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The holidays are here, and there’s no better time to shower your loved ones with nerdy gifts. Reading materials are objectively the best thing to get anyone over four as presents, and holiday comics are a chance to help your friends get outside their comfort zones and try something new, while at the same time adding a dash of collectability to their lives. We’ve picked out a nice mix of old and new, seasonal and evergreen, comics for you to choose from.
Black Panther by Christopher Priest
Christopher Priest has been on fire lately, writing back to back to back gems at DC—Deathstroke, followed by Black Adam, followed by (currently running) Superman Lost is one of the greatest three-series stretches in the last 30 years of comics. But while Priest’s career stretches back to the ‘70s,...
The holidays are here, and there’s no better time to shower your loved ones with nerdy gifts. Reading materials are objectively the best thing to get anyone over four as presents, and holiday comics are a chance to help your friends get outside their comfort zones and try something new, while at the same time adding a dash of collectability to their lives. We’ve picked out a nice mix of old and new, seasonal and evergreen, comics for you to choose from.
Black Panther by Christopher Priest
Christopher Priest has been on fire lately, writing back to back to back gems at DC—Deathstroke, followed by Black Adam, followed by (currently running) Superman Lost is one of the greatest three-series stretches in the last 30 years of comics. But while Priest’s career stretches back to the ‘70s,...
- 11/24/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
A sequel to the 2005 supernatural Keanu Reeves film “Constantine” is in the works at Warner Bros., and both Reeves and director Francis Lawrence are expected to return, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.
Akiva Goldsman is writing the screenplay and will also produce the new film alongside Bad Robot’s J.J. Abrams and Hannah Minghella serving as producers.
Lawernce’s directorial debut, which made 230 million worldwide, starred Reeves as an exorcist and demonologist brought in to help prove that the death of a detective’s sibling was not a suicide but something more sinister. The original also starred Rachel Weisz, Djimon Hounsou, Shia Labeouf and Tilda Swinton, and it was based on a comic book series called “Hellblazer” by Jamie Delano and Garth Ennis.
Also Read:
Keanu Reeves to Lead Hulu’s ‘Devil in the White City’
Lorenzo Dibonaventura and Erwin Stoff will executive produce the new “Constantine” film.
Akiva Goldsman is writing the screenplay and will also produce the new film alongside Bad Robot’s J.J. Abrams and Hannah Minghella serving as producers.
Lawernce’s directorial debut, which made 230 million worldwide, starred Reeves as an exorcist and demonologist brought in to help prove that the death of a detective’s sibling was not a suicide but something more sinister. The original also starred Rachel Weisz, Djimon Hounsou, Shia Labeouf and Tilda Swinton, and it was based on a comic book series called “Hellblazer” by Jamie Delano and Garth Ennis.
Also Read:
Keanu Reeves to Lead Hulu’s ‘Devil in the White City’
Lorenzo Dibonaventura and Erwin Stoff will executive produce the new “Constantine” film.
- 9/16/2022
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
The following contains Legends Of Tomorrow spoilers.
Legends of Tomorrow Season 6 Episode 12
As Legends of Tomorrow season 6 heads towards its close, the shape of the endgame starts to become clearer, and the first piece that is taking shape is the departure of John Constantine. The current season of Legends will be Matt Ryan’s last as the live action embodiment of DC Comics’ most prominent and scummiest warlock (thankfully not his last with the show – he’s returning next season as a new character).
But here’s the thing: as long as Ryan has been Constantine, and as well as Ryan has played him, television’s John Constantine has never quite matched up with the Constantine in the comics, and “Bored on Board Onboard” continues to gently exacerbate the problem. It’s enough to beg a question: is DC setting up the character for a return to his rotten bastard roots?...
Legends of Tomorrow Season 6 Episode 12
As Legends of Tomorrow season 6 heads towards its close, the shape of the endgame starts to become clearer, and the first piece that is taking shape is the departure of John Constantine. The current season of Legends will be Matt Ryan’s last as the live action embodiment of DC Comics’ most prominent and scummiest warlock (thankfully not his last with the show – he’s returning next season as a new character).
But here’s the thing: as long as Ryan has been Constantine, and as well as Ryan has played him, television’s John Constantine has never quite matched up with the Constantine in the comics, and “Bored on Board Onboard” continues to gently exacerbate the problem. It’s enough to beg a question: is DC setting up the character for a return to his rotten bastard roots?...
- 8/16/2021
- by Jim Dandy
- Den of Geek
Way back in September, DC’s second FanDome event dropped a huge announcement: DC Universe, the all-encompassing DC entertainment streaming app that featured comics, movies, and TV shows from the DC catalog, would narrow its focus to comics, becoming an app called DC Universe Infinite.
The new app launches on Jan. 21 and brings with is a slew of changes, many of them for the better — at least if comics are what you’re looking for. Den of Geek got an early peek under the hood of the app and we have plenty of good news to share.
How It Works
First thing’s first: if you already have a DC Universe subscription and you’ve signed off on switching your account to the new app, all you have to do is download the DC Universe Infinite app when it goes live on Thursday morning. The new app will overwrite your...
The new app launches on Jan. 21 and brings with is a slew of changes, many of them for the better — at least if comics are what you’re looking for. Den of Geek got an early peek under the hood of the app and we have plenty of good news to share.
How It Works
First thing’s first: if you already have a DC Universe subscription and you’ve signed off on switching your account to the new app, all you have to do is download the DC Universe Infinite app when it goes live on Thursday morning. The new app will overwrite your...
- 1/19/2021
- by Jim Dandy
- Den of Geek
In 1997, Jamie Delano (Hellblazer), Frank Quitely, Steve Pugh, James Romberger (Seven Miles A Second), and Warren Pleece (Incognegro) created a fantastic tour-de-force, following the lives of a far-flung family, struggling to survive in the morally and socially decadent United States in the far-flung future of… 2020.
