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[[quoteright:330:[[ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Hellblazer03.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:330:A trenchcoat brigadier in his natural environment.]]

->''"You learn the basics, have a hideous experience in a graveyard, they give you a trenchcoat and steal your razor. Like an assembly line, really."''
-->-- '''Ambrose Bierce''', ''ComicBook/StanleyAndHisMonster''

The most famous spitting image of an OccultDetective, many creators figure that if they give a bloke a [[BadassLongcoat trenchcoat]], a pack of [[SmokingIsCool smokes]], a [[PermaStubble five o'clock shadow]], a [[DeadpanSnarker quick wit]], [[FirstPersonSmartass hard-boiled and self-referential dialogue]] and a [[DarkAndTroubledPast dark]], [[MysteriousPast mysterious past]], they've got themselves a MagnificentBastard of an AntiHero that they can send out to fight [[ReligionOfEvil various]] [[TheLegionsOfHell occult]] [[EldritchAbomination foes]].

Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. What they ''always'' do get, though, is a member of the Trenchcoat Brigade.

Members of the Trenchcoat Brigade are those characters who are strongly influenced by, inspired by, or out and out {{expy}}/copies of the character of ComicBook/JohnConstantine, first introduced in 1985 by Creator/DCComics. He has all of the above characteristics, as well as being British, blond, and pretty much a loner. (The strings of loved-and-lost women -- or occasionally men -- they may take up with don't count.)

For the trenchcoat itself, see BadassLongcoat, mere possession of which does not automatically make one a member of the Trenchcoat Brigade. The item of apparel in question is also (and [[OlderThanTheyThink was earlier]]) a stereotype of "stale beer" SpyFiction, which lends plenty of inspiration to the characters on this page. Not as much overlap with TrenchCoatWarfare as you might expect. Distant cousin of AngelsInOvercoats.

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!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* Kiritsugu Emiya from ''Literature/FateZero''. He wears a grungy longcoat, smokes so much and has cold and calculating facade. Top of all that, he's also a MageKiller specializing in killing rogue mages with his own brand of magic.
* Alucard from ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}''. The guy's a cold-hearted bastard who loves to taunt his foes, but occasionally sides with the good as an OccultDetective.
* Ginko from ''Manga/{{Mushishi}}''. The guy attracts supernatural plague called Mushi and has to deal with unfortunate people who had encountered it occasionally.
* Damien from ''Manga/{{Nightschool}}''. He doesn't have stubble, but when you can [[spoiler:stop bullets from reaching your skin, break bones, and flatten NYC ''just by thinking about it'']] then you can be a nitpicker.
* ''Anime/PhantomQuestCorp'' has U Division's Detective Karino, who's usually seen in his trencoat and PermaStubble, and he's a smoker. {{Subverted}} in that he isn't hard-boiled. Instead, he's an UnluckyEverydude who's overworked and a bit of a bumbler, but still [[LetsGetDangerous reasonably good at his job.]]
* Tatsumi Saiga of ''Anime/SpeedGrapher'' fits the bill to a T. Smokes, cynical and snarky- hes a photo journalist investigating a fetish ring. Top of all that, he's also got some nifty occult powers.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ''ComicBook/{{Bizancio}}'': Marcos Bizancio is an Argentinian equivalent.
* ''ComicBook/{{Bujarin}}'': Alex Bujarin.
* ''ComicBook/CriminalMacabre'': Cal [=McDonald=] from the comics by Steven Niles isn't British, but otherwise fits this trope to a T. He even uses ghouls as informants.
* ''ComicBook/{{Excalibur|MarvelComics}}'': [[ComicBook/{{Wisdom}} Pete Wisdom]] (even when he wasn't being written by Warren Ellis, his creator) was always like this. He's cleaned up a bit recently, though. Given up smoking and everything. Some fans have theorised that the original character ''was'' the NinetiesAntiHero version of the character, and this is just a [[CharacterDevelopment natural progression]]. Since Excalibur deals with Marvel's mutants in England, and ''lots'' of dimension-travelling, there's no question about the supernatural elements he's had to face.
* ''ComicBook/{{Fables}}'':
** Bigby Wolf, who wears a trenchcoat and smokes thin cigars. The actual [[TheBigBadWolf Big Bad Wolf]], Bigby nonetheless has supernatural powers in him, and he's a detective too.
** Beast is also one when he plays dress-up as Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe as he tracks down his demonic wife.
** The character Jack Horner also fits this trope. While not wearing a trenchcoat, or smoking that many cigars, or being British at all, Jack fits the bill for being the snarkiest selfish bastard in the Fables series, much akin to John Constantine. Like him, Jack also tricks gods and devils from time to time and also does some hustling conjobs along the way.
