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annashiv's review against another edition
2.0
I've had some exposure to Constantine, and I've liked what I've seen so far. I'm not a super fan though. I don't know what his old series have been like, but this was just a bit dull. Once it brought in Shazam, it didn't really explain what had happened in some other comic very well so I was a bit lost and the story suffered. It would have really benefited from some sort of recap, or at least done better. The art was good. Designs were good. It was just the story that wasn't particularly interesting.
aceinit's review against another edition
2.0
I will try to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible, since I know some people out there are waiting for the graphic novel before reading. But, be warned, that may not happen.
I’m going to start by saying this, because it needs to be said: for most of my comic-reading life, I’ve stayed away from the powerhouses of Marvel and DC. I didn’t care for the concept of reboots and multi-verses and why does the world need 4 different versions of Batman and the X-Men and what the hell is continuity, where do I even start reading? And it seemed like for every character I was interested in, there were 5 or 6 titles starring that character and another handful where that character was a vital part of some team or another, and there were company-wide crossover events every other Wednesday. It was too much of a huge, intimidating juggernaut for me to ever want to begin to figure out.
Which was why I liked Vertigo Comics, and why they became my first and favorite publishing house. Though series such as The Sandman and Hellblazer occasionally ventured into other territory, it was rarely, and never often enough to be a distraction or require in-depth research about series I knew I would never want to start reading. Vertigo was self-contained. Vertigo told damn-good stories and mostly each title kept to itself. And, when when my favorite titles were only mediocre, I knew they would eventually get better again.
So when Hellblazer ended its run with Vertigo, and it was announced that John was being reborn into the mainstream DC Universe, I was wary. Very, very wary. With good reason, as it turns out.
With Constantine London’s favorite mage says good-bye to London and to Vertigo comics, and becomes a transplanted New Yorker and a resident of DC’s New 52 universe. He also becomes less of a Hellblazer, and more of a do-gooder. It even says so in the title credits every issue. In short, John Constantine remains John Constantine in name, appearance, and the fact that he can work magic. 300-issues of backstory has been more or less wiped out to make way for the new John Constantine.
John is living in New York because he's cursed—in the most literal sense—from re-entering London, which seems like a cheap shot and a desperate ploy to drag him away from his origins and the heart of his story and force him to integrate into the New 52-verse. But it's the core of his character that's undergone the greatest shift.
Here's that opening credits blurb I mentioned earlier:
Yes, fine. So far, so good. But then...
Wait...
What?
So John’s a crusader now. An active participant in an underground magic war, working more or less for the forces of good. He's only as British as the occasional “Oi!” when he hails a taxi. He’s younger. He’s prettier. He’s apparently never met Kit or Angie or Epiphany or Ric the Vic or Astra. Because, in an issue titled “Everyone he’s ever sacrificed,” which heavily implies that said people will be confronting John, there’d damn well better be some Astra.
What we get is Chris, a troubled young man who comes to John for help with, to the series’ credit, predictable results. I liked Chris. He was a good kid. I would’ve liked to see him stick around longer. He would’ve made an interesting counterweight to John, and an even more interesting pawn. But Chris, like John's history, is a throwaway character, forgotten as soon as he's no longer convenient.
What follows is a highly-episodic quest to regain a magical artifact (you know the kind...three issues, three different cities...very little in common except for the main character in between). And, by the fifth damn issue John is caught up in...wait for it..a company-wide crossover event! Though his part is largely self-contained, it served as a reminder of exactly why I avoid titles from major companies.
If I didn’t have 300 issues of history with John and his world, I’d probably go a little lighter on my opinions of Constantine . The creative team does the best they can with what they’re given, and what they’ve been tasked with accomplishing. But it’s not a series I will ever fall in love with the way I did with Hellblazer. I’ll spend too long comparing it to what it once was, and lamenting what I’ve lost.
I told myself I would give the series to the end of its first major arc, and the end of this collection leaves a few things unresolved. So, after around issue 10 or 12, it will most likely no longer be a part of my monthly pull. I’m saddened, but I can’t say I’m surprised.
I’m going to start by saying this, because it needs to be said: for most of my comic-reading life, I’ve stayed away from the powerhouses of Marvel and DC. I didn’t care for the concept of reboots and multi-verses and why does the world need 4 different versions of Batman and the X-Men and what the hell is continuity, where do I even start reading? And it seemed like for every character I was interested in, there were 5 or 6 titles starring that character and another handful where that character was a vital part of some team or another, and there were company-wide crossover events every other Wednesday. It was too much of a huge, intimidating juggernaut for me to ever want to begin to figure out.
Which was why I liked Vertigo Comics, and why they became my first and favorite publishing house. Though series such as The Sandman and Hellblazer occasionally ventured into other territory, it was rarely, and never often enough to be a distraction or require in-depth research about series I knew I would never want to start reading. Vertigo was self-contained. Vertigo told damn-good stories and mostly each title kept to itself. And, when when my favorite titles were only mediocre, I knew they would eventually get better again.
So when Hellblazer ended its run with Vertigo, and it was announced that John was being reborn into the mainstream DC Universe, I was wary. Very, very wary. With good reason, as it turns out.
