History ComicBook / JohnConstantine

[[redirect:Characters/HellblazerJohnConstantine]]

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[[caption-width-right:300:''"My name's John Constantine, and here I stay: haunted by London. And London, haunted by me."'']]

->'''Mictlantecuhtli:''' You forget yourself. I am no upstart demon, scrabbling in the dirt of the human soul. I am Mictlantecuhtli. I am a ''god''.
->'''John:''' Great stuff. I'm John — and I'm a ''bastard''.

''John Constantine'' is a creation of Creator/AlanMoore and Steve Bissette, first appearing in ''[[Comicbook/SwampThing Saga of the Swamp Thing]]'' #25 (June, 1984) and going on to head his own Vertigo series, ''Comicbook/{{Hellblazer}}'', in 1988. The character started out firmly entrenched in Franchise/TheDCU -- his first arc was a crossover with ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'', even! -- but gradually drifted off into his own self-contained [[TheVerse universe]]. (Although the likes of ComicBook/{{Zatanna}}, his ex girlfriend, and ComicBook/ThePhantomStranger still popped in from time to time, as did [[ComicBook/TheSandman Morpheus]].) He returned to the DCU in the CosmicRetcon of ''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}}'', subsequently heading a number of series.

Constantine himself is generally portrayed as an [[AllergicToRoutine adrenaline junkie]] who's constantly getting involved with the supernatural because he [[CoolPeopleRebelAgainstAuthority hates]] the [[SlobsVersusSnobs snobs]] who rule the world. Although he is a BadassLongCoat AntiHero, he's portrayed as being a poor fighter (unless he's fighting dirty or gets the first punch in), generally eschews guns, and is actually not that powerful a sorcerer. Instead, he uses his ''brains'' to outwit, trick and manipulate his enemies. Well, [[ThePlan brains,]] [[FunctionalMagic magic]] (mind-reading and gambling a specialty!), [[ConsummateLiar bullshit]], and not infrequently [[ShroudedInMyth the power of his own reputation]]. His reputation as a manipulative bastard has led to him being referred to as the World's Greatest Con Man.

One of his most persistent traits is his habit of manipulating friends and allies into fighting for him, frequently getting others involved in his schemes. This often winds up getting others hurt or killed. Indeed, the series became notorious at one point for introducing a new "old friend" of Constantine's, then killing them off every few issues.

Despite this, Constantine is generally a sympathetic character who refuses to absolve himself of his guilt — except for the time that he turned it into a demon baby and threw it off a cliff — and generally does the right thing, even if he does it in a particularly nasty way. He is a strident humanist and sort-of anarchist who fights for humanity's right to make its own decisions free of the control of Heaven, Hell, politicians, or other forces of control. The fact that [[StartXToStopX he does this by manipulating people]] is an irony that has not been lost on several writers, or even on Constantine himself during moments of self loathing.

It is a major theme in the comic that Constantine ''never'' has any unequivocal permanent victories — enemies will always return, revenge will be sought and friends will be lost. Ultimately, FailureIsTheOnlyOption.

There is a [[Film/{{Constantine}} 2005 film adaption]], starring Creator/KeanuReeves as a [[ChristianityIsCatholic Catholic]], [[AdaptationalNationality Californian]], [[AdaptationDyeJob raven-haired]], [[TheGunSlinger gun-wielding]] [[ChurchMilitant exorcist]] version of Constantine.

A cute (!) version of John appears with other Vert-goMites in the ComicBook/BatMite story ''Mitefall''.

Creator/AlanMoore also claims to have met him. Twice. In RealLife. And he's not the only one — Jamie Delano once saw John sitting outside the British Museum.

''Series/{{Constantine}}'' debuted on NBC in the fall of 2014, with Creator/MattRyan (the voice of [[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIVBlackFlag Edward Kenway]]) in the title role. Unlike the film version, the TV version of Constantine is blond, British, and bisexual, the three Bs many Hellblazer fans expect from the character. Matt [[RoleReprise reprised the role]] for the WesternAnimation/{{DC Universe Animated|OriginalMovies}} film, ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDark'', and again for the animated series ''WesternAnimation/ConstantineCityOfDemons'' and a recurring role in the Series/{{Arrowverse}} and Series/LegendsOfTomorrow.

He's also made [[Main/UnexpectedCharacter appearances]] in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueAction'' .