* ''ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}}'': [[Characters/HellblazerJohnConstantine John Constantine]] is the UrExample, of course. He first appeared in ''ComicBook/SwampThing'' and spun-off into his own series some years later. (''Swamp Thing'' showed the title character and John Constantine both active in ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'', although Constantine had only a ''very'' small role in the actual miniseries.) Constantine was created by Creator/AlanMoore based on his idea of "creating a character who looked like Music/{{Sting}}", although Sting did not tend to wear trenchcoats or smoke (at least in public).
** TropeNamer "Trenchcoat Brigade" was coined in the ''ComicBook/TheBooksOfMagic'' MiniSeries by Creator/NeilGaiman. There was even a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trenchcoat_Brigade four issue Trenchcoat Brigade mini-series.]] In the minis - and in the main ''ComicBook/TheBooksOfMagic'' series - Constantine was teamed with DC characters ComicBook/ThePhantomStranger, [[OccultDetective Doctor Occult]], and Mister E; the Trenchcoat Brigade functioned as something of a mystical/magical ComicBook/JusticeLeague.
*** The ComicBook/New52's ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueDark'' is essentially a successor to the Trenchcoat Brigade. Like the original, it deals in the occult and is headed by John Constantine. For a period it also included original Trenchcoat Brigader Phantom Stranger
** Though many writers have wanted to use Constantine in their series, DC [[ExecutiveMeddling denied them]] up until 2011 because of the "mature readers" status of ''Hellblazer'' and fears that including the character in the more supposedly family-friendly parts of the Franchise/DCUniverse might cause controversy. So, instead, various [[CaptainErsatz analogues and homages]] to John have appeared. As the comics are in the same continuity anyway, this overlaps with ExpyCoexistence.
*** Due to the above, Creator/GrantMorrison created Willoughby Kipling for their run on ''ComicBook/DoomPatrol'' (which, ironically, would join the "mature readers" club six months later). They also based him on Withnail from ''Film/WithnailAndI''.
*** Also due to the above, Creator/PhilFoglio's update of ''ComicBook/StanleyAndHisMonster'' featured author Creator/AmbroseBierce drawn to look like Constantine and playing much the same role. The series claims that his horror stories were based on truth, and he staged his own disappearance to avoid an EldritchAbomination that was coming to complain about his depiction of it. People keep mistaking him for Constantine, who he calls a clown.
* ''ComicBook/{{Hellboy}}'': Not only is Hellboy an {{occult detective}}, he's a trenchcoat fan and a heavy smoker.
** He first appeared on earth in Britain (though he was actually born in Hell.) He considers himself American, though.
* ''ComicBook/{{Invincible}}'': The demon detective Damien Darkblood, who's something of an expy of both Constantine and Hellboy; solving cases gets him a reprieve from being sent back to Hell for a few years each. Unfortunately for him, he isn't very good at his job (when he finally pieced together the case of [[spoiler: Omni-Man's murder of the Guardians of the Globe]] and revealed his findings, the truth of said case had already become public knowledge for some months).
* ''ComicBook/{{Planetary}}'': Jack Carter, also by Warren Ellis.
* ''ComicBook/PrydeAndWisdom'': Constance Johanssen was Warren Ellis's homage/parody of Constantine in the mini-series: "Constance Johanssen. Excellent occult detective. Has a habit of getting her friends killed. Two hundred at last count."
* ''ComicBook/TheSandman1989'': Creator/NeilGaiman created John Constantine's ancestor, Johanna Constantine. Even though she doesn't wear a trenchcoat, she's still a MagnificentBastard. It's also implied that Constantines gravitate towards this trope especially if their initials are "JC".
* ''ComicBook/{{Trese}}'': Trese is a relatively rare female example: a babaylan[[note]]Indigenous Philippine spiritual leader[[/note]] who works as an OccultDetective who in fact wears a trenchcoat and has a rather moody personality, at times involved in surreal antics fitting of John Constantine. The [[WesternAnimation/{{Trese}} animated adaptation]] does the additional work of removing her signature HornedHairdo and (at least per WordOfGay) making "sapphic" much as Constatine is bisexual.
* ''ComicBook/WormwoodGentlemanCorpse'': The comic has the lifestyle and ruthlessly morally ambiguous style of battling evil of one of these, but has the persona of a [[SlummingIt slumming]] public school type.