With Constantine London’s favorite mage says good-bye to London and to Vertigo comics, and becomes a transplanted New Yorker and a resident of DC’s New 52 universe. He also becomes less of a Hellblazer, and more of a do-gooder. It even says so in the title credits every issue. In short, John Constantine remains John Constantine in name, appearance, and the fact that he can work magic. 300-issues of backstory has been more or less wiped out to make way for the new John Constantine.
John is living in New York because he's cursed—in the most literal sense—from re-entering London, which seems like a cheap shot and a desperate ploy to drag him away from his origins and the heart of his story and force him to integrate into the New 52-verse. But it's the core of his character that's undergone the greatest shift.
Here's that opening credits blurb I mentioned earlier:
Nearly destroyed by its temptations in his youth, John Constantine knows the price of magic’s corrupting influence all too well.
Yes, fine. So far, so good. But then...
Now, he fights the battle to maintain balance and prevent anyone from becoming too powerful...
Wait...
What?
So John’s a crusader now. An active participant in an underground magic war, working more or less for the forces of good. He's only as British as the occasional “Oi!” when he hails a taxi. He’s younger. He’s prettier. He’s apparently never met Kit or Angie or Epiphany or Ric the Vic or Astra. Because, in an issue titled “Everyone he’s ever sacrificed,” which heavily implies that said people will be confronting John, there’d damn well better be some Astra.
What we get is Chris, a troubled young man who comes to John for help with, to the series’ credit, predictable results. I liked Chris. He was a good kid. I would’ve liked to see him stick around longer. He would’ve made an interesting counterweight to John, and an even more interesting pawn. But Chris, like John's history, is a throwaway character, forgotten as soon as he's no longer convenient.
What follows is a highly-episodic quest to regain a magical artifact (you know the kind...three issues, three different cities...very little in common except for the main character in between). And, by the fifth damn issue John is caught up in...wait for it..a company-wide crossover event! Though his part is largely self-contained, it served as a reminder of exactly why I avoid titles from major companies.
If I didn’t have 300 issues of history with John and his world, I’d probably go a little lighter on my opinions of Constantine . The creative team does the best they can with what they’re given, and what they’ve been tasked with accomplishing. But it’s not a series I will ever fall in love with the way I did with Hellblazer. I’ll spend too long comparing it to what it once was, and lamenting what I’ve lost.
I told myself I would give the series to the end of its first major arc, and the end of this collection leaves a few things unresolved. So, after around issue 10 or 12, it will most likely no longer be a part of my monthly pull. I’m saddened, but I can’t say I’m surprised.
brandonadaniels's review against another edition
2.0
I’d read only bad things of this series, so I came in with low expectations. I thought it was fine. This is the new, younger and more “superheroy” version of the character found in Justice League Dark or Injustice, but many of the most important traits of the character remain. He’s not going on about British politics as much, but he’s still recognizable. The art is probably the thing that pushes it one step too far over the line into big two action comic. I can see some complaints about the shift to New York, and I get it, but even the original Hellblazer run began in New York, and John made several trips to and spent a big chunk of the original series in America in the Vertigo run. I’m dedicated enough to the character at this point t to stick it out… for now.
Update after reading the next two volumes: Honestly, skip this whole series unless you are a serious completionist. Anything redeemable about this first trade gets totally lost in a myriad of crossover tie inns.
Update after reading the next two volumes: Honestly, skip this whole series unless you are a serious completionist. Anything redeemable about this first trade gets totally lost in a myriad of crossover tie inns.
as_in_crazy's review against another edition
3.0
First off it ain't "Hellblazer." Nor was I expecting it to be so. But really it's a shame it's not. It just felt like it wanted to be within the confines of the main DCU's PG-13 sensibilities. It wants to be a serious book with dark and gritty subject matter. It just feels like a superhero book in disguise. Yeah our Constantine is a bastard, but he's our bastard. I'm not quite sure what I was hoping for, but what I got was a mediocre story of a younger brother desperately intimidating his older brother in an effort to be cool and edgy, but lacking the sense of self and authenticity to be cool on his own merits. But since I was gifted four volumes for Christmas I might as well give them a read, yeah?
dalidja's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
michellewords's review against another edition
3.0
Constantine it's a good filler between heroes, but there's not very much"soul" in it. He falls flat to me and the plot weak
violettwilight's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading this graphic novel. It had really well realized magic and I enjoyed that the main character was trying to save the world on his own way. I really want to continue reading this series.
ikeeper24's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
anastasiaadamov's review against another edition
3.0
First few chapters were a bit repetitive but the second half made up for it nicely. Theres gore and violence, sarcasm and darkness and also witty ways in which John gets himself out of trobule.
Would have rated it higher but the clilfhanger ending made me go GRRRRR....
Would have rated it higher but the clilfhanger ending made me go GRRRRR....
beardedbarista's review against another edition
5.0
First real delve into the world of Constantine and I really enjoy it. I have a pretty broad collection of both HellBlazer and Constantine comics and actual read this TPB as individual issues and continue to read the series up to date. And come on.. Jeff Lemire is awesome. Glad he is part of this series.