Comic Title: Hellblazer #18
Publisher: DC
Imprint: Vertigo
Cover Date: May 1989
On Sale Date: March 21, 1989 Copyright Date March 21, 1989
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1989

Shipping Date February 21, 1989
Source: Direct Currents, #13

Shipping Date February 23, 1989
Source: Advance Comics, #2

Shipping Date February 23, 1989
Source: Amazing Heroes, #158

Direct Market Date February 23, 1989
Source: Comic Shop News, #85

Cover Price: $1.50
Page Count: 32
Editor: Karen Berger

Title: "Hate Mail & Love Letters"
Pages: 24

Feature(s):
Hellblazer

Writer: Jamie Delano
Penciller: Mark Buckingham
Inker: Alfredo P. Alcala
Letterer: Elitta Fell
Colorist: Lovern Kindzierski

Reprinted In:
John Constantine, Hellblazer:The Fear Machine TPB (2008)
John Constantine, Hellblazer:The Fear Machine TPB (2012)

Feature Character(s)

• John Constantine (last appearance in Hellblazer #17; next appearance in Hellblazer #19)

Supporting Character(s)

• Marj (last appearance in Hellblazer #16; next appearance in Hellblazer #19)
• Errol (last appearance in Hellblazer #16; next appearance in Hellblazer #21)
• Zed (last appearance in Hellblazer #10; next appearance in Hellblazer #19)
• Chas (last appearance in Hellblazer #6; next appearance in Sandman #3)
• Geoff Talbot (a police inspector; next appearance in Hellblazer #19)
• Mercury (last appearance in Hellblazer #17; next appearance in Hellblazer #19)
• Simon Hughes (a journalist; next appearance in Hellblazer #19)

Villain(s)

• Doctor Phillip Fulton (last appearance in Hellblazer #17; next appearance in Hellblazer #19)
• The director of Geotroniks (last appearance in Hellblazer #16; next appearance in Hellblazer #20)
• Mr. Webster (last appearance in Hellblazer #17; next appearance in Hellblazer #20)

Other Character(s)

• Ken and Harold (hotel employees; next appearance in Hellblazer #19)
• Followers of the Pagan Nation (next appearance in Hellblazer #19)
• Joanie (Talbot's wife; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Mrs. Corbett (a test subject; next appearance in Hellblazer #20)

Comments:
The Fear Machine, Part V

This story takes place two months after the train crash in Hellblazer #17.

This story continues in Hellblazer #19.

Synopsis:
After two months in London, John Constantine finally gets a lead that might help him find Mercury. He runs into police detective Geoff Talbot in a bar. He learns two things from Talbot. First, he is not wanted by the police. His name was given to the press, but the police do not consider him a murder suspect. Second, Talbot was investigating dirty cops known as the Black Squad who kidnapped Mercury. Talbot has been receiving threatening letters for investigating his own. The letters lead his wife to suicide.

John also learns that a guest in the hotel where he is staying, Simon Hughes, is a journalist investigating Geotroniks. When John goes to Simon's room he finds him hung in a closet to die.