As DC’s Legends of Tomorrow returns for its fourth season, it will once again see casting changes as the Waverider’s crew reshuffles. The biggest change will see Matt Ryan’s John Constantine upgraded from a recurring character to a series regular. In addition to his own short-lived NBC series, Constantine has a ton of comic book source material that the show can draw from to help depict the street-level magician, demonologist, and con man. Here are five quintessential Constantine stories to read before Legends of Tomorrow returns for Season 4.
“American Gothic” — Swamp Thing #37-50
Alan Moore first introduced John Constantine in The Saga of the Swamp Thing, and from issues #37 to #50, he serves as Swamp Thing’s mentor and advisor. In true Constantine fashion, however, he’s as manipulative and secretive as he is helpful. This arc sees the pair taking on evil, supernatural creatures — like aquatic vampires, a werewolf, and the ghosts and zombies of a southern plantation — before they face a final darkness so dangerous that it unites heaven and hell against it.
Since certain elements of this arc appeared on the Constantine TV series, it’s possible they’ll be used again. Additionally, this original setup of tackling smaller magical threats that lead up to a final battle matches the format of Legends of Tomorrow, making this content easier to adapt. We might see the Legends take on one of Swamp Thing’s old foes, repurposed as one of the “fugitives” infecting history, or we could see them turn to the demons, angels, or allies of Constantine introduced in this arc for help.
“The Shadow World” — The Books of Magic Vol. 1 #2
In Neil Gaiman’s The Books of Magic, Constantine teams up with the Phantom Stranger, Dr. Occult, and Mister E to introduce Timothy Hunter, a young, bespectacled boy with an owl, to the world of magic (pre-Harry Potter). Each of the four books focuses on Tim’s journey with one of his new guides through the past, present, future, and other worlds of magic.
All four books could serve as an inspiration for Legends of Tomorrow Season 4, especially the third book which sees Tim traveling through the lands of Faerie, Gemworld, Skartaris, Hell, Dreaming, and others. But it’s the second book, “The Shadow World,” that focuses on Constantine. He takes Tim on a journey through the present of magic, introducing him to famous magic users of the DC/Vertigo universe, such as Madame Xanadu, the Spectre, Doctor Fate, Baron Winters, Jason Blood, and Zatanna.
By the journey’s end, it becomes clear that knowledge — not spellcasting — is Constantine’s true power. He may not have superpowers, technology, or even Sara’s combat skills, but he knows how to take control of a situation, influence people, and command a room — things none of the current Legends members are particularly skilled at.
Hellblazer, Especially #11, #27, #50, #63, #120
The original Hellblazer’s 300-issue run features many amazing arcs, but many of its best stories only took up a single issue each. Hellblazer #11, “Newcastle: A Taste of Things to Come,” tells the story of how Constantine accidentally sent a young girl named Astra to hell through a summoning gone wrong. The event haunts Constantine for the rest of his life and was featured on the Constantine TV series.
Hellblazer #27, Neil Gaiman’s “Hold Me,” sees Constantine’s all-too-human interactions with a ghost who is cold and alone. In Hellblazer #50, “Remarkable Lives,” Constantine faces off against the King of the Vampires in a battle of wills over whose existence is better. It ends with an iconic Hellblazer speech about the beauty of the simple human things in life. These two issues show that Constantine stays cool under pressure, can think on his feet, and often bluffs his way to victory. We can expect the same of the character on the Waverider, where he’s sure to thrive in the tense situations thrown at him.
Hellblazer #63, “Forty,” slows the pace of the series for Constantine’s 40th birthday party, giving readers a glimpse into Constantine with his guard down. Finally, the 10-year anniversary issue of Hellblazer, #120, “Desperately Seeking Something,” flips things on its head by having Constantine speak to the reader in a pub. The demonologist acknowledges the 10 years of stories he’s shared with us and casts some doubt on the truthfulness of his outlandish claims. These stories acknowledge the more human elements of Constantine, showing off a more sensitive, relatable side of him that may surprise Legends fans.
Justice League Dark
In the New 52’s Justice League Dark series, Constantine is the leader of a team of magical heroes who protect the world from threats the original Justice League can’t handle. Although this team consisted of members like Zatanna, Black Orchid, Deadman, Frankenstein, and Madame Xanadu, Constantine still struggles to work well with others, as both a leader and a follower. With the House of Mystery serving as a Waverider-like base of operations outside of time and space, the overall format of this series is likely to be similar to what we’ll see on Legends of Tomorrow this season.
The comic series puts his romantic struggles and battle with Zatanna over control of the team on full display. These conflicts could manifest on the show, as Constantine may bump heads with Sara. Similarly, his comic book clashes with the less thoughtful and more action-oriented Frankenstein could foreshadow future conflicts with Mick or Ray on Legends. Justice League Dark gives readers a glimpse into Constantine’s untrusting and uncooperative nature. If he hopes to get along with the Legends crew, he’ll need to find a way to overcome these issues.
Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Three
After the success of the Injustice: Gods Among Us video game, DC released several years of prequel series to help explain the rise of Superman’s evil Regime and Batman’s Insurgency, which this storyline is based on. After a year focused on heroes and another focused on the Green Lantern Corps, year three highlighted the magical elements of the DC Universe. Similar to Justice League Dark, this series has Constantine working with Batman, Detective Chimp, Deadman, Doctor Fate, and others in an apparent attempt to stop the evil Superman and the forces working for him.
Of course, after a deal with a devil and a twist involving the identity of the Spectre, it turns out Constantine has been playing his own game the entire time. He only needed the help of Batman and his team to lure out Superman’s supernatural allies, so he could clear a path of escape for himself and his daughter. Legends of Tomorrow fans would do well to keep this example in mind. Even if Constantine appears to be working well with the team, there’s always a chance he’s working toward some ulterior motive. Constantine looks out for himself and puts his needs first and foremost, always.