Jamie Delano
Encyclopedia
Jamie Delano is a British
comics
writer
. He was part of the first post-Alan Moore
"British Invasion" of writers. Best known as the first writer of the comic book series Hellblazer
, starring John Constantine
.
, originally a secondary character introduced during Moore's revolutionary Swamp Thing
run. Delano established the character in his own right, fleshing out what had been, in Moore's hands, a more shadowy, wisecracking sort of figure. It was also Delano who set the character firmly in London, Moore (and later Veitch) preferring to present him travelling virtually anywhere at will. Delano's Constantine is very much flesh and blood, never using magic when a con will do, frequently drunk, down & out, and haunted by his accidental condemning of a little girl named Astra to Hell
.
Delano's approach to Hellblazer owes much to the quiet, cold but vicious work of British "new wave" writers like Ramsey Campbell
and J.G. Ballard and it is this tone that subsequent writers have either had to adopt or go violently against. He established the character's history – and his family's – going all the way back to the time of King Arthur
in one of the more emblematic Constantine stories, "The Bloody Saint" (1989), drawn by Bryan Talbot
. Much of his version of Constantine was the basis of the 2005 Constantine
movie.
Most of his work since leaving the book to Garth Ennis
and many others since (though he has gone back to the character a number of times), has also been for DC
/Vertigo, both radical treatments of established characters and more pointed, political works, a list of which (from his site) can be found below.
Much of Delano's often bitingly witty work shares concerns with that of other British comics writers like Pat Mills
, and can be characterized as science fiction
, or horror, but often is a blend thereof and used very allegorically. In its concern with transformation of bodies and cultures, through psychedelia, conspiracy, or science, his work shares much with the likes of David Cronenberg
and some, like Ghostdancing or Animal Man, have taken a great deal of influence from Carlos Castaneda
and Jim Morrison
.
Subjects in his work include the War of the sexes (World Without End), imperialism
and genocide
(Ghostdancing), and environmental & cultural collapse (2020 Visions
, Animal Man
).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
comics
Comics
Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. He was part of the first post-Alan Moore
Alan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
"British Invasion" of writers. Best known as the first writer of the comic book 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...
, starring 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...
.
Biography
Jamie Delano was hand-picked by Alan Moore to continue writing John ConstantineJohn 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...
, originally a secondary character introduced during Moore's revolutionary Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing, a fictional character, is a plant elemental in the created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson. He first appeared in House of Secrets #92 in a stand-alone horror story set in the early 20th century . The Swamp Thing then returned in his own series, set in the contemporary world and in...
run. Delano established the character in his own right, fleshing out what had been, in Moore's hands, a more shadowy, wisecracking sort of figure. It was also Delano who set the character firmly in London, Moore (and later Veitch) preferring to present him travelling virtually anywhere at will. Delano's Constantine is very much flesh and blood, never using magic when a con will do, frequently drunk, down & out, and haunted by his accidental condemning of a little girl named Astra to Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
.
Delano's approach to Hellblazer owes much to the quiet, cold but vicious work of British "new wave" writers like Ramsey Campbell
Ramsey Campbell
John Ramsey Campbell is an English horror fiction author.Since he first came to prominence in the mid-1960s, critics have cited Campbell as one of the leading writers in his field: T. E. D. Klein has written that "Campbell reigns supreme in the field today", while S. T...
and J.G. Ballard and it is this tone that subsequent writers have either had to adopt or go violently against. He established the character's history – and his family's – going all the way back to the time of King Arthur
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
in one of the more emblematic Constantine stories, "The Bloody Saint" (1989), drawn by Bryan Talbot
Bryan Talbot
Bryan Talbot is a British comic book artist and writer, born in Wigan, Lancashire, in 1952. He is best known as the creator of The Adventures of Luther Arkwright and its sequel Heart of Empire.-Career:...
. Much of his version of Constantine was the basis of the 2005 Constantine
Constantine (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...
movie.
Most of his work since leaving the book to Garth Ennis
Garth Ennis
Garth Ennis is a Northern Irish comics writer, best known for the Vertigo series Preacher with artist Steve Dillon and his successful nine-year run on Marvel Comics' Punisher franchise...
and many others since (though he has gone back to the character a number of times), has also been for DC
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
/Vertigo, both radical treatments of established characters and more pointed, political works, a list of which (from his site) can be found below.
Much of Delano's often bitingly witty work shares concerns with that of other British comics writers like Pat Mills
Pat Mills
Pat Mills, nicknamed 'the godfather of British comics', is a comics writer and editor who, along with John Wagner, revitalised British boys comics in the 1970s, and has remained a leading light in British comics ever since....
, and can be characterized as science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, or horror, but often is a blend thereof and used very allegorically. In its concern with transformation of bodies and cultures, through psychedelia, conspiracy, or science, his work shares much with the likes of David Cronenberg
David Cronenberg
David Paul Cronenberg, OC, FRSC is a Canadian filmmaker, screenwriter and actor. He is one of the principal originators of what is commonly known as the body horror or venereal horror genre. This style of filmmaking explores people's fears of bodily transformation and infection. In his films, the...
and some, like Ghostdancing or Animal Man, have taken a great deal of influence from Carlos Castaneda
Carlos Castaneda
Carlos Castaneda was a Peruvian-born American anthropologist and author....
and Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison
James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American musician, singer, and poet, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band The Doors...
.
Subjects in his work include the War of the sexes (World Without End), imperialism
Imperialism
Imperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
and genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
(Ghostdancing), and environmental & cultural collapse (2020 Visions
2020 Visions
2020 Visions is a science-fiction comic book written by Jamie Delano and drawn by four artists. Originally serialized as a twelve-issue full-color limited series from 1997 to 1998 at the Vertigo imprint of DC Comics, it was later collected as a black-and-white volume in a 2004 hardcover from...
, Animal Man
Animal Man
Animal Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . As a result of being in proximity to an exploding extraterrestrial spaceship, Buddy Baker acquires the ability to temporarily “borrow” the abilities of animals...
).
Interviews
- Trail Blazers: Interviews with Jamie Delano and Garth Ennis, by David Carroll, Bloodsongs #8, 1997
- Dark Horse Comics' 1998 interview about The Territory
- The Comics Interpreter 1999 interview with Jamie Delano
- Tales That Witness Madness: A Brief Talk With Jamie Delano by Helen Braithwaite, Sequential Tart, December 1999
- Jamie Delano: Drug Addled Prophet for The Masses, Popimage, December 1999