by Chelsea Alexandra, Staff Writer

Some of the most compelling works of fiction come from novels where the pages are filled with stunning artwork. Each panel is filled with detailed drawings of people on the hero's journeys and their words are wrapped in speech bubbles. While many of these characters might be superhuman and seem distant at first, some are so deeply layered and complex that they resonate on a profoundly human level. We can relate to some of these fictional heroes because of their humanity. They can reflect a specific messiness in life as they navigate the gray areas.

John Constantine has always been a reluctant hero in comics. He was never out to be a savior of any sort. He always finds himself dragged into supernatural situations that force him to act. His actions are not because he wants to be a hero, but because he often feels there is no choice.

The year was 1985 and Constantine was introduced in DC Comics’ Hellblazer series, though he first appeared in an issue of Swamp Thing. From there he has been featured in several stories and given his own publication. In 2005, the occult detective was given a movie of his own and was played by Keanu Reeves. Fans of Constantine didn’t take to the portrayal. Their biggest complaint was the authenticity of the character. Although Reeves was a fine Constantine, according to fans he didn’t capture the essence of who Constantine is. 

However, in 2014 NBC decided to air a little supernatural show centered around a detective with biting sarcasm and intoxicating charm. Who was to play said detective? Enter Matt Ryan and the rest goes down in cult classic television history. In the series, a new audience is introduced to John Constantine, played by Ryan, a cynical, chain-smoking occult detective and exorcist. Each week he would battle the dark forces and demons from the underworld.

One of the show's strengths was its focus on Constantine's moral ambiguity. He wasn’t depicted as a straightforward hero but rather as a man who operated in a gray area, often making questionable decisions for what he believed to be the greater good. He is willing to manipulate and deceive to get the job done. He doesn’t shy away from sacrificing others or making tough, often ruthless choices if it means preventing a larger catastrophe. Constantine’s past mistakes, and guilt over those who had died because of his actions, were central themes, adding layers to his character. This complexity made him more relatable even as he dealt with supernatural horrors.

What draws people to Constantine isn't just his battles with demons—it is his deeply flawed humanity and authenticity. Constantine walks the line between light and darkness. He often is willing to get his hands dirty to save the world. Even if it means paying a price. Knowing this about the character, Ryan’s portrayal was the most comic book accurate to date. He was able to portray the many layers of a character like Constantine on the small screen each week during its run. It was effortless in how he delivered the snarky one-liners and cynicism. If anything, one of his greatest strengths while portraying the occult detective was balancing Constantine’s toughness and vulnerability. He was a man who was burdened by survivor’s guilt and haunted by his past but used his toughness and cynicism as a suit of armor. It was as if he was Constantine himself, jumping out of the pages of a comic book.

With an unfortunate struggle with keeping ratings on NBC, the network ended the series after one season. There was a lot of untapped potential of what Constantine could have been given if it had a chance. Unfortunately, Constantine was never given a second season. The first season of any show is really about introducing you to the characters and the world—no series really finds a natural rhythm in just a season. At least, it is very rare to have a perfect season of television right out of the gate, especially on network. If Constantine had been given the chance to work out its kinks, it could have been successful.  

That wasn’t the last of Constantine. After the cancellation of the series, Constantine was resurrected in the CW’s Arrowverse. Constantine made a few guest appearances on Arrow and became an integral part of the Legends of Tomorrow team. While on Legends, they were able to expand on his character arc and allow him to be much more developed. This included such aspects of the character like his bisexuality. While on NBC, Constantine’s queerness was limited. His bisexuality was not fully embraced as he is depicted in his comics. When introduced in the Hellblazer series, his bisexuality is fully embraced, having relationships with both men and women. There were hints and references to his past relationships that suggested he wasn't strictly straight, but these moments were brief and never explicitly developed. This lack of focus on his bisexuality disappointed many fans who hoped for a more accurate portrayal of the character's identity. It is hard to say that his sexuality would have been fully embraced in the series due to its limited run.

However, When Ryan's portrayal of Constantine transitioned to the Arrowverse, specifically in DC's Legends of Tomorrow, the character's bisexuality was finally acknowledged. The show portrayed him in romantic and sexual relationships with both men and women, which was much closer to the comic book version of the character. The CW felt like Constantine’s natural home. Everything about the character felt right being on a CW show, especially during the days of the Arrowverse. In my humble opinion, the series would have found its audience on the CW and possibly had a fighting chance of renewal. NBC never felt like Constantine’s home in the same way that a show like Brooklyn Nine-Nine didn’t feel at home on its original network, FOX. It begs the question, why just move the character and not revive the entire series?

Despite its short run, Constantine developed a devoted cult following. The devout fans of Constantine appreciate its faithfulness to comics and its horror-infused storytelling. The character's continued appearances in the Arrowverse helped cement Ryan’s portrayal as one to set the bar.