Time’s up. Here we are.
How clearly did we see tomorrow– er, today?
You can find out by reading the new, remastered 2020 Visions collection, with a new introduction by Jamie Delano, in comic shops and book stores today, direct through our pages and Amazon, and available on Comixology on January 8th (you can pre-order it now).
Better get ready…because the future’s here.
Time’s up. Here we are.
How clearly did we see tomorrow– er, today?
You can find out by reading the new, remastered 2020 Visions collection, with a new introduction by Jamie Delano, in comic shops and book stores today, direct through our pages and Amazon, and available on Comixology on January 8th (you can pre-order it now).
Better get ready…because the future’s here.
- 1/1/2020
- by Glenn Hauman
- Comicmix.com
Jim Dandy Nov 25, 2019
The art, the character, and the comedy are all ink black in DC's new take on John Constantine.
John Constantine has gone to some dark places, but John Constantine: Hellblazer #1, the new relaunch from Si Spurrier and Aaron Campbell, goes ink black almost right away.
I will confess that I’m not a fluent Constantine guy. I’ve gone through the first Hellblazer collection online, and I’ve seen him pop in and out of other stories. And, of course, I’ve watched most of his his various and sundry delightful television appearances. But I’m definitely not versed in John to call myself a fan: what I know are broad strokes. Big character beats.
You know who does know him, though, is Jamie Delano, the first wave British Invasion writer who took Constantine out of Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing and made him, in his own book,...
The art, the character, and the comedy are all ink black in DC's new take on John Constantine.
John Constantine has gone to some dark places, but John Constantine: Hellblazer #1, the new relaunch from Si Spurrier and Aaron Campbell, goes ink black almost right away.
I will confess that I’m not a fluent Constantine guy. I’ve gone through the first Hellblazer collection online, and I’ve seen him pop in and out of other stories. And, of course, I’ve watched most of his his various and sundry delightful television appearances. But I’m definitely not versed in John to call myself a fan: what I know are broad strokes. Big character beats.
You know who does know him, though, is Jamie Delano, the first wave British Invasion writer who took Constantine out of Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing and made him, in his own book,...
- 11/22/2019
- Den of Geek
Written by Neil Gaiman, Simon Spurrier | Art by Bilquis Evely | Published by DC Vertigo | Format: Paperback, 200pp
Ah, Vertigo, the house that Neil built. Gaiman that is. Without Neil Gaiman there would probably be no Vertigo, or at least not the successful imprint it became. Being fair, it’s also right to say without Editor Karen Berger there would definitely be no Vertigo as not only did she recruit Neil Gaiman to work at DC, she also brought in Grant Morrison, Jamie Delano and Peter Milligan among others and brought a new sensibility to DC. If there’s one thing Americans like, its British cynicism. As a side note, Neil Gaiman wrote one of my favourite books ever, Death: The High Cost of Living, which as a dedicated superhero fan is saying something. Death, of course, was one of The Endless, and The Endless featured prominently in The Sandman and,...
Ah, Vertigo, the house that Neil built. Gaiman that is. Without Neil Gaiman there would probably be no Vertigo, or at least not the successful imprint it became. Being fair, it’s also right to say without Editor Karen Berger there would definitely be no Vertigo as not only did she recruit Neil Gaiman to work at DC, she also brought in Grant Morrison, Jamie Delano and Peter Milligan among others and brought a new sensibility to DC. If there’s one thing Americans like, its British cynicism. As a side note, Neil Gaiman wrote one of my favourite books ever, Death: The High Cost of Living, which as a dedicated superhero fan is saying something. Death, of course, was one of The Endless, and The Endless featured prominently in The Sandman and,...
- 6/7/2019
- by Dean Fuller
- Nerdly
Look, I don’t think I can describe it better than I did a couple of weeks ago when this book entered my house, so let me quote myself:
Twenty years or so ago, everything in corporate comics had to be an event. The Vertigo “line” at DC was actually a bunch of entirely separate comics with a rough shared audience and stance, but they had to have a big Event in their annuals (which they also had to have) in 1993. It was called The Children’s Crusade, and there were bookend standalone comics that the various individual comics’ annuals slotted in between, more or less. It was not the most successful experiment. After a couple of decades, though, someone at DC realized they had a couple of issues written or co-written by [Neil] Gaiman that were sitting uncollected and not making them any money. So they commissioned a new team...
Twenty years or so ago, everything in corporate comics had to be an event. The Vertigo “line” at DC was actually a bunch of entirely separate comics with a rough shared audience and stance, but they had to have a big Event in their annuals (which they also had to have) in 1993. It was called The Children’s Crusade, and there were bookend standalone comics that the various individual comics’ annuals slotted in between, more or less. It was not the most successful experiment. After a couple of decades, though, someone at DC realized they had a couple of issues written or co-written by [Neil] Gaiman that were sitting uncollected and not making them any money. So they commissioned a new team...
- 4/26/2018
- by Andrew Wheeler
- Comicmix.com
One day in the early 80s, I was with my girlfriend in a shopping mall. Somehow I had been relegated to the role of sidekick while she shopped. I liked to do a lot of things with her, but shopping wasn’t high on that list. I was bored so I decided to buy a comic book to read while she shopped.
Back then I was enjoying a lot of comics and purchasing them every week at Kim’s Collectible Comics and Records. But one store in that mall had a spinner rack filled with comics, and I knew I could snag an issue that I had missed.
I evaluated the comics available on that rack and hoped that one would be my salvation from the dreariness of shopping. I reached out for Swamp Thing #21, and was surprised to find an unfamiliar writer wrote it. I decided to give it a try nonetheless.
