TVXOHOF, OCTOBER, 2019 - CONSTANTINE

We’re down to our last three monthly showcases for the Television Crossover Hall of Fame in this 20th anniversary year in which the overall theme has been superheroes and super-villains.  As this is October, who better to salute than….

JOHN CONSTANTINE

From Wikipedia:
John Constantine is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics and its alternative imprint Vertigo. The character first appeared in “The Saga of Swamp Thing #37” (June 1985), and was created by Alan Moore, Rick Veitch, Steve Bissette, John Totleben, Jamie Delano and John Ridgway. He serves as the lead character of the comic books “Hellblazer” (1988–2013), “Constantine” (2013–2015), “Constantine: The Hellblazer” (2015–2016), and “The Hellblazer” (2016–2018).

The titular Hellblazer, Constantine is a working class warlock, occult detective and con man stationed in London. He is known for his endless cynicism, deadpan snarking, ruthless cunning and constant chain smoking, but he's also a passionate humanitarian driven by a heartfelt desire to do some good in his life.

Originally a supporting character who played a pivotal role in the "American Gothic" Swamp Thing storyline, Constantine received his own comic in 1988. The musician Sting was visual inspiration for the character.

A live-action film was released in 2005, in which an Americanized version of the character was played by actor Keanu Reeves. Welsh actor Matt Ryan was cast in the role of Constantine for the 2014 NBC television series, a role he reprises on The CW series ‘Arrow’ and ‘Legends of Tomorrow’, and voicing the character in the animated film “Justice League Dark”, and again in the ‘Constantine: City of Demons’ series on CW Seed.

The “Hellblazer” series was the longest-running and most successful title of DC's Vertigo imprint. Empire ranked Constantine third in their 50 Greatest Comic Characters of All Time, while IGN ranked him No. 29 in their Top 100 Comic Book Heroes, and the character ranked No. 10 in Wizard's Top 200 Comic Book Characters of All Time.

A live-action ‘Constantine’ TV series was developed for NBC with Daniel Cerone and David S. Goyer writing and executive producing the series. Welsh actor Matt Ryan was cast in the title role, for which he adopted Constantine's blond hair. The show, which lasted thirteen episodes before cancellation, followed John's journeys across America alongside his friend Chas and a young woman named Zed who is being hunted down by a demon. Along the way, he solves supernatural mysteries, vanquishes demons, and clashes with officious angels sent to watch over him.

Despite a positive reaction from fans, poor ratings led to the show not being renewed. A decision not to explore Constantine's bisexuality in the show caused some consternation with fans, although the character continued to be portrayed as bisexual in the comics.

Following the cancellation of ‘Constantine’, a crossover episode with The CW's TV series ‘Arrow’ aired, with Matt Ryan reprising his role as John Constantine in the episode "Haunted" as a guest star. In flashbacks, he first meets Oliver Queen on the island Lian Yu where he introduces Oliver to magic and gives him a tattoo for magical protection after Oliver saves his life. In the present-day narrative, set five years later, Oliver calls in a favor from John, who helps him restore the soul of his friend Sara Lance after she is resurrected by the Lazarus Pit. Constantine's off-screen adventures are subsequently referred to in the episodes "Taken" and "Genesis" including Oliver's announcement that Constantine is in Hell.

Matt Ryan reprises his role in the third season of ‘Legends of Tomorrow’ in a recurring capacity. Aboard the Waverider, John Constantine requests Sara Lance's help in performing an exorcism on a young girl possessed by what turns out to be Mallus, the Legends' current demonic adversary, and offers the Legends advice on how they might be able to overcome their enemy.

Constantine's bisexuality is acknowledged in the episode "Daddy Darhkest" when he flirts with Leo Snart / Captain Cold and sleeps with Sara Lance. The episode "Necromancing the Stone" sees Constantine spontaneously kiss Time Agent Gary Green. In season 4, Constantine joined the Legends with Ryan as a series regular.

As with several other superheroes in this year-long celebration, Constantine is a resident of an alternate Toobworld, not the main Earth Prime-Time.  Being a multiversal, he has looked different in various universes (and in the case of the Tooniverse, sounded differently.)  But so far, it’s possible to assume that he remains looking the same in various TV dimensions.

I like to consider his NBC incarnation is separate from his CW character.  Why should Earth Prime-Time be denied its own John Constantine?  Therefore we’re inducting Constantine as a multidimensional.

Welcome to the Hall, Mage….