10 Problems With Constantine That Got It Cancelled
7. Ignoring Stories From The Comics
Whilst it made considerable changes, the Constantine film at least drew on the source material for its basic plot: specifically, the Dangerous Habits and Original Sins story lines from the Hellblazer comics. For the most part, the TV show decided to come up with its own stories, foregoing the 300-odd issues it had to draw upon. Now, obviously not all of those comics were that good. In fact some of them were downright clunkers, with Brian Azarello and Andy Diggle's runs writing Hellblazer most commonly singled out for being a bit naff. They were still a damn sight better than some of the stuff Constantine's writing team came up with over the first season, though. In the Hellblazer comics, con artist John Constantine has his ups and downs, but mainly downs most people hate him, he has to make difficult decisions, and deals with horrors both inhuman and frighteningly familiar. In Constantine, he listens to haunted records and chases after magical MacGuffins like antediluvian crystals. Less than inspired.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