Back then I was enjoying a lot of comics and purchasing them every week at Kim’s Collectible Comics and Records. But one store in that mall had a spinner rack filled with comics, and I knew I could snag an issue that I had missed.
I evaluated the comics available on that rack and hoped that one would be my salvation from the dreariness of shopping. I reached out for Swamp Thing #21, and was surprised to find an unfamiliar writer wrote it. I decided to give it a try nonetheless.
- 9/5/2016
- by Ed Catto
- Comicmix.com
Through the mirror of my mind / Time after time, I see reflections of you and me / Reflections of the way life used to be / Reflections of the love you took from me • “Reflections,” by Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, and Eddie Holland, recorded by Diana Ross and the Supremes, 1967, Motown Records
Like every other art form, comics – or more accurately, the creators of comics – reflect the times in which they live.
I started reading comics in the Silver Age, when superheroes were manufactured like products in factories, conveyed along conveyor belts of post-World War II American middle-class morality, which ensured that everything but the packaging was the same. Each hero kept their true nature hidden behind a pair of glasses, or a secretary’s typewriter, or a desk in a high school classroom. Each hero lived a lonely life, because to reveal their secret would only endanger their loved one. And...
Like every other art form, comics – or more accurately, the creators of comics – reflect the times in which they live.
I started reading comics in the Silver Age, when superheroes were manufactured like products in factories, conveyed along conveyor belts of post-World War II American middle-class morality, which ensured that everything but the packaging was the same. Each hero kept their true nature hidden behind a pair of glasses, or a secretary’s typewriter, or a desk in a high school classroom. Each hero lived a lonely life, because to reveal their secret would only endanger their loved one. And...
- 12/22/2014
- by Mindy Newell
- Comicmix.com
Constantine Season 1, Episode 2: “The Darkness Beneath”
Written by Rockne S. O’Bannon
Directed by Steve Shill
Airs Fridays at 10 pm Et on NBC
With all the exposition and origin story trappings out of the way in last week’s pilot, “The Darkness Beneath” show readers what exactly John Constantine (Matt Ryan) does, other than con people, go to pubs, and chat with Chas (Charles Halford). This could be a typical case of the week type of episode, but writer Rockne S. O’Bannon manages to connect the monster to John’s past life, as well as some of the socioeconomic critiques that characterized early Hellblazer issues. He also introduces a new, improved female lead in Zed Martin (Angelica Celaya), who has an almost sultry chemistry with Constantine, and shows she can handle herself in a fight with the supernatural and then some. O’Bannon also doesn’t reveal his...
Written by Rockne S. O’Bannon
Directed by Steve Shill
Airs Fridays at 10 pm Et on NBC
With all the exposition and origin story trappings out of the way in last week’s pilot, “The Darkness Beneath” show readers what exactly John Constantine (Matt Ryan) does, other than con people, go to pubs, and chat with Chas (Charles Halford). This could be a typical case of the week type of episode, but writer Rockne S. O’Bannon manages to connect the monster to John’s past life, as well as some of the socioeconomic critiques that characterized early Hellblazer issues. He also introduces a new, improved female lead in Zed Martin (Angelica Celaya), who has an almost sultry chemistry with Constantine, and shows she can handle herself in a fight with the supernatural and then some. O’Bannon also doesn’t reveal his...
- 11/1/2014
- by Logan Dalton
- SoundOnSight
There's never been a comics character like John Constantine, DC Comics' trench-coat-sporting magician and wisecracking righter of wrongs. He's openly, specifically political. He's queer. He's working-class. He's wordy. He's indelibly and un-stereotypically English. Astoundingly, he's remained largely unchanged since he first took to the page in 1985 and throughout 26 years of constant publication — a kind of character consistency that's unheard of even among icons like Superman or Batman. And there's also the matter of how often he appears before his writers. Like, literally shows up out of nowhere on an otherwise ordinary day. Flesh and blood, cigarette and tie. They swear by it.Jamie Delano ran into him during a stroll near the British Museum, back when he was writing the first few arcs on Constantine's solo series, Hellblazer. "The figure caught my eye and cocked his head, flicked the ash from a ciggie, and continued without stopping," Delano...
- 10/23/2014
- by Abraham Riesman
- Vulture
Ray Fawkes is the horror guru who’s been behind Constantine for a good while now, and this week DC released its Future’S End issue—a fun one-off that takes place five years in John Constantine’s future but plays out like any of his present supernatural encounters, albeit with a new companion holding the regular humans at bay while our “gutter mage” battles Doctor Fate. It’s a very enjoyable romp, particularly when the Auditorium of Anubis is conjured up; the Egyptian god’s sleek, horrific features are rendered with care by one Juan Ferreyra, guest artist on this issue (me? biased? Nahhhh). A few weeks back I was able to speak with Fawkes about John Constantine and his affiliation with DC’s darker titles, from Batman to Justice League Dark.
Famous Monsters. I’m very excited to meet you. I think you’re fabulous. You put your...
Famous Monsters. I’m very excited to meet you. I think you’re fabulous. You put your...
- 9/11/2014
- by Holly Interlandi
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
(Cbr) NBC's "Constantine" has summoned Michael James Shaw in recurring guest role as Papa Midnite, the voodoo king of New Orleans. While the character was frequently an uneasy ally of John Constantine the the comic books, USA Today describes the role as "a formidable magical adversary" for the demon hunter (played by Matt Ryan). Created by Jamie Delano and John Ridgway, and introduced in 1988's "Hellblazer" #1, Papa Midnite is an immortal mob boss and voodoo practitioner with a long, tangled history with Constantine (for instance, although Constantine had stolen $50,000 from him, Midnite still agreed to help in his fight the hunger demon Mnemoth). Papa Midnite starred in his own 2005 Vertigo miniseries, which coincided with the release of the "Constantine" film, in which he was portrayed by Djimon Hounsou. The character was reintroduced last year in DC Comics' New 52 with "Constantine" #4. Shaw joins a cast that also includes Harold Perrineau,...
