates a moment of decision in the life of "Chas."
#5
November 5th 2008
The demon Tuma'el stands poised to take control of London's very soul. Chas has managed to array a small group of friends and allies, which does not include John, to fight back against the demonic force.
Reception
The first issue sold an estimated 10,463 issues putting it at 182 in the Diamond Comic DistributorsDiamond Comic Distributors
Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. is the largest comic book distributor serving North America. They transport comic books from both big and small comic book publishers, or suppliers, to the retailers. Diamond dominates the direct market in the United States, and has exclusive arrangements with most...
sales table.
Collected editions
The series has been collected into a trade paperbackTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
:
- Hellblazer: Chas (128 pages, Vertigo, April 2009, ISBN 1-40122-127-0)
Popular Culture
Chas Chandler was re-imagined as Chas Kramer in the film adaptation ConstantineConstantine (film)
Constantine is a 2005 American action horror film directed by Francis Lawrence as his directorial debut, starring Keanu Reeves as John Constantine, with Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf, Tilda Swinton, and Djimon Hounsou...