* ''ComicBook/XMen'': ComicBook/{{Gambit}} has a trenchcoat, stubble, mysterious past, and dubious morality. All that's missing is the occult specialty, though he's had his fair share of occult dealings both as a member of the X-Men and before that as a member of the Thieves Guild.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' has John Constantine, Pete Wisdom and Harry Dresden, all of whom are mentioned on this page. Wisdom gets extra points for also being [[spoiler: Regulus Black]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* The film version of ''Film/AloneInTheDark2005'' has a more snarky and jerky (but less life-like) Edward Carnby.
* While his literary counterpart below has some aspects of this, Anton in the ''Film/NightWatch'' films is an even better example, wearing a trenchcoat and CoolShades, and is clearly an alcoholic. Dealing with the "Others" is probably enough to turn anyone sour.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': Harry Dresden, private investigator and wizard, ticks every box on the list but the smoking. He technically wears a leather duster rather than a trenchcoat, but the visual effect is the same. It's also justified, because the duster is enchanted to be bulletproof, fireproof, and waterproof. His [[http://img01.spacenode.com/article/5pc_dresden-new-cover.jpg book covers]] add a nice hat to the formula, but the actual character makes a point of [[CoversAlwaysLie not being a hat person.]] The MagnificentBastard tendencies take a while to come in, but [[Literature/BloodRites when]] [[Literature/TurnCoat they]] [[Literature/SkinGame do]]...well, suffice to say that you ''really'' don't want to hurt Harry's loved ones.
* In the virtual reality world of the ''Literature/EscapistDream'', geeks and visitors can visit and role-play as their favorite fictional characters. Jim Broughton, one of the main protagonists, was inspired to base himself around the character of John Constantine, complete with the trenchcoat, Silk Cut, snarky attitude, and being from Liverpool. Jim's image of John Constantine goes beyond just costume. In most of his adventures, he tended to defeat his foes not with brute strength but by wit and manipulation.
* Lindsey Davis doesn't let the fact that her Roman public informer Literature/MarcusDidiusFalco lived seventeen centuries before the invention of the trenchcoat get in the way of this trope. [[Literature/TheMalteseFalcon Falco]] is often seen on investigations lurking in a dark out-of-the-way corner whilst wearing a big dark hooded cloak, often loosely fastened in front with a belt.
* Simon R. Green's ''{{Literature/Nightside}}'' series has John Taylor, who is basically a nicer John Constantine.
* The ''Literature/RedRoom'' series is about Derek Hawthorne, a snarky trenchcoat-wearing secret agent who deals with the supernatural. Later, he learns the bare basics of magic and becomes sort of John Constantine meets James Bond.
* A recent addition to the brigade is Jimmy Stark, antihero of Richard Kadrey's ''Literature/SandmanSlim''. Ragged & snarky, with a dark past and hellish powers; wearing a black silk trenchcoat with no irony, and smoking Maledictions, the cigarettes from Hell.
* A lot of the groups in ''Literature/TheSolomonCode'' are like this, but of specific note are the Templars when Chad first meets them. It's evident that the Templars wear the long coats specifically to look cool.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
** Spike really, really wants to be one of these after his HeelFaceTurn. He is, however, a bit too punkish, vibrant, and dorky to fulfill the grizzled coolness of the trope--though he does have the trench coat, the smoking habit, and the (albeit bleached) blond hair.
** Angel borderlines it, there have even been comments about similarities between Constantine and Angel, or possible inspiration. Angel doesn't smoke, although he did once as Angelus.
* ''Series/DoomPatrol2019'': Just like his comic book version, Willoughby Kipling is as shifty and trenchcoated as ever.
* Being an adaptation of the UrExample and TropeNamer [[ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}} John Constantine]], of course ''Series/{{Constantine}}'' features this. As well as when he later joins the cast of ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow''.
* The Archangel Raphael, of all people, is depicted as this in ''Series/{{Hex}}'', although he turns out to be an ineffectual asshole who vanishes from the show after he [[GratuitousRape completely out-of-nowhere tries to rape Ella]] and gets humiliatingly repelled via GroinAttack.
* ''Series/KamenRiderWizard'': The title character, Haruto, is described as modelled on a "modern-day wizard", and notably wears a black trenchcoat ''[[HenshinHero while transformed]]''. His powers come from bargaining with a "Phantom" that [[EnemyWithin awakened inside him]] after he ''almost'' crossed the DespairEventHorizon, and he protects people from [[TheHeartless fully-manifested Phantoms]] using a combination of [[RingOfPower magic rings]] (crafted for him by a local jeweller) and a gun loaded with {{Silver Bullet}}s.[[note]]Being a ''Franchise/KamenRider'' series, his gun is still {{toyetic}} in design (it [[SwissArmyWeapon turns into a sword]]!), but it has a simple silver finish reminiscent of an old-school revolver.[[/note]] Though in practice he's much LighterAndSofter than most of these characters, being a {{Badbutt}} and ShowyInvincibleHero whose snarkiness mainly manifests as [[SmugSuper smugness to his allies]].