- 8/16/2014
- by Kevin Melrose, Comic Book Resources
- Hitfix
Here's what Seb makes of the first trailer for NBC's forthcoming Hellblazer adaptation, Constantine...
Feature
Last time someone tried bringing John Constantine to the screen, in 2005's Constantine, Keanu Reeves took up the trenchcoat and Silk Cut for what was actually a pretty good film, but not in the slightest a good adaptation of the Hellblazer comic. The question of whether a successful screen take on comics' most charismatic chain-smoking demon-baiting bastard is even possible has therefore yet to be settled – but with the first trailer for NBC's upcoming Constantine TV series, we've been given our first glimpse of the latest attempt. Here, then, is a run through what we think the trailer below, consisting of clips from the recently-shot pilot, has taught us…
An Englishman Abroad
Well, this certainly isn't Keanu. Welshman Matt Ryan has the blond hair and the tan trenchcoat that were missing from the movie version...
Feature
Last time someone tried bringing John Constantine to the screen, in 2005's Constantine, Keanu Reeves took up the trenchcoat and Silk Cut for what was actually a pretty good film, but not in the slightest a good adaptation of the Hellblazer comic. The question of whether a successful screen take on comics' most charismatic chain-smoking demon-baiting bastard is even possible has therefore yet to be settled – but with the first trailer for NBC's upcoming Constantine TV series, we've been given our first glimpse of the latest attempt. Here, then, is a run through what we think the trailer below, consisting of clips from the recently-shot pilot, has taught us…
An Englishman Abroad
Well, this certainly isn't Keanu. Welshman Matt Ryan has the blond hair and the tan trenchcoat that were missing from the movie version...
- 5/12/2014
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
(Cbr) NBC's "Constantine" cast is filling out, with Deadline reporting Wednesday that three actors have been added to the DC Comics-based pilot: Lucy Griffiths, Harold Perrineau and Charles Halford. Perrineau, known for his role as Michael on "Lost," will play Manny, "an authoritative angel" who supervises Constantine's actions. Griffiths, who's played Marian on the BBC's "Robin Hood" and Nora on "True Blood," is set to play Liv, described by Deadline as "an offbeat young woman tired of her ordinary life who comes to discover that she has the ability of seeing the supernatural world among us." Halford, who recently appeared as Agent Shaw on "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." and Reggie Ledoux on "True Detective," will play Chas; unlike Manny and Liv, Chas a long-running character from the "Hellblazer" comic book series. As in the source material, the TV version of Chas will be a close friend to John Constantine -- Deadline says,...
- 3/6/2014
- by Albert Ching, Comic Book Resources
- Hitfix
Bleeding Cool , who has been on point with their "Constantine" coverage thus far, has learned who we might be seeing John Constantine going up against in his upcoming NBC TV series - none other than Papa Midnite. The site reports that the pilot will tell an origin for the character, and, should it be picked up for a full series, we'll see Constantine doing battle with Midnite a couple of times throughout the first season. In addition, BC reports that one of the most famous locations from the "Hellblazer" comics, Ravenscar Psychiatric Hospital, will be used as a location in the series, which will be set primarily in New York City. Created by Jamie Delano and John Ridgway in Hellblazer #1 , Papa...
- 2/26/2014
- Comingsoon.net
Deadline is reporting that fresh-faced Welsh actor Matt Ryan has been cast to play John Constantine in NBC's Constantine television series. The series will based on the Hellblazer comic book series that's published by DC Comics. The character was created by legendary and perpetually-grumpy comic book writer, Alan Moore. Constantine first appeared in Moore's Swamp Thing (vol. 2) #37 (June 1985). Several years later the character would receive his own comic book series, "Hellblazer," written by Jamie Delano. It is the longest running title under DC Comics' edgier venue, Vertigo. The character was the basis for the 2005 Constantine live-action film that was directed by Francis Lawrence ("The Hunger Games") and starred Keanu Reeves ("The Matrix"). His appearance is based on singer-songwriter, Sting, as the artists Stephen R. Bissette and John Totleben made that request based on their love of the rock band, The Police. Constantine has blonde hair, a British accent...
- 2/22/2014
- ComicBookMovie.com
“Animal Man” (1988) #1-26*
Writer: Grant Morrison
Penciller: Chas Truog, Tom Grummett, Paris Cullins
Inker: Doug Hazlewood, Steve Montano, Mark McKenna
Letterer: John Costanza, Janice Chiang
Colourist: Tatjana Wood, Helen Vesik
Covers: Brian Bolland
*The specific details of #20-26 will not be discussed in the below article. If you’ve never read this comic before, don’t be afraid to read this. To appropriately write about this comic, early and middle narrative has to be spoiled, but the big end-game surprises are not given away here.
For some, the late 1980s-to-early-1990s is probably the creative highpoint in DC’s modern era of comics. A turning point for mainstream superhero comics in general, it saw a shift in tone and audience, appealing more to adult readers for its “gritty” and “realistic” depictions of the otherwise fantastical lives of superheroes. Frank Miller’s success on The Dark Knight Returns and Batman Year One...
Writer: Grant Morrison
Penciller: Chas Truog, Tom Grummett, Paris Cullins
Inker: Doug Hazlewood, Steve Montano, Mark McKenna
Letterer: John Costanza, Janice Chiang
Colourist: Tatjana Wood, Helen Vesik
Covers: Brian Bolland
*The specific details of #20-26 will not be discussed in the below article. If you’ve never read this comic before, don’t be afraid to read this. To appropriately write about this comic, early and middle narrative has to be spoiled, but the big end-game surprises are not given away here.