[[AC:Notable Vertigo Appearances]]

* ''ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}}'' #1-300 (January 1988-November 2012)
* ''Saga of the Swamp Thing'' #37-40, 44-45 (June 1985)
* ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'' #4 (July 1985)
* ''ComicBook/SwampThing'' Vol. 2 #46-51, 55, 65-67, 70-74, 76-77, 84, 88-90, 99, 114-115, 166, 169-171 (March 1986)
* ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' Vol. 2 #3 (March 1989)
* ''ComicBook/BooksOfMagic'' Vol. 1 #1-2, 4 (January 1991)
* ''The Horrorist'' #1-2 (December 1995)
* ''Hellblazer/Books of Magic'' #1-2 (December 1997)
* ''Sandman Presents: Love Street'' (July 1999)
* ''Hellblazer Special'' #1 (1998)
* ''Vertigo: Winter's Edge'' #1-3 (January 1998)
* ''The Trenchcoat Brigade'' #1-4 (March 1999)
* ''Vertigo Secret Files: Hellblazer'' #1 (August 2000)
* ''Hellblazer: Bad Blood'' #1-4 (September 2000)
* ''Hellblazer: All His Engines'' (January 2005)
* ''Papa Midnite'' #3-5 (June 2005)
* ''Chas: The Knowledge'' #1-5 (September 2008)
* ''Hellblazer: Dark Entries'' (October 2009)
* ''Hellblazer: Pandemonium'' (March 2010)
* ''Hellblazer: City of Demons'' #1-5 (December 2010)

[[AC:Notable DCU Appearances]]

* ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueDark'' #1-#40, #0 (November 2011)
* ''Constantine'' #1-23 (May 2013)
* ''Constantine: Futures End'' #1 (November 2014)
* ''Secret Origins'' Vol. 3 #11 (May 2015)
* ''Constantine: The Hellblazer'' #1-13 (August 2015)
* ''The Hellblazer: Rebirth'' #1 (September 2016)
* ''The Hellblazer'' #1-ongoing (October 2016)

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Vertigo Comics (1988-2013)]]

