CONSTANTINE Vol. 1: THE SPARK AND THE FLAME

CONSTANTINE Vol. 1: THE SPARK AND THE FLAME

Writers: Jeff Lemire, Ray Fawkes

Artists: Renato Guede with Marcelo Maiolo (colors)

$14.99, DC Comics, 144 pgs.

ISBN 978-1401243234

Don’t let the “Vol. 1” label fool you: the character of John Constantine has quite a history. Created by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, and John Totleben during the team’s now-legendary 1980s run on SWAMP THING, the acerbic Constantine eventually transcended his guest-star status and landed his own series. That title, HELLBLAZER, ran for a mammoth 300 issues from 1993 to 2013 and was a cornerstone of DC’s Vertigo imprint, the premier source for “mature readers” comics in the United States. Constantine inspired a disappointing film adaptation in 2005—the producers couldn’t even be bothered to make the character blond or British—and is set to star in a forthcoming TV series on NBC. Not bad for a non-superhero character in a comic book marketplace that normally prefers fights-in-tights to supernatural thrillers. 

Since DC folded the Vertigo imprint’s more prominent characters back into the mainstream DC universe, Constantine has been a key figure in the supernatural corner of DC’s “New 52” continuity, first in JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK and now in his own series. Constantine’s solo title requires no prior knowledge of the character. We find Constantine in territory similar to that explored during the HELLBLAZER series: the chain-smoking Constantine is alone, haunted by the horrors of his past, and forced to defend reality from evil wizards, secret cults, and horrific supernatural creatures. In this book, our (anti)hero travels the world in search of a powerful mystical relic, the pieces of which must be recovered before they fall into the hands of a sinister cult. It sounds simple, but for John Constantine, things never are.

In addition to putting Constantine through some familiar paces, this series reinvents many of DC’s old mystical characters, many of whom haven’t been seen much since the New 52 re-launch of 2011. Writers Lemire and Fawkes keep the emotional stakes high in an effective blend of horror and urban fantasy, and the art is appropriately moody. The book’s only weak spot is an interlude that ties-in with the Justice League’s “Trinity War” crossover, but to be fair, it’s not entirely out of place, thematically speaking. (That will make more sense when you read the book.)

TIPS FOR LIBRARIANS: This volume does not contain the complete story; this first story arc is shaping up to be a long one, it seems. However, the second volume hits shelves in August!

READERS’ ADVISORY NOTES: Horror and fantasy buffs should appreciate the tone and content. While not a truly “adult” title, CONSTANTINE pushes more envelopes than the rest of DC’s mainstream output. This book has the potential to appeal to older, lapsed comic readers who remember the character’s original iteration, as well as those who are new to comics and simply looking for some modern fantasy without the superheroics. You might find this also appeals to fans of supernatural manga, giving your collection a title with which to bridge the divide that often keeps manga readers from enjoying American comics and vice versa.

CONTENT ADVISORY: Mild adult language, horror violence and bloodshed

Review©2014, C. Michael Hall.