For some, the late 1980s-to-early-1990s is probably the creative highpoint in DC’s modern era of comics. A turning point for mainstream superhero comics in general, it saw a shift in tone and audience, appealing more to adult readers for its “gritty” and “realistic” depictions of the otherwise fantastical lives of superheroes. Frank Miller’s success on The Dark Knight Returns and Batman Year One...
- 1/31/2014
- by Trevor Dobbin
- SoundOnSight
According to reports, NBC has greenlit a TV pilot based on the DC Comics character 'John Constantine'.
The character 'John Constantine' debuted in DC Comics' "The Saga Of The Swamp Thing" #37 (June, 1985), created by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette and Jamie Delano, as a working-class magician, occult detective and con man stationed in London, known for his endless cynicism, deadpan snarking, ruthless cunning, and constant chain smoking.
Constantine rarely uses 'magical' spells, unless he has to, especially in combat, relying primarily on his cunning, quick-thinking during fights, vast knowledge of the occult, manipulation of opponents and allies, and an extensive list of contacts.
As a sorcerer, Constantine is armed with the knowledge of many magical spells, rituals, and curses, such as evocation, necromancy, illusions, invisibility and time travel.
His most signature ability is 'synchronicity wave traveling', which is an instinctual supernatural ability for Constantine to make his own luck.
The character 'John Constantine' debuted in DC Comics' "The Saga Of The Swamp Thing" #37 (June, 1985), created by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette and Jamie Delano, as a working-class magician, occult detective and con man stationed in London, known for his endless cynicism, deadpan snarking, ruthless cunning, and constant chain smoking.
Constantine rarely uses 'magical' spells, unless he has to, especially in combat, relying primarily on his cunning, quick-thinking during fights, vast knowledge of the occult, manipulation of opponents and allies, and an extensive list of contacts.
As a sorcerer, Constantine is armed with the knowledge of many magical spells, rituals, and curses, such as evocation, necromancy, illusions, invisibility and time travel.
His most signature ability is 'synchronicity wave traveling', which is an instinctual supernatural ability for Constantine to make his own luck.
- 1/14/2014
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
Time to take a trip into the occult with John Constantine. The first time we saw the character come to life was 2005's Constantine directed by Francis Lawrence with Keanu Reeves in the leading role. That was only a half-assed version. As many fans could see, there were several changes made. The source material was based on both Garth Ennis' "Dangerous Habits" and "Hellblazer: Original Sins" by Jamie Delano. The movie was okay. I've seen it a couple of times. As...
- 10/8/2013
- by Niki Stephens
- JoBlo.com
It was just announced that Warner Bros is developing "Gotham" TV series, focusing on the early years of Commissioner Gordon. And now comes word that the studio has teamed with NBC to develop a TV series based on "Constantine" comic book. The comics center on John Constantine, an enigmatic and irreverent conman turned reluctant supernatural detective, who is thrust into the role of defending the human race against dark forces from beyond. David Goyer (Man of Steel, The Dark Knight) will write the screenplay. Constantine first appeared in Alan Moore's "The Saga of the Swamp Thing," which was co-created by Steve Bissette and Jamie Delano. The long-running comic was adapted into a 2005 feature film starring Keanu Reeves.
- 9/28/2013
- WorstPreviews.com
by Paul Montgomery
Every little thing he does is magic, or so the ensorcelled suits at Warner Bros. seem to believe. "Man of Steel" writer David S. Goyer's already pounding away at a Batman-infused sequel, but that may be sidelined, if momentarily, by a case of Vertigo. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Goyer will partner with Daniel Cerone, executive producer of "The Mentalist," to script a "Constantine" pilot for NBC television.
Conjured by scattered bones across a nicotine pentagram in the very image of Police-era Sting, street-wise sorcerer John Constantine first appeared in the pages of Alan Moore’s "Swamp Thing." He soon established his own haunts in Vertigo's long-running "Hellblazer" series, stewarded by the likes of Jamie Delano, Garth Ennis, Warren Ellis, Denise Mina, Andy Diggle, Peter Milligan and more. In 2005, Keanu Reeves donned his demons (but not his brogue or blonde hair) in a film by Francis Lawrence.
Every little thing he does is magic, or so the ensorcelled suits at Warner Bros. seem to believe. "Man of Steel" writer David S. Goyer's already pounding away at a Batman-infused sequel, but that may be sidelined, if momentarily, by a case of Vertigo. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Goyer will partner with Daniel Cerone, executive producer of "The Mentalist," to script a "Constantine" pilot for NBC television.
Conjured by scattered bones across a nicotine pentagram in the very image of Police-era Sting, street-wise sorcerer John Constantine first appeared in the pages of Alan Moore’s "Swamp Thing." He soon established his own haunts in Vertigo's long-running "Hellblazer" series, stewarded by the likes of Jamie Delano, Garth Ennis, Warren Ellis, Denise Mina, Andy Diggle, Peter Milligan and more. In 2005, Keanu Reeves donned his demons (but not his brogue or blonde hair) in a film by Francis Lawrence.
- 9/27/2013
- by Splash Page Team
- MTV Splash Page
Exclusive: Warner Bros. TV and DC Comics are on a roll this development season with a third high-profile project. Constantine, a drama based on the characters in DC Comics’ John Constantine stories, has sold to NBC with penalty. It is written/executive produced by The Mentalist executive producer Daniel Cerone and David S. Goyer, the go-to writer for Warner Bros.’ feature DC adaptations. Constantine centers on John Constantine, an enigmatic and irreverent con man-turned-reluctant supernatural detective who is thrust into the role of defending us against dark forces from beyond. John Constantine, who first appeared in 1985 as a recurring character in the horror series The Saga Of The Swamp Thing, was created by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette and Jamie Delano. He was portrayed by Keanu Reeves in the 2005 feature Constantine and is rumored to be featured in the Justice League Dark feature Warner Bros. has in the works with Guillermo del Toro.