* AbusiveParents: John's father Thomas is a complete jerk to John, both emotionally and physically abusive. He's an angry, stubborn, working class man who John admits had no idea what to do about having such an "arty-farty ponce" for a son. Even after dying and being sent to Hell, he still carries a grudge against his son, but confesses he does have some fatherly love for John. He even visited John's wedding as a ghost.
** [[spoiler: It's not only John who Thomas has troubled. He forced his wife to have coat-hanger abortion, the event leading to her death. He also used to peek in his daughter Cheryl's room while she dressed, and gave his grandson away against Cheryl's wishes.]]
** It's worth noting that, despite John having every right to despise his father (and in many ways does), his first reaction to [[spoiler: Thomas's death at the hands of the serial killer known as the Family Man, was to sink down to the floor and cry. He even goes out of his way to avenge his father's death afterwards, though it brings him little satisfaction.]]
* ActionSurvivor: John is sometimes drawn into situations that he had no part in or was even looking for. Without time to prepare or investigate, he is often the only one who survives. Ironically, he shares many of the listed traits of an action survivor in general.
* AnnoyingYoungerSibling: Actually an annoying niece, Gemma Masters, who wants to follow in her beloved uncle's footsteps. Things don't end well.
* AntiHero: John, when his motivations are purely selfish. Which isn't uncommon.
* AstralProjection: One of John's magical abilities. He uses it during his battle with evil businessmen in the ''Joyride'' arc.
* BadassBoast: From Hellblazer #1:
-->''"I'm the one who steps from the shadows, all trenchcoat and cigarettes and arrogance, ready to deal with the madness. Oh, I've got it all sewn up. I can save you. If it takes the last drop of your blood, I'll drive your demons away. I'll kick them in the bollocks and spit on them when they're down and then I'll be gone back into darkness, leaving only a nod and a wink and a wisecrack. I walk my path alone... who would walk with me?"''
* BadassLongCoat: Literally. After years of being worn during various mystical encounters, the damn thing's developed sentience.
* BedlamHouse: Constantine spent a considerable length of time here and often reflects on the traumatic impact it had on his life.
* BlueCollarWarlock: The TropeCodifier, from an interview with TropeNamer Creator/AlanMoore about his creation.
* CasualKink: Shown multiple times with multiple partners, though often with casual hookups or prostitutes instead of in his more serious relationships. John is a sub, and a pushy one. Everything from handcuffs to whips to even burn play have all been fair game.
* CatchPhrase: "Bollocks"
* TheChessmaster: John himself is. He has a huge arsenal of [[UnwittingPawn Unwitting Pawns]].
* ChosenConceptionPartner: Constantine became the biological father of the child of Comicbook/SwampThing and his wife, as Swamp Thing possessed his body at the time (it's also not made very clear whether or not John consented prior). He kept saying after, "At least he could have asked," as he'd actually been planning to propose it to Swamp Thing before the elemental simply pushed John's consciousness out of his body. John managed to return in the middle of orgasming inside of Swamp Thing's wife, Abby. She was NOT pleased.
* CombatPragmatist: Winning is important to John. Cheating is the easiest way to win. It's not like one gets points for style in these things.
** [[spoiler:During ''The Family Man'' arc, a serial killer who dispatches his victims by cutting them open with a knife is loose in London and is on a family-killing spree. In order to stop him, John baits the killer and challenges him to a fight. Well, he'd been baiting the killer in general, but was simply taking a piss when the serial killer caught him unawares. The killer immediately readies his knife, but to his surprise John, armed with a revolver, shoots and kills him rather quickly. A classic maneuver! Which he then ruins by puking in disgust at becoming a cold-blooded killer.]]
* ComicBookFantasyCasting: When he was first created, he was drawn to look like Music/{{Sting}} of Music/ThePolice.
* ComicBookTime: John has aged realistically since he first appeared, though the appearance of it varies DependingOnTheArtist. In ''Hellblazer'' #8 he celebrated his 35th birthday, in ''Hellblazer'' #63 he celebrated his 40th, and in ''Hellblazer'' #298 he opines, "Where's it all gone, Chas? I mean, what have I done with sixty-odd years of life?". His birthday is stated to be 10 May 1953.
* ConsummateLiar: Being a walking plot device, this is Constantine's greatest power aside from magic.
* CoolPeopleRebelAgainstAuthority: His defining trait; he's a BlueCollarWarlock who dares to kick the [[SlobsVersusSnobs snobs]] - [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney rich]], [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections well-connected]] or [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveSupernaturalPowers supernatural]] - in the bollocks. {{Deconstructed}} in that while it always proves a worthy pursuit - he has no difficulty finding high-status AssholeVictims in desperate need of [[KickTheSonOfABitch humiliation, pain and death]] - but going to war with the people who own the world inflicts a ''lot'' of collateral damage on [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized the world]], on [[HurtingHero him]], and on [[StuffedIntoTheFridge his allies]]. None of them let him forget that, either. Some of them suggest that he's not so much a champion of the oppressed so much as an [[AllergicToRoutine adrenaline junkie]] who uses powerful and amoral opponents as a source of [[SmitingEvilFeelsGood schadenfreude]].
-->'''Clarice''': Sticking your hand in something nasty, getting good and pissed off, getting the blood flowing--vintage John Constantine.
