The only things I know about John Constantine is that he was the main character in Hellblazer, which ended in February 2013.  I also know that he’s currently a leading character in Justice League Dark. 

Constantine, a New 52 title by DC Comics, is about magic and sorcery.  I found this debut issue hard to follow, most likely due to the fact that I have no idea who and what John Constantine is about.  I wish the story, written by Ray Fawkes and Jeff Lemire, would have included a backstory.  A lot of readers don’t know that Constantine is not a new character.  There are also readers that know he’s been around but haven’t read any of his stories (like myself).  I wouldn’t complain about a backstory if he was a new character.

There are also characters in the story that I don’t know if they are new or appeared in previous stories with Constantine.  There’s a young man named Chris that has a special ability.  But thanks to Sargon the Sorceress, we are not able to find out who Chris really is and what his special ability is about.  Sargon the Sorceress is the daughter of Sargon, a good magician gone corrupt.

From the reading, I gathered that Constantine is a magician.  I also gathered that he’s a detective, going great lengths to save the world from the dark.  There’s also people out to kill him.

The artwork is pretty good.  Renato Guedes is the artist.  Marcelo Maiolo is the colorist.  I do not like how Sargon the Sorceress is drawn.  She looks like an ordinary female wearing an old, worn and torn dress with body piercings.  It’s her eyes that stands out and makes her look evil.

As always, I gave my honest review.  That’s pretty much all I have to say right now about the story.  Again, without a backstory this issue is hard to follow.  As of right now, I’m up in the air as to whether I’ll be reading issue #2 or not.  As much as I love dark, magic and sorcery, the debut story of Constantine didn’t grab my attention at all.  If I decide to read issue #2, I will be sure to post a blog about it.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

Unless you know about Constantine, then I do not recommend this title.  There is no backstory which makes the story hard to follow for new readers of this character.