- 9/27/2013
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
John Constantine was first appeared in an issue of "Swamp Thing," created by legendary comic book writer Alan Moore. Several years later the character would garner his own comic book series "Hellblazer," written by Jamie Delano. It has proven to be quite popular as it is the longest running title under DC Comics' edgier venue, Vertigo. When Francis Lawrence began working on his first feature film, 2005's Constantine he knew he was going to hear an earful from fans as he stripped away the character's blonde locks, British accent and switched the setting from London to Los Angeles. But hey he still had lung cancer and a trenchcoat. Having Keanu Reeves fill the role of the renegade occultist certainly didn't befriend Lawrence to the fanboys either as the actor doesn't look anything like the singer, Sting, which the character is meant to resemble, nor has the actor's talents ever...
- 12/8/2012
- ComicBookMovie.com
Jeff Lemire—writer, artist, and enthusiasic nerd in the best possible way—has managed to find a special current of vulnerability in storytelling by juxtaposing horrifying circumstances with intense family drama. Animal Man, hailed over and over as one of the best ongoing DC titles, is the most perfect example: The Rot plays visually and conceptually disturbing cards against Buddy Baker and his wife and children, but the surreal conglomerates of animal organs that march against him would not be nearly as visceral if Lemire ignored the personal stakes. I could say the same for his creator-owned works such as Essex County and the newly published Underwater Welder: magic happens when displaced people must protect their normal lives from strange situations. Despite his recent successes, Lemire proved to be earnest and willing to discuss properties he has quite possibly talked to death, if only for the benefit of FM monster-lovers...
- 7/23/2012
- by Holly I.
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
My last two columns generated a certain amount of off-topic political discussion, which is 1) exciting and 2) frightening. The fright stems from the fact that political discussions got us kicked off this site four years ago.
The excitement comes from proving something I have always believed. Feminists claim the personal is political. I think the arts are political, too. You may have a different opinion. It depends in your definition of art. I think art is something created by an artist that makes you see the world in a new way.
Forty years ago I had surgery, and was lying on my parents’ couch zonked on major pain killers. I was reading Dune, watching the Olympics and the political conventions. I couldn’t tell which was which. Maybe that’s because Dune is a mind-blowing book. The sequels never moved me as much. Perhaps it was the drugs, or maybe they...
The excitement comes from proving something I have always believed. Feminists claim the personal is political. I think the arts are political, too. You may have a different opinion. It depends in your definition of art. I think art is something created by an artist that makes you see the world in a new way.
Forty years ago I had surgery, and was lying on my parents’ couch zonked on major pain killers. I was reading Dune, watching the Olympics and the political conventions. I couldn’t tell which was which. Maybe that’s because Dune is a mind-blowing book. The sequels never moved me as much. Perhaps it was the drugs, or maybe they...
- 4/6/2012
- by Martha Thomases
- Comicmix.com
It’s that time again… here are the preview materials for DC Comics releases for May 2012.
As you can see, DC is clearly getting excited about the imminent arrival of The Dark Knight Rises with new movie statues showing Anne Hathaway, Christian Bale, and Tom Hardy, the return of Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham’s Batman Incorporated and the long awaited arrival of Batman: Earth One by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank, and the Talon appearing in every single Batman book this month… and even All-Star Western?
Plus, with the return of Earth One, we also get the return of Earth Two– and the return of the World’s Finest.
Shall we get into it? Let’s!
As always, spoilers may lurk beyond this point.
Earth Two #1
Written by James Robinson
Art by Nicola Scott and Trevor Scott
Cover by Greg Capullo
1:25 Variant cover by Ivan Reis and...
As you can see, DC is clearly getting excited about the imminent arrival of The Dark Knight Rises with new movie statues showing Anne Hathaway, Christian Bale, and Tom Hardy, the return of Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham’s Batman Incorporated and the long awaited arrival of Batman: Earth One by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank, and the Talon appearing in every single Batman book this month… and even All-Star Western?
Plus, with the return of Earth One, we also get the return of Earth Two– and the return of the World’s Finest.
Shall we get into it? Let’s!
As always, spoilers may lurk beyond this point.
Earth Two #1
Written by James Robinson
Art by Nicola Scott and Trevor Scott
Cover by Greg Capullo
1:25 Variant cover by Ivan Reis and...
- 2/13/2012
- by Glenn Hauman
- Comicmix.com
Last year’s graphic novel and Tpb Top 10, was filled with some modern classics including Parker: The Outfit, Northlanders, Scott Pilgrim, and Beasts of Burden, so 2011’s offerings have a lot to live up to. As with last year’s this chart will only contain books released in 2011 that I have personally read.
1: Daytripper | Vertigo | Fábio Moon & Gabriel Bá
Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá can do no wrong, and Daytripper is their best and most personal work to date. The Brazilian twins tell the story, or rather stories, of writer Brás de Oliva Domingos; each chapter is a day in the life of Brás, with each day ending in the same way. Daytripper is one of the most poignant comics I have ever read, chapter 8 especially, which is odd as Brás is absent for that story. I look forward to seeing how Moon & Bá follow this. I should also...
1: Daytripper | Vertigo | Fábio Moon & Gabriel Bá
Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá can do no wrong, and Daytripper is their best and most personal work to date. The Brazilian twins tell the story, or rather stories, of writer Brás de Oliva Domingos; each chapter is a day in the life of Brás, with each day ending in the same way. Daytripper is one of the most poignant comics I have ever read, chapter 8 especially, which is odd as Brás is absent for that story. I look forward to seeing how Moon & Bá follow this. I should also...