* CrazyPrepared: John Constantine. Sometimes all you need is a bottle of stout, box of ciggies, and a stinky goat to [[DidYouJustScamCthulhu defeat a powerful demon]].
** Lampshaded so much in every battle forum he's been, to the point that [[http://www.comicvine.com/forums/battles-7/john-constantine-vs-edward-elric-754286/ the comic book community would call him prep god]] or [[http://www.comicvine.com/forums/battles-7/john-constantine-vs-loki-699557/ the #1 prepster in DC, rivalling Batman and Lex Luthor]]. In Injustice: Year Three, this is taken beyond lampshading, as Batman himself becomes his sidekick.
* CunningLikeAFox: John was described as a fox by {{God}} himself. Can't argue with that.
* DeadpanSnarker: How else do you describe a guy who'll call [[Franchise/{{Batman}} the Dark Knight]] "Squire"?
* DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu: In both the comics and movie version, John does just that: to the First of the Fallen in the books, and to Lucifer in the movie.
** Subverted later in the comic book, when John realizes all he'd done [[OhCrap was piss off]] one of the most powerful beings in the universe.
** And later when [[spoiler: a reborn First of the Fallen - returning from a trap John laid out for him - flips John the middle finger, slightly amused and still vengeful about it.]]
* DidYouJustScamCthulhu: John's tricked a lot of Gods in his adventures. Most notably The God of Death, Rainbow Serpent, Lovecraftian gods, and [[{{Satan}} First of the Fallen]]. John's the essential TropeCodifier.
** Deconstructed as although he does defeat a lot of enemies by tricking them, there are plenty of examples where this has simply just piss said, enemies off and later come back to make John's life a living hell. Most notable example is First of the Fallen.
* TheDreaded: John Constantine is one of the only mortals to ever be feared by gods, heaven and hell.
** In one guest appearance in ''ComicBook/TheBooksOfMagic'', ComicBook/{{Zatanna}} and Timothy Hunter unwittingly got themselves cornered and outgunned by a whole army of sorcerers and monsters. When all hope seems lost, John Constantine suddenly appeared on scene, which quickly got their attention. He stood in the doorway, lighting a cigarette, and asked the WretchedHive if they knew who he was, what he was capable of, and whether they intended to cross him. The villainous horde departed. John later explained that since he has a reputation of getting anyone near him killed, nobody ever wants to be near him anymore — not even to fight him.
* DreadfulMusician: In his youth, Constantine was in a punk band called "Mucous Membrane" that he freely admits was terrible.
* EscapeArtist: John is second to none. He escaped life-threatening things considered impossible to escape. [[spoiler: When he did die, it was voluntary.]]
* EvilTwin: John himself; he strangled his brother in the womb with his own umbilical cord. But John's not really "evil", just a worse person than the unborn twin would have been.
* ExperiencedProtagonist: When John first shows up, he's been in the magic business for quite awhile. Flashbacks to his earlier days before the series started are frequent.
* FatalFlaw: His cigarettes, his addiction to thrills, his continued meddling in occult matters, his habitual lies, his drinking... well, we've got ourselves a little list, don't we?
* FirstPersonSmartass: John narrates much of the story with artistry, sometimes he becomes an UnreliableNarrator, but he's not shy in criticizing what the writer is writing.
* ForgottenBirthday: In "Forty".
* FriendlyTarget: If you're ever associated with John Constantine, chances are you're already dead.
** A perfect example was during the ''Reasons to be Cheerful'' arc. John's demonic children attempted to kill everyone that John has ever met and knew. That includes his family, close friends, and those he hasn't seen for a long time. They almost succeeded, and it nearly drove John to suicide.
** Even Dream, of ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' fame — a being more immortal than most gods — expired within a few years of first meeting John. Although there was no causal connection between the two events. As far as we know.
* TheFriendNobodyLikes: John firmly maintains this status to nearly if not all of his allies due to his deceitful behavior and tendency to screw people over for his benefit. Even notable NiceGirl types like [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness Zatanna and Abigail Arcane end up complaining how much they genuinely hate John]] and don't want him around despite him helping both at various times.
* HeroicLineage: The Constantine family tree is an example. The lineage is known in history as Laughing Magicians; mortals who exist only to [[DidYouJustScamCthulhu bluff, trick, and humiliate gods]]. This family existed just after the creation of gods and existence. Though not always seen as heroic, many of the family makes up a great MagnificentBastard. Not to mention saving the world countless of times.
* {{Hustler}}: John himself has been shown doing short cons for cash as well as to get himself out of trouble. In fact, being a con man is the closest thing he has ever had to a job.
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Frequently does, although few of his friends/associates happen to like it.
* InnerMonologue
* InterspeciesRomance: John himself is no stranger to this. He's slept with the demon Rosacarnis [[spoiler: who later gave birth to three children trying to kill him]], and "Angel", the embodiment of oppression, famine and murder, along with a couple of succubi along the way.
* InTheBlood: The Constantine line consists of a long history of somewhat dodgy magic users, although John's father, sister, grandfather and uncles were {{Muggle}}s. Apart from John himself, Lady Johanna (18th century) is the most famous. It's also mentioned by other entities and even John himself that the qualities of being a DoomMagnet that sacrifices friends and foes alike until left alone and being a self-obsessed troublemaker that messes with the occult are inherent in the blood.
