Hey everyone, Here's a custom I finished this week based on the DC/Vertigo character John Constantine from the HELLBLAZER comic series. While he's always had the trenchcoat, his actual style nad look has varied alot over the years between artists. I really loved the gritty, strung-out look used by the cover artist Simon Bisley. It also influenced the books interior art, although not quite as extreme. Constantine lives in the DC universe, although on the fringes (which is usually limited to offhand references to men in tights 'over in America'. Constantine's character is an almost archtypical trickster-mage, set in an urban fantasy context. John Constantine strives for the good of mankind in his own manipulative way against the dark beings and machinery of the universe. So, that preface out of the way for those who don't know the character, here's how I made this rendition of John. -DC Universe 'Signature' series John Constantine figure, seen here: Yep. Crazy long monkey arms (+ hands with long wrists, making him nearly reach his knees), overly long pelvis, legs, & shins, huge seamlines running along the figure's head... the factory version was in serious need of an overhaul. It was also strange that they tried to walk the line between the clean-cut version from the 1980's (he was modeled to look like musician 'Sting') - but tossed in newer developments like the facial scar, and loose tie. Switched the pelvis/upper legs with a Movie Masters 'Joker Goon'. Lower legs are modified DC Universe 'Star Man' pant legs, resculpted/modified to accept a ball-socket foot joint rather than an O-ring/cross bar version. Shoes/ankles came from a MEZCO Heroes figure (the homeless guy who can turn invisible, played by Eckleson). Forearms were cut off, and sliced with metal rebar into the forearms from DC Direct's Constantine figure (made back in the 1990s - that one looked like Mr. Bean. Serious, - it's hilarious. Trimmed off the molded in hands from that, dremmeled that out, and replaced them with fist-hands (inset) from another MEZO Heroes figure. I wanted John to have more of a brawler/rough look about him, so the dual fists worked well here. Resculpted the head with Kneadite (Citadel Green Stuff), and painted the figure head to toe (including the flexable trenchcoat) using Mr. Hobby Lacquer paint + thinner. Zero paint rub or cracking on the coat - the paint flexes along with the soft-plastic trenchcoat. I did some additional work on Constantine's face with skintones (Mr. Hobby), and later with Vallejo Acrylics and Citadel Inks (black, Red, + combinations of these) to create a seriously strung out looking anti-hero, as Bisley drew him on the covers:
There was an in-joke in the comic at one point, referring to another 'Constantine' running around America, doing similar work -- a wink/nod reference to the black haired, Keanu Reeves version from the film. This version's been around since Alan Moore introduced him in his Swamp Thing comic, and he got his actual title sometime during the 80s. Really cool (and dark) stuff, really recommend reading if you're into comics.
Damn that looks good. I love the character - though I will concede I haven't read any of the hellblazer series. I just know of him from Sandman and Books of Magic etc...
Dude,Blayne!I think this is the best thing I've seen from you,bro!That is killer work! I purchased the Citadel Green Stuff but have no idea how to use it without wasting it.Lol!I mean I bought the whole sculpting tool kit too.So,is the head on John here completely sculpted from scratch or is it just the hair resculpted on top of the other head?
Hi Sean, Thanks for your positive comment. I'm glad you're taking the plunge and getting some sculpting material/tools. I'd highly recommend getting one or two sizes of silicon 'clay shaper'. They're the best tool for applying/smoothing Green Stuff and Aves Apoxie Sculpt. Detail work (depending on the tools size) can be done with whatever you're comfortable with. Some of the best sculptors who work for Hot Toys just use custom-cut wooden skewers when sculpting clay. For this Hellblazer John Constantine custom, I dremmeled down the original hair and part of the face. I think there was some minor Aves sculpt work done on the cheeks/scar to fill them out, and the rest was Green Stuff. If you'd like to learn the in's and out's of using Green Stuff, I did a writeup on my website's "How To" area. Feel free to check it out here: Guides & How To by Blayne If you have any technical questions about things, let me know. I'll do my best to answer them.
Wow! This popped up in a google search 'cause I've decided I should photograph a Hellblazer figure. I'm not familiar with the base figure, so initially I assumed you'd merely (albeit brilliantly) weathered it. I thought, "Hmm... maybe I could afford this if he'd agree to sell it," and then I read the description of all you'd done to create this masterpiece and thought, "Never mind!" This is gorgeous work, man. Top-notch.
Been reading the old hellblazer stuff like mad lately and this is a work of art. Truely magnificent, i wish this was available for purchase somewhere.
Thanks guys. The head was resculpted, forearms replaced, and other aspects as well. Weathering wasn't really the issue, completely new parts were what fixed the wonky original's proportions. It's owned by a guy in the UK, but I did make a headcast of the original before it went out. I might make another some day - time will tell.
i can't stop clicking this thread. It seriously looks like it was just pulled out of the comic. Whoever got this is 1 lucky bastard.
Man, Bisley's art style isn't the easiest to pull into a 3D world but wow did you pull it off with flying colors! If DC had any sense they'd commision you to make these or buy the mold from you as tons of folks would buy the hell out of this if it were mass produced.
wow, that looks great.. at first i thought the initial photo of the figure you have here was just some artwork that you were basing the figure off of.