- 12/28/2011
- by Baron Fornightly
- Nerdly
Responding to overwhelming fan and retailer support for their wildly successful comic book horror franchise, Avatar Press announced today the launch of a new, ongoing Crossed comic book series on March 14, 2012, with a bi-weekly release schedule and its first story arc reuniting the creative team of writer Garth Ennis (Preacher) and original series artist Jacen Burrows (Neonomicon).
Concurrent story arcs will be spearheaded by well-established comic book writers such as Jamie Delano (Hellblazer) and David Lapham (Stray Bullets). The worldwide release of Crossed: Badlands will be marked by a special "C-Day" in-store event for comic shop retailers.
Read more...
Concurrent story arcs will be spearheaded by well-established comic book writers such as Jamie Delano (Hellblazer) and David Lapham (Stray Bullets). The worldwide release of Crossed: Badlands will be marked by a special "C-Day" in-store event for comic shop retailers.
Read more...
- 12/19/2011
- by ryanrotten@shocktillyoudrop.com (Ryan Turek)
- shocktillyoudrop.com
Last week I had the opportunity to speak with comic book writers Scott Snyder and Jeff Lemire about their plans for the horror books they're penning for DC Comics' New 52 relaunch. (Snyder is handling the new Swamp Thing, while Lemire is responsible for Animal Man and Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. You can check out our conversation here.) During our chat I asked them if they could name for me their top 10 horror comic books of all time. Find out which titles made their list after the jump. Lemire: 1.) The entire Hellblazer run I love. Especially the Jamie Delano stuff. 2.) Alan Moore's Swamp Thing and 3.) Len Wein's Swamp Thing are huge. Those are the big ones, as far as horror books go. Those are always the...
- 9/30/2011
- FEARnet
Avatar Press has outlined plans for its Crossed property. The original creative team of Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows are to return with a new ongoing title Crossed: Badlands, it was revealed during the Avatar panel at WonderCon. Ennis will write the first arc, followed by a second from fellow Hellblazer scribe Jamie Delano, according to Comic Book Resources. The ongoing title will launch following the completion of the current miniseries Crossed: Psychopath and the release of the long-awaited 3D issue. Editor-in-chief William Christensen explained (more)...
- 4/6/2011
- by By Hugh Armitage
- Digital Spy
Comics Culture – Thought Bubble Panel, Saturday 20th November 2010
Host: Kieron Gillen | Speakers: Paul Cornell, Rob Williams, Antony Johnston
“Panel talk on the increasing influence of comics on pop-culture and vice-versa. Including discussion on comics in television, music, computer games, and the prevalence of product placement/contemporary culture references in comics.”
The panel started with just half the speakers until, as Williams put it, the bald cavalry arrived a couple of minutes late. Cornell commented that hadn’t received the baldness memo.
It was pointed out that comics are a more level playing field than most other media, as you don’t need a lot of people to make a comic and doing your own thing in the comics world isn’t frowned upon, and actually helps you get noticed. Falling comic book sales were mentioned, whilst the popularity of comic based movies has increased; the current form of comic distribution was blamed for falling sales,...
Host: Kieron Gillen | Speakers: Paul Cornell, Rob Williams, Antony Johnston
“Panel talk on the increasing influence of comics on pop-culture and vice-versa. Including discussion on comics in television, music, computer games, and the prevalence of product placement/contemporary culture references in comics.”
The panel started with just half the speakers until, as Williams put it, the bald cavalry arrived a couple of minutes late. Cornell commented that hadn’t received the baldness memo.
It was pointed out that comics are a more level playing field than most other media, as you don’t need a lot of people to make a comic and doing your own thing in the comics world isn’t frowned upon, and actually helps you get noticed. Falling comic book sales were mentioned, whilst the popularity of comic based movies has increased; the current form of comic distribution was blamed for falling sales,...
- 11/25/2010
- by Baron Fornightly
- Nerdly
Even if you're sick...
Even if it's only a sentence...
Write something.
After all, one sentence may turn into two sentences.
And two sentences may turn into a paragraph.
And before you know it, you might have written a panel. Or two panels. Or even a page.
No, it might not be good. It might even be lousy and you may need to rewrite the entire thing. But it might be good. It might even be brilliant. Particularly if you're on those really good meds that will knock you out and give you all those really fun hallucinations. (Hey, if it works for Grant Morrison and Jamie Delano...)
And writing short stuff is more useful than you think it is. We'll come back to that later.
Remember: you can follow all the NaGraNoWriMo posts here!
Even if it's only a sentence...
Write something.
After all, one sentence may turn into two sentences.
And two sentences may turn into a paragraph.
And before you know it, you might have written a panel. Or two panels. Or even a page.
No, it might not be good. It might even be lousy and you may need to rewrite the entire thing. But it might be good. It might even be brilliant. Particularly if you're on those really good meds that will knock you out and give you all those really fun hallucinations. (Hey, if it works for Grant Morrison and Jamie Delano...)
And writing short stuff is more useful than you think it is. We'll come back to that later.
Remember: you can follow all the NaGraNoWriMo posts here!
- 10/14/2010
- by Glenn Hauman
- Comicmix.com
Avatar Press has announced a new ongoing series titled Crossed: Badlands, Bleeding Cool reports. Based in the same universe as the publisher's previous Crossed miniseries, the first arc will be written by creators Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows. Jamie Delano will pen the second arc. Debuting in 2008, the original miniseries follows the survivors of a zombie-like pandemic. The plague marks the faces of its victims (more)...