* InvisibleMeansUndodgeable: John's spells are often this. One time John just uttered a curse that gave a poor sod an erectile dysfunction, or that one time he almost made his father wither and die.
** In issue 250, John went face to face with a powerful goat demon which easily pummels him down. When John was in a chokehold, the only thing he did was give it a sharp glance, and it exploded.
* ItGetsEasier: Constantine used to be freaked out by horribly mutilated bodies but these days he's cold as stone.
* ItIsPronouncedTroPAY: John's last name is pronounced Constan-TYNE ("rhymes with 'fine'") in keeping with the British pronunciation, not the American Constan-TEEN that many fans (and adaptations) often use.
* {{Jerkass}}/JerkWithAHeartOfGold: John switches between the two. He can be genuinely charming, friendly and truly care about the people that get close to him, and he always regrets destroying their lives. At the same time, he is petty, selfish, manipulative and vengeful. He is often an asshole to complete strangers and spits in the eye of any authority because he can. He draws people into his life time and again with little hesitation, constantly craving companionship and love, despite knowing the consequences. He uses magic to curse people who cross him from minor to [[DisproportionateRetribution horrifying ways]].
* MagiciansAreWizards: Aside from being an occultist, John's also a magician, knowing stage magic and real {{Magick}}.
* MagicianDetective: John has two occupations from time to time. Magician and Occult Detective. So its a cross with both.
* MagneticHero: John has a very magnetic personality, able to pull people into being allies, many even after they've sworn to never help him again. Woe is them.
* MemeticBadass: John is an in-universe example, which is {{Lampshaded}} in ''ComicBook/TheBooksOfMagic''. A threat from him gets an entire club of monsters and dark magicians to back off from Timothy and ComicBook/{{Zatanna}}, even though Zatanna has far more magical power than him.
* MushroomSamba: John takes a LOT of drugs in the earlier issues.
* {{Muggle}}: Averted. Although John is dubbed The Laughing Magician, and has come from a lineage of powerful occultists, in the DC Universe John doesn't have any ''Homo Magi'' blood whatsoever, giving an impression he's a BadassNormal. Apparently in the ''Hellblazer'' mythos, many magicians and occultists are just people who know some spell, as in this world you don't need any magical blood to perform magic. Heck, even John's sidekick and normal everyman Chas managed to cast a spell once.
* MyGreatestFailure: After messing up a summoning in 1979, John accidentally damned a little girl to Hell. This hung over him until the "Critical Mass" arc, when he freed her and all the other damned children.
** As a troubled young man, John was blackmailed into reviving the dead son of a gangster ("Son of Man"). Putting aside the fact that this is an impossible task, the lives of John's relatives were on the line. So, John simply summoned a demon and installed him in the boy's body. Cut to the present, where archdemon "Harry" is now running the whole crime syndicate, raping women on a daily basis and harvesting blood from babies to maintain his form. Repeat ad nauseum (pun intended) for ten years. You do the math. Constantine unwittingly stumbled upon the warehouse where Harry keeps his leftovers.
* {{Narrator}}: All the time — and in "Son of Man", he looked at and talked directly to the reader. {{Lampshaded}} in the final part, when people overhearing him are laughing at the mad bloke talking to himself.
* NewPowersAsThePlotDemands: John has a seemingly inexhaustible supply of minor spells.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: John's plans, as he himself can attest, frequently lead to the horrible deaths of everyone involved, even the ones he's trying to save. Sometimes, he even does this on purpose.
* NominalHero: John Constantine is not so much a hero as a nemesis to much worse people. Most of the time he's fighting because he's being blackmailed, he feels like a challenge, or he sees some material gain to be had. And bystanders tend to end up paying the price.
* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: Being an escapologist, con artist, and walking plot device, John Constantine has made quite a name for himself. He has come up against the most powerful beings in existence such as the First and God/Gods, and somehow only leaves "a nod, a wink, and a wisecrack." It also helps that {{Deus ex Machina}} is one of his signature powers.
* NotSoInvincibleAfterAll: In "Dangerous Habits", Constantine contracted lung cancer from a lifetime of smoking. However, he [[spoiler: tricked the Lords of Hell into curing him.]] He's also suffered from alcoholism and frequently debilitating depression, with occasional breaks into psychotic depression. There's a reason he spent two years in and out of a mental hospital, and a fair amount of time as a homeless drunk sleeping on the streets.
* OccultDetective: Though he usually does it out of curiosity or necessity instead of money.
* RapeAsDrama: Has occurred multiple times throughout the series, happening to both main and secondary characters, and even to John himself, though how whether or not it's taken seriously is really [[DependingOnTheWriter dependent on the writer]].
** The graphic novel Confessional centers around this as the main plot point. [[spoiler: When John was 16 and hitchiking his way to London, he was picked up by [[DirtyOldMan a much older man]] who fairly swiftly made his intentions towards John very clear. John managed to escape, barely, but it's made very clear from John's reaction to seeing the man over a decade later that the experience was incredibly traumatizing.]]
** In one of the later issues, [[HornyDevils a succubus]] actually succeeds in raping John when he's