War for the Prophecy
The War for the Prophecy is a Match in the Hellblazer comic book series, taking place in issues 3-12.
Context
A prophecy engraved in a stone in Hell predicts that at the winter solstice a child will be born from a conjunction between nature and supernature, and this child will be a healing force in the human realm. A fundamentalist Christian group called the Resurrection Crusade intends to use this prophecy to bring about the Second Coming and institute the Kingdom of God on Earth, while the Damnation Army, led by the demon Nergal, wants to stop the prophecy from being concretized. Constantine meets and becomes romantically involved with a mysterious woman called Zed, who is being hunted down by both groups: the Resurrection Crusade wants to use her as the Mother of God and the Damnation Army wants to kill her to prevent that from happening. Constantine, wanting to protect both Zed and humanity, gets involved to try to stop both sides from getting what they want.
Players
- John Constantine and allies:
- John Constantine
- Zed
- Ray Monde
- Ritchie Simpson
- Swamp Thing
- The Damnation Army:
- Nergal
- Ironfist the Avenger
- The Resurrection Crusade
Tricks
Outcome
Constantine destroys both the Resurrection Crusade and Nergal, while at the same time fulfilling the prophecy by having Swamp Thing conceive a child. However, unknowingly to Swamp Thing and his wife Abby, the child inherited demon blood that Constantine received from Nergal.
As usual, despite his victory, Constantine's allies suffer dire fates: Ray Monde is beaten to death by the Resurrection Crusade, while Ritchie Simpson first loses his body, leaving his consciousness trapped inside a computer, and later becomes a demon and is dragged to Hell. Zed, although presumed dead, survives the destruction of the Resurrection Crusade and eventually hitchhikes to Scotland, joining a Green Anarchist commune called the Pagan Nation.
