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art by Dave McKean
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Sorry, still very excited about Constantine television series. Since the show started, I've been inspired to go back to the source material and started re-reading Hellblazer, starting with #1 and I'm currently on the Warren Ellis run. My favorite writer on the series is hands down Garth Ennis, who brought such a fresh perspective on the character... plus exploring the raw violence and horrific world of John Constantine... and even building and expanding on Jamie Delano's stories (hello, demon blood!).
The unfortunate thing is that I don't think NBC will be renewing the series to Season 2... in fact, as of this writing, I believe there is no current production unless they hear from NBC to continue the series (they only wrapped up 13 episodes so far). Show runner Daniel Cerone is already on a campaign to save Constantine via his twitter page, urging fans to vote and watch the series.
I would rather have a toned down Constantine series with lack of smoking and set in America (not London) than nothing at all... so despite my minor complaints about the show, I hope it continues.
You can read the first Hellblazer comparison here.
Here is a breakdown of Hellblazer comics compared to television.
Warning: Contains spoilers.
Episode 4: A Feast of Friends
This episode is basically a re-telling of Hellblazer #1-2, written by Jamie Delano with art by John Ridgeway.
John Constantine's early friend, Gary Lester (now drug addict) is introduced. As explained in the show, Lester is an old friend and admirer of John Constantine. Everything is pretty faithful to the comic book, except for some minor changes, obviously to make it work for the television show, Zed Martin is written into the story to hear Lester's explanation about the 'Newcastle' incident (which we heard a little about in the pilot). In the comic book, John hypnotized Lester and he drew a picture of the markings on the boy with the demon.
The demon that Lester expelled was called Mnemoth, a hunger demon. Like the comic book, he saved a boy and trapped the demon in a bottle... unfortunately the demon got loose and has killed several people in London.
In the comic, Constantine goes to Africa to get more information on the origin of the demon and found an unnamed Shaman. He tells Constantine how to stop the demon (require a human sacrifice). Since they adapted the episode faithfully, I think this is the best episode so far. I hope they adapt more comics in the future.
Episode 5: Danse Vaudou
Comic book fans will know that Jim Corrigan is, or will become, The Spectre, the spirit of vengeance. We are introduced to Corrigan as a police detective, flashing his badge, while peeing in an alley. Corrigan does not really appear in Hellblazer, but he does appear with Constantine (and the Trenchcoat Brigade) in the Books of Magic series that Neil Gaiman wrote a few years ago that introduced us to Harry Potter, I mean Timothy Hunter. It does make sense to include Corrigan in the Constantine timeline... but I would think we would rather see the Phantom Stranger, Dr Occult, Mister E ('Mystery') or Etrigan the Demon before we saw Corrigan! Still, can't complain about this nod to the comic book fans.
Papa Midnite returns, this time at his native New Orleans in the heart of VooDoo magic territory.
What is new here is the appearance of Papa Midnite's sister Cedella skull. Constantine made reference that Midnite killed his sister, and the real backstory is that Midnite's skull was the source of his power. He had murdered his sister and prevented her from going to the afterlife... instead he bound her spirit to become a spy for him. She'll whisper what she hears from hell and gave Midnite and edge over his enemies. I hope we revisit this storyline later on.
Chas Martin is given more to do with this new episode... but I don't like how they seem to have given him supernatural powers, or least some sort of protection spell. In the comic book, he's just a regular cab driver and Constantine's friend, not a demon hunter.
Episode 6: Rage of Caliban
This episode has no connection to the comic book... however the possessed child in this episode reminded me of the "Critical Mass" storyline in Hellblazer, especially with the hair cut. Like previous episodes, this one reinforce the ground rules of magic - particularly knowing the name of the demon/spirit in order to command it.
Probably not connected to the comic book - but Nora is a prostitute that John laid with waiting for the Family Man. In the TV show, she is seen as simply a one-night stand, and will unlike reappear again in the series.
I don't recall any Paralegal (unnamed character by Amy Parrish) in the comic book, but on occasion there is a policeman (Detective Watford) who sometime brings Constantine cases to work on. I hope this could be a reoccurring thing, instead of relying solely on the bloody map and Zed (who does not actually appear in this episode).
The Sword of Night, the sword that compels its holder to tell the truth, makes an appearance here. Its owner, The Nightmaster, like the Spectre, appeared in the Books of Magic series.
The unfortunate thing is that I don't think NBC will be renewing the series to Season 2... in fact, as of this writing, I believe there is no current production unless they hear from NBC to continue the series (they only wrapped up 13 episodes so far). Show runner Daniel Cerone is already on a campaign to save Constantine via his twitter page, urging fans to vote and watch the series.
I would rather have a toned down Constantine series with lack of smoking and set in America (not London) than nothing at all... so despite my minor complaints about the show, I hope it continues.
You can read the first Hellblazer comparison here.
Here is a breakdown of Hellblazer comics compared to television.
Warning: Contains spoilers.
Episode 4: A Feast of Friends
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Gary Lester
art by John Ridgeway
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Mnemoth
art by John Ridgeway
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The Spectre
art by Scott Hampton
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Papa Midnite and Cedella
art by Steve Dillon
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The Nightmaster
art by Charles Vess
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