- 7/26/2010
- by By Mark Langshaw
- Digital Spy
This past Monday, producer Lauren Shuler Donner, wife of Richard Donner, told ComicBookMovie.com that an upcoming Constantine sequel was in the works but it hit some "bumps in the road." Keanu Reeves was reportedly still involved and the film in question was definitely a sequel, not a reboot. And now it may be slowly gearing back up again, slowly but surely like The Little Engine that Could.
With all due respect: oh hell no.
This news brings out the inner angry black woman in me (yes, every white jewish nerd has one) because, well, who wants a sequel to an adaptation that was quirky and maybe even visually striking thanks to director Frances Lawrence but just flat-out stillborn? Based on the comic book character created by Alan Moore and turned into a Vertigo comic book series by writer Jamie Delano, John Constantine is a striking, even unique character and...
With all due respect: oh hell no.
This news brings out the inner angry black woman in me (yes, every white jewish nerd has one) because, well, who wants a sequel to an adaptation that was quirky and maybe even visually striking thanks to director Frances Lawrence but just flat-out stillborn? Based on the comic book character created by Alan Moore and turned into a Vertigo comic book series by writer Jamie Delano, John Constantine is a striking, even unique character and...
- 6/30/2010
- by Simon Abrams
- Cinematical
Radical Publishing's Hotwire: Requiem For The Dead is now available in trade paperback. Written and illustarted by Steve Pugh and co-created by Warren Ellis, the book collects the entire series along with concept art, Atomeka Press' first Hotwire story and some original illustrations from Ellis. "A lot of the work I'm proudest of never had English language collections. The Jamie Delano Animal Man run is the most obvious example," (more)...
- 4/28/2010
- by By Mark Langshaw
- Digital Spy
Though the graphic novel, Hellblazer: Pandemonium by Jamie Delano and illustrated by Jock, was released last month, I did the unconventional: I decided to wait until the Oscars were awarded last night. When I first finished Pandemonium, my gut reflex was to compare it to the Hurt Locker, last night’s Best Picture winner. It’s true that their central setting was identical: modern day Iraq in the midst of internal turmoil. But the true similarities in these pieces of art are not the drama of war, but the human repercussion associated with this timeless struggle. Delano revisits his perennially crotchety semi-good-guy, Constantine, in this Vertigo hardcover graphic novel. Constantine is coerced by the secret service into helping them deal with an uncommon threat. Somehow an insurgent is affecting the sanity of soldiers and must be kept under deep sedation in order to avoid the deadly effects ...
- 3/9/2010
- by Jason Rosas
- BuzzFocus.com
John Constantine, Hellblazer: Pandemonium
By Jamie Delano & Jock
Vertigo, 128 pages, $24.99
Although crated buy Alan Moore in the pages of Swamp Thing, Jamie Delano was the first writer to tackle the punk rocker turned occultist on his own. He wrote the first year or so of the Hellblazer series which helped create the gravity that pulled several titles from the DC Universe into what is now Vertigo. To celebrate the character’s 25th anniversary, Delano has returned for a lengthy graphic novel, a long overdue achievement. With the rise of the format, Constantine lends himself to lengthier explorations of the darker corners of Earth and the black, fiery realms beyond our ken.
Delano slips easily back into writing the beloved bastard as he tricks the authorities, flips the underworld the bird, and once more risks his life to keep ancient evil at bay. This time, though, the British writer intertwines a...
By Jamie Delano & Jock
Vertigo, 128 pages, $24.99
Although crated buy Alan Moore in the pages of Swamp Thing, Jamie Delano was the first writer to tackle the punk rocker turned occultist on his own. He wrote the first year or so of the Hellblazer series which helped create the gravity that pulled several titles from the DC Universe into what is now Vertigo. To celebrate the character’s 25th anniversary, Delano has returned for a lengthy graphic novel, a long overdue achievement. With the rise of the format, Constantine lends himself to lengthier explorations of the darker corners of Earth and the black, fiery realms beyond our ken.
Delano slips easily back into writing the beloved bastard as he tricks the authorities, flips the underworld the bird, and once more risks his life to keep ancient evil at bay. This time, though, the British writer intertwines a...
- 1/5/2010
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
Original Hellblazer writer Jamie Delano is returning to the title to celebrate 25 years of John Constantine. Vertigo's official Graphic Content blog previewed pages from Hellblazer: Pandemonium. It will be drawn by Jock - the pseudonym of British artist Mark Simpson - best known for his work on 2000 Ad and The Losers. "One of the comic book industry's iconic anti-heroes, John Constantine, the man who's literally (more)...
- 9/25/2009
- by By Hugh Armitage
- Digital Spy
December 17 marks a historic moment for Vertigo as its flagship title Hellblazer reaches issue #250 — the first ever Vertigo title to do so. Vertigo has assembled some of the most celebrated creators in the industry, to ring in this milestone issue with five unique stories set in London during the holidays. It is also being billed by Vertigo as an excellent jumping on point for lapsed or new readers.
About The Contributors:
Dave Gibbons is best-known for the iconic look of the best-selling Watchmen— one of Time Magazine’s 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to the present. Gibbons’ story “Happy Fucking New Year” takes Constantine from a museum theft to a human sacrifice.
China Mieville has written stories for McSweeney’s and Hellboy; he is the author of 5 novels. His story “Ash” explores the real angels of Christmas.
Peter Milligan, author of Shade, the Changing Man and X-Statix will be taking over...
About The Contributors:
Dave Gibbons is best-known for the iconic look of the best-selling Watchmen— one of Time Magazine’s 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to the present. Gibbons’ story “Happy Fucking New Year” takes Constantine from a museum theft to a human sacrifice.
China Mieville has written stories for McSweeney’s and Hellboy; he is the author of 5 novels. His story “Ash” explores the real angels of Christmas.
Peter Milligan, author of Shade, the Changing Man and X-Statix will be taking over...
- 12/3/2008
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
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