* Castiel from ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' was influenced by Constantine's image. Though he's not British and doesn't smoke (as far as we know), he does wear a trenchcoat and is morally dubious, [[OurAngelsAreDifferent even though he's an angel]]. He was originally meant to ''be'' Constantine, [[WhatCouldHaveBeen but adding him to the show's lore was too complicated.]]
* Jack Harkness from ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'', an immortal, snarky, morally questionable [[TheMenInBlack Man In Black]] who is one of the few people on this page to seriously rival John Constantine for the number of his friends and allies who have ended up horribly dead or broken. (Jack's coat is dark blue wool.) He doesn't smoke, though.
* The vampire private detective Franklin from ''Series/TrueBlood'' is introduced as one of these, but turns out to be a villainous psycho.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]
* Thomas Rhymer in the ''TabletopGame/FreedomCity'' setting for ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds'' is blatantly a Northern Irish Helblazer, with his illustration in ''Atlas of Earth Prime'' showing him complete with trenchcoat, stubble, and cigarette (and shoulder length red hair, for variety). His back story has much the same beats as Constantine's, born with significant magical ability, tried to ignore it and formed a band, had a horrible experience which left him in a psychiatric ward, and eventually ended up WalkingTheEarth, solving magical problems with "a combination of cunning, knowledge and sheer determination".
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* Edward Carnby from ''VideoGame/AloneInTheDark'' who uses more guns to fight monsters than magic.
* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'': [[AllThereInTheManual In the game’s manual]] and Hideki Kamiya’s description, Dante is described as a wisecracking British paranormal investigator, complete with trench coat (faded red rather than brown, in his case.) While a few of these traits still made it into the early games, every entry beyond ''2'' made his sense of humor and wardrobe more brash and flamboyant, his accent more American, his allies more plentiful and his already ostensible job as some kind of investigator seemingly supplanted by superhero.
* Sissel from ''VideoGame/GhostTrick''.
* Ronan O'Connor from ''VideoGame/MurderedSoulSuspect''. Though he doesn't wear a coat, he still smokes and snarks like it's running out of style, even in the afterlife.
* Bigby Wolf from the adaptation ''VideoGame/TheWolfAmongUs''. While Bigby doesn't do trenchcoats, The voice actor really did great job in making him a ''Hellblazer''-standard SnarkKnight.
* Constantine movie also had a video game adaptation.
* The title character of the ''VideoGame/GabrielKnight'' games has the blond hair, the trench coat, the [[SnarkKnight snarky disposition]] as he does battle with voodoo cults, werewolves, vampires, and his own personal demons.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* "Omen" from ''VisualNovel/SuperNova2022'' is pretty much Constantine as a pine marten. Mnesis finds his supernatural antics very annoying, since he often interacts with the magical criminal underworld.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* Andrew Cross from ''[[{{Webcomic/Morphe}} morphE]]'' is a by the numbers example. An agent of the occult with a long coat, thick stubble and a crazed paranoid outlook.
* Nick from ''Webcomic/SchwarzKreuz''. DarkAndTroubledPast? He's a virgin vampire (this requires ''[[DrivenToSuicide suicide]]''), and that's just for starters. TheAlcoholic? Check. [[PermaStubble Unkempt]]? Check. BadassLongcoat? Check.
* Riff of ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' fits most of the trope. His dark and troubled past working as a Hereti Corp freelancer is often brought up even today. His inventions potentially destroying all (or most) of mankind is another for which he's visibly trying to redeem himself for. Dimensional travel, hell's kittens, and time travel all rear their heads in this (supposedly) Slice of Life series. He also has a string of girlfriends he left behind. He doesn't smoke though.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Dante Vale from ''WesternAnimation/{{Huntik}}''.
* Damien Darkblood has the same role in the ''WesternAnimation/Invincible2021'' series as in the comics, but is noticeably better at it [[spoiler: since he figures out Omni-Man is the Guardians of the Globe's killer much sooner]]. Unfortunately for him, [[spoiler: he ends up [[FateWorseThanDeath banished back to Hell]] for his troubles by a third party]].
[[/folder]]
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->"I heard that, Constantine."
-->-- ComicBook/ThePhantomStranger, ''ComicBook/TheBooksOfMagic''
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