Constantine's Gambit: A Game of Vampires

In the dimly lit, crumbling tenement apartment building on the outskirts of New York City's Lower East Side, a sense of foreboding hung in the air like a miasma. It was a place where the living and the dead coexisted in an uneasy dance, where the walls ran thick with the secrets of the damned. At the heart of this eerie domain was John Constantine, a man with a reputation for being as ruthless as he was cunning. A vampire, or so the whispers went, with a taste for blood and a talent for manipulation. But Constantine was no ordinary creature of the night. He was a being of darkness, with eyes that burned like embers from the depths of hell. And he was not alone. A vampire bat, its leathery wings beating softly in the shadows, watched with cold, calculating eyes as Constantine went about his business, collecting debts and exacting revenge on those who dared to cross him.

[Workflow: I created the vampire, buildings, and JC during separate prompt sessions in Tengr, and the bat from a NightCafe prompt.   Combined everything into a single image, added a fog layer, spectral glare behind the bat, and the font work. Hand-fixed up AI artifact issues from the various source images during final edits in Affinity Photo.]

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Dreary Bus Ride with John Constantine

As the dreary London fog swirled around the bus, John Constantine gazed out the grimy window at the city's grey modern sprawl. The bus rumbled along the crowded streets of downtown, the iconic Big Ben tower looming in the distance like a skeletal giant. Constantine's eyes, red-rimmed from a night of heavy smoking and harder drinking, squinted against the misty drizzle that clung to his face like a damp shroud. He was headed to a meeting with a mysterious client, one who claimed to have information about the latest supernatural shenanigans plaguing the city. But as the bus inched along, Constantine's mind began to wander, his thoughts consumed by the weight of his own mortality and the endless struggle against the forces of darkness that lurked in every shadow. The bus lurched to a stop and Constantine's gaze drifted back to the fog-shrouded streets, his eyes narrowing as he sensed something malevolent lurking just beyond the veil of reality.

[Workflow: Inspired by an Aaron Campbell panel from John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America #1, I then started with a basic image of JC from a couple NightCafe image prompts, hand-fixed up AI artifact issues, layered in better glass for the windows, and added more paint texture to the outer bus shell during final edits in Affinity Photo.]

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Aaron Cambell's inspirational panel

John Standing in a Back Alley

John Constantine is standing in a back alley.  This quick image was created within NightCafe with a couple minor fixes by hand.

The Dark Side of John's Cigarette Habit

As the acrid smoke of the underworld swirled around him, John Constantine stood tall, his worn leather trenchcoat flapping open like a dark wing. The stench of brimstone and despair hung heavy in the air, but the cynical mage barely flinched, his eyes fixed on the burning pyre before him. His left hand cradled the cigarette, the ember glowing like a tiny, defiant star amid the infernal chaos. The flames that danced around him seemed to flicker in time with the rhythm of his slow, deliberate drags as if the very fires of hell itself were drawn to the rebellious spark within him. And yet, despite the apocalyptic backdrop, Constantine's gaze remained calm, his expression a mask of world-weary resignation. He was a man who'd faced the abyss and emerged with a few scars, a cigarette pack of Mayfairs, and a healthy dose of skepticism. As he exhaled a plume of smoke, the darkness seemed to writhe and twist around him, as if the very fabric of the underworld was trying to claim him as its own. But Constantine just smiled a wry, mirthless curve of his lips, and took another long, slow drag on his cigarette.

[Workflow: Started with a basic image of JC from image prompts in Tengr, hand-fixed up AI artifact issues, then used Freepik's Pikaso inpainting expansion feature to give a wider-angle view. Generated some of the flames with Nightcafe prompts, and the wings with Tengr.   Merged and layered in all the pieces into a single image. Added cigarette and smoke, added a swirling layer of hellish smoke, enhanced the flames, and added sparks/ember Fx for the final edits in Affinity Photo.]

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Constantine Stands on the Dark Rail

As the dimly lit industrial train yard outside Chicago swallowed the darkness, John Constantine stood defiantly on the worn railroad tracks, his eyes locked onto the swirling vortex of hellish sunburst energy before him. The air was thick with the acrid stench of brimstone, clinging to his throat like a noose, while the distant rumble of the approaching train grew louder, its headlamp casting an eerie glow on the rusting behemoths of steel that loomed in the shadows.

With a sweep of his wrist, Constantine's worn leather trench coat fluttered open, revealing a twisted, blackened crucifix adorned with strange symbols and gemstones. It hummed with dark energy as he held it aloft, the relic serving as his focus for the arcane arts. The demon, its grotesque form writhing in agony, clawed at the energy beam searing its flesh, letting out a blood-curdling scream that echoed through the night.

The train's horn blared a warning, a monstrous beast hurtling toward him with deadly precision. The engineer's frantic attempts to brake were futile against the massive weight of the locomotive. Yet Constantine's gaze never wavered; he poured every ounce of his arcane power into the ritual, the air around him crackling with energy as the train bore down.

At that moment, the framework of reality seemed to tear asunder, the boundaries between worlds blurring. The demon's screams crescendoed, mingling with the train's horn, a cacophony of impending doom. But Constantine stood firm, a solitary figure against the tide of darkness, determined to vanquish the horrors that lurked beyond.

As the train thundered closer, he felt the weight of his choices pressing down on him. This was just another day in the life of a man who had made a pact with the devil himself, and he would not let it end here.

[Workflow: Started with a basic image of JC standing with his arm raised forward from image prompts in Tengr, then used Freepik's Pikaso inpainting expansion feature to give a wider-angle view. Added relic to hand, created fire bolts, and Fx, created the inbound train lights approaching, digital sign inlay, texturing for a painted canvas impression for the final edits in Affinity Photo.]

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Trio of John Constantine AI Image Creations

Here are a handful of quick Tengr image prompt creations with only some very minor AI-glitch corrections by human hand.

CGC 9.5 Rated: Darkseid Trading Card (DC Comics Villain Series 1 - 2023)

I took the Darkseid image edit I previously created and updated it to be a CGC-certified trading card for the imagined "DC Comics: Villains Series 1" released as a set of 48 cards in 2023.

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Portrait of John Constantine

John Constantine smoking a cigarette in London.

[Workflow: JC's starter image from my Tengr prompt, masked in a background of London, canvas texturing, along with masking and AI artifact clean-ups in Affinity.]

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Rooftop Batman

I started this image from a NightCafe image prompt, then finished it up in Affinity with artifact clean-ups, updating the bricks with a new texture overlay and more clouds.

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Lilitha Summons a Demon - Expanded Edition

Lilitha was once a skilled sorceress who delved too deep into the dark arts, seeking power and knowledge. She made a pact with a powerful demon, trading her soul for unimaginable power. Now, she uses her abilities to fight against evil and protect the innocent.

[Original Workflow: Bing Co-Pilot images brought into Affinity Photo for final hand edits, revised version used Freepik's Pikaso inpainting expansion feature to give a wider-angle view. For version 2 I cleaned up AI glitches, added proper shadow for the demon, new layers for extra smoke, flames, and dust.]

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Batman Standing in Old Downtown Gotham City

As the full moon cast its silvery glow over the crumbling rooftops of downtown Gotham, Batman stood upright and scanned the fog-shrouded streets with his eyes. The rain-soaked pavement shone like a dark mirror, reflecting the faint light of the city's distant skyscrapers. The smell of damp earth and decay was in the air, a familiar perfume that only Gotham could produce. The Dark Knight's foot rested casually on the concrete gargoyle, his stone wings outstretched like a sentinel guarding the city's secrets. The brief flutter of bats in the moonlit sky was the only sound that broke the silence, their leathery wings flapping in unison as they danced in the wind. It was a night like any other in Gotham, but Batman's instincts told him something was wrong, a feeling that grew stronger with each passing moment. The crusader's eyes narrowed and his mind filled with possibilities as he contemplated the darkness, his presence a beacon of hope in a city that often seemed to devour itself.

[Workflow: I took the last image I created and tried Freepik's Pikaso inpainting expansion feature to give a wider-angle view. I cleaned up AI artifacts and layered in some rain and fog FX for the final edits in Affinity Photo.]

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Batman Standing on Rooftop Gargoyle

I reimagined Batman standing on a rooftop gargoyle by tracing over a panel originally drawn by Luciano Vecchio from DeviantArt. I made some creative adjustments, including adding a detailed gargoyle, flying bats, and gave him a batarang along with applying various color Fx. To facilitate comparison to the source drawing, I've included a side-by-side image of the original and my reworked version.

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• Super-rez link [11" x 17" poster version]

London Burns (continued)

I took the last image I created and tried Freepik's Pikaso inpainting expansion feature to give a wider-angle view. I had to fix a few things and redo the canvas look with final edits in Affinity.

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The Trench Coat Magician's Escape as London Burns

John Constantine's trenchcoat flapped wildly behind him as he sprinted down the London street, his eyes fixed on the pavement ahead. The sounds of chaos and destruction echoed through the air, and the acrid smell of smoke and brimstone filled his nostrils. But it was the sight behind him that sent a shiver down his spine - a demonic dragon, its scales glinting like black diamonds in the fading light, breathed fire across the rooftops of the buildings, sending flames licking at the windows and doors. The dragon's eyes, like two burning coals, seemed to bore into Constantine's back, and he could feel its malevolent gaze urging him to run faster. His tie flapped wildly in the wind, and his hair was disheveled, but Constantine's face was set in a determined grimace as he fled from the inferno. He knew that he had to get away from the dragon, and from whatever dark forces had summoned it to the streets of London. But as he ran, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being herded towards some unknown fate, and that the dragon was just the beginning of his troubles.

[Workflow: JC's starter image from my Tengr prompt, then layered in the dragon from Nightcafe prompt, and I found a nice flamethrower image for the fire breath.  Depth-of-field, fire and particle layers, canvas texturing, and other clean-ups in Affinity.]

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The Botanical Breakthrough with Pamela Isley

As Pamela Isley stood in her bio-plant growth lab, her eyes scanned the lush, vibrant foliage surrounding her. The air was thick with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the soft hum of machinery, a familiar backdrop for her work. Behind her, a row of container-grown plants stood tall, their leaves a deep shade of green and their stems strong and sturdy.

[Workflow: Tengr image prompt to start, finished with shadowing, trees in window, and lighting Fx inside Affinity.]

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The Skulls of Paris

John Constantine slumped against the cold, damp stone wall, his back pressed against the macabre display of skulls that seemed to stare back at him with empty, bony eyes. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decay, and the flickering torches that lined the walls cast eerie shadows on the walls of the Paris Catacombs. The weight of the city's secrets seemed to press down on him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched by unseen eyes. The whispers of the damned echoed through the tunnels, and Constantine's gut told him that he was getting close to something - but what, he had no idea. This was his kind of place - a place where the living and the dead blurred together, and the line between reality and madness was thin indeed.

[Workflow: JC created with Copilot prompt, then I sourced a catacombs image from the web, masked merged together with other Fx work, laid on some damaged photo distress.]

Shadows of the Demonic Soul (Jason Blood / Etrigan)

In the dimly lit corridors of an opulent 1800s mansion, Jason Blood stands resolute, a flickering candle lantern casting eerie shadows that dance across the ornate walls. His expression is a tumultuous blend of determination and dread, as he grapples with the insidious presence of the demon Etrigan lurking within him. The weight of centuries of conflict presses heavily on his shoulders, each heartbeat a reminder of the struggle for dominance between his human soul and the malevolent force that yearns to break free. As the air thickens with tension, Jason fights for his identity and the essence of his humanity, knowing that the line between salvation and damnation is perilously thin.

[Workflow; Start image from Tengr, jumped into Affinity Photo to add the lantern's lighting Fx, colored his hair to match his white streak and red hair, pulled in an image of Etrigan lurking in his subconscious, some more texture layers for painted style.]

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Stalking the Stranger [The Lost and Found: Uncovering Hidden Comic Book Treasures]

Inspector Marat abruptly halted at the closed, office door. The Chief of Detectives was waiting to see him. Beads of perspiration dotted Marat's forehead like a pox that was spreading fast. He hesitated. He didn't want to knock. He didn't want to enter the Captain's office. He didn't want to hear what the Captain had to say.

Marat fidgeted. His fingers trembled as he raised his hand to knock at the door. If the Captain wanted to take him off of the strange case of the Strangler, there was nothing Marat could do about the Captain's decision. Ten women were dead — strangled! Last night, the murderer had followed his usual M.O. When the sun another woman was lifeless and the case was still unsolved. The killer continually escaped Marat even though Marat knew the Strangler almost as well as he knew himself. He didn't know the man's name, but he knew the Strangler's thoughts, his moods, and his methods. It was as if the murderer were Marat's own shadow. He seemed to be within reach of Marat's grasp, but he
couldn't be captured! The case was a mystery to Marat and to everyone connected with it. There was no doubt that the killer was a madman; but in his madness, he was cunningly clever. He left no clues, no tracks, no evidence. As well as Marat knew the killer, the killer knew Marat. It was as if the two men shared the same brain. How could a man catch his double in flesh, soul and spirit? That was the problem! That was why the killer was still on the loose!

"Come in Marat," called the Captain from inside of his office. "Calm yourself, Inspector, and come in. I know what you're thinking. Don't worry. I haven't summoned you here to take you off of the strangler case!"  Slowly, Marat turned the door nob. Swiftly, he pushed the door open. Boldly, he stepped into the Captain'ss office. The Captain's words had given him new life, new courage, new hope. He would not be taken off the case. There was no longer any reason to be worried or fearful. 

Quickly, Marat closed the door behind him. Instantly, his eyes scanned the room. Marat was a good policeman with extraordinary powers of observation. When he spied the attractive, young, policewoman seated near the Captain's desk, he knew that the mademoiselle was going to be his partner and tempting bait for the Strangler. "I can tell by your face that you've put two and two together," said 'he Captain as he addressed his subordinate. "Yes! I know what is in your mind," replied Mara stoically. "The girl is very beautiful. The Strangler will not be able to resist her, but I'm against the scheme even though it is a cunning plot. I always work alone!"

"In the old days, I would have catered to your whim, but this is a difficult case!" answered the Captain coldly. "As closely as you've examined the clues, I too have examined them. drawn my own conclusions. You haven't been the same man ever since the night you found your lifeless wife and her dead lover in your quarters when you returned home. Their suicide pact didn't free you from the evil hold she had on you. Part of you died that night. You are not the same detective you once were. You need help to solve this case!"  Sadly, Marat nodded in agreement. The Captain was right. Finding his wife and her (over had almost turned him into a madman. For a long while, his mind had teeter-tottered on the brink of insanity. He did need help to solve the strange case of the strangler. 

Later that night, the policewoman decoy slowly sauntered through the shadowy side streets and alleys of the city while Marat watched and waited. As she passed a dark corner, it happened! The Strangler grabbed her from behind and pulled her into the shadows. She couldn't see his face, but his hands were around her neck choking the breath out of her lungs. Her vision was clouded. She couldn't even scream for help! Where was Inspector Marat?

Then, a single shot rang out and echoed through the silent streets. The hands around her neck loosened. Someone moaned behind her and a body dropped at her feet. The girl turned to see the Chief of Detectives standing behind her. In his hand was a smoking revolver. On the alleyway floor, was the lifeless body of Inspector Marat. "He was mad," explained the Captain. "He couldn't solve the case because he was chasing himself. His wife betrayed him and it made him hate all women. The ironic thing is — that Marat never guessed that he, himself, was the Strangler. He was two men -- one good, one evil! Now the strange cage of the strangler is finally solved!"

• story author uncredited
• title header illustrator uncredited
• image of Mara be attacked provided by TrUzApalOOza.
• story featured in Monster Hunters #8 (November 1976) 
• published & copyrighted by Charlton Comics

Disclaimer: As the original publisher is no longer in operation and has not issued digital reprints, this collection serves as a valuable archive of these classic tales for the benefit of researchers, scholars, and enthusiasts. By making these stories available, I aim to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of comic books, while also acknowledging the original creators and copyright holders.

The Skull of Simon Magus: A Constantine Story

As John Constantine puffed on his cigarette, the acrid smoke curling around the skull of Simon Magus in his grasp, he gazed out into the fog-shrouded streets of London with a mixture of disdain and fascination as a massive, horned demon slowly emerged from the swirling mist, its eyes glowing red with an otherworldly hunger.

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