The Tipsy Trickster: Hallucinations in the Fog

In the heart of London, where the fog clung to the cobblestones like a shroud, John Constantine found himself nursing a pint in a dimly lit pub, the kind where secrets whispered between the walls. The night had started innocently enough, but as the whiskey flowed, so did the shadows, twisting and curling around him like old friends. With each sip, the world around him began to blur, and the familiar faces of patrons morphed into grotesque caricatures, their laughter echoing like a sinister melody. It wasn’t long before a shimmering cloud of magic dust materialized before his bleary eyes, swirling with colors that danced like fireflies. As the line between reality and illusion faded, Constantine realized he was not just tipsy; he was teetering on the edge of a hallucinatory adventure that would drag him deep into the underbelly of the supernatural, where every sip could summon a new danger. Every shadow held a secret waiting to be uncovered.

[Workflow: A few NightCafe image prompts, merged in some magical mischief, and a distorted logo within Affinity Photo, since John is having trouble focusing his eyes.]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

Gaslight: John Constantine's Confrontation with Madness

John Constantine staggered through the haze of The Joker's laughing gas, his mind a chaotic whirlwind of manic laughter and twisted visions. The world around him warped into a surreal carnival of colors and shadows, but amidst the madness, his instincts kicked in. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a flickering sigil, the air crackling with unstable magic. As the laughter echoed in his ears, he channeled the chaos, weaving spells that danced like fireflies, determined to turn the Joker's deadly joke back on itself before he lost his grip on reality entirely.

[Workflow: A few NightCafe image prompts, brought into Affinity Photo and the added pentagram, fiery portal and extra smoke Fx.]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

John's Cigarette Break at the End of the World

John Constantine taking a break from chaotic magic to smoke a cigarette.

[Workflow: I fed one of my previous JC creations into KLING's syntax prompt, then did final edits and additions within Affinity.]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

Flicking Ashes: Constantine's Urban Legends

A younger John Constantine enjoying a cigarette while trolling a local Irish pub for hidden demons.

[Workflow: I fed one of my previous JC creations into KLING's syntax prompt, then did final edits and additions within Affinity.]  

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

John Constantine in a London Graveyard

In the heart of a damp graveyard, the air is thick with the scent of wet earth and decaying leaves. The moon hangs low in the sky, casting an eerie silver light that glimmers off the puddles of standing water scattered across the uneven ground. Shadows dance between the crooked tombstones, their inscriptions worn and faded over time.

John Constantine stands at the center of this desolate scene, his trench coat clinging to him, heavy with moisture. His expression is intense concentration, eyes narrowed as he focuses on the incantation swirling in his mind. The dampness of the graveyard seems to amplify the tension in the air, a palpable energy crackling around him.

With a swift motion, he raises his left hand, and flames erupt from his palm, bright and fierce against the darkness. The fire flickers and roars, casting a warm glow that momentarily banishes the shadows. The flames dance with a life of their own, illuminating the intricate symbols he has drawn in the mud at his feet—runes of protection and binding, glowing faintly in response to the fire.

As he chants the spell, the flames twist and spiral, forming shapes that flicker like ghosts in the night. The water around him ripples, reflecting the fiery light and creating a surreal tableau of fire and water. The graveyard seems to hold its breath, the only sound the crackling of the flames and the distant rustle of leaves in the wind.

Constantine's voice rises above the stillness, a gritty determination lacing his words. He knows the stakes are high; the forces he is summoning are not to be trifled with. The flames intensify, casting long shadows stretching across the gravestones as if the spirits of the dead are drawn to his power. In this moment, he is both a sorcerer and a soldier, standing resolute against the darkness that threatens to engulf him.

[Workflow: Mulitple images were created from a dozen Tengr image prompts, which I then spliced together and did my usual post-edits for clean-ups, texture fixing, and other filtering tweaks.]

John Standing in a Subway Station

Another composite image of John Constantine was sourced from multiple Tengr image prompts, which I then spliced together and did my usual post-edits for clean-ups, texture fixing, and other filtering tweaks.

John smoking a cigarette before boarding the subway

A Variety of John Constantines

Here is a new batch of John Constantine images that started from several Tengr prompts, and then I finished them over the last week with post-edits in Affinity Photo.

The Jar of Dragon's Flames, Part 1: "The Thief of Flames"

[another imagined John Constantine comic book cover for DC Comics. This two-part storyline is proposed to be written by Brian Azzarello with interior art by Goran Sudzuka and variant covers by TrUzApalOOza.]

Title: The Jar of Dragon's Flames

Starring: John Constantine (The Trenchcoat Magician)

Publisher: DC Comics

Synopsis: When a mysterious jar containing the flames of a dragon is stolen from a secret society, John Constantine is hired to retrieve it. But as he delves deeper into the world of black magic and ancient curses, he discovers that the jar's true power is not just its ability to unleash fiery destruction, but also its capacity to manipulate the very fabric of reality.

• Part 1: "The Thief of Flames"

John Constantine is hired by a mysterious client to steal a jar containing the flames of a dragon from a secret society. But as he infiltrates the society's headquarters, he realizes that the jar is more than just a simple container - it's a key to unlocking the secrets of the universe. As Constantine navigates the treacherous world of black magic, he must confront his own demons and make a choice between his own morality and the temptation of ultimate power.

• Part 2: "The Blaze of Reality"

Constantine's quest for the jar has awakened a powerful force that threatens to destroy the very fabric of reality. As the flames of the dragon begin to spread, Constantine must use all his magical prowess to contain the blaze and prevent a catastrophic outcome. But as the stakes grow higher, Constantine begins to realize that the jar's true power is not just its ability to unleash destruction, but also its capacity to manipulate the very fabric of reality. Can Constantine find a way to stop the flames and restore balance to the universe, or will he succumb to the temptation of ultimate power?

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Horror, Adventure

Target Audience: Mature Readers (16+)

Page Count: 32 pages (2-part storyline)

Format: Full-color, 6.625 x 10.25 inches (standard comic book size)

[Workflow: Starter images of the dragon, John, and background creatures in Tengr AI. Combined images together, added more light reflections, flames, sparks, and demon skulls within Affinity Photo.]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

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.]

Hi-rez image link [2871px wide]

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.]

Hi-rez image link [2777px wide]

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.]

Hi-rez image link [3840px wide]

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.]

Hi-rez image link [3840px wide]

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.

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.]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

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.

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

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.]

Hi-rez image link [3227 px wide]

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.]

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.

Hi-rez image link [3264px wide]

Demons and Drafts (with John Constantine)

As the sun dipped below the London skyline, John Constantine held a mug of cold British lager, savoring the crisp taste and the fleeting sense of relief that came with another day of outwitting demons and evil warlocks. Standing tall in the crowded pub, his worn trenchcoat flapping open to reveal a rumpled white shirt and a pair of scuffed boots, he gazed out at the room with a mixture of disdain and amusement, the dim lighting and raucous chatter of the patrons a welcome respite from the darkness that lurked just beyond the edge of reality. John surveyed the room and announced "Cheers, mate! Let's get smashed!" to the few patrons conscious enough to understand his words.

[Workflow: I started with some Tengr input images, took the pieces I wanted, and merged them into the final image.   Artifacts cleaned up in Affinity with various Fx, color tweaks, and other adjustments for the finished look and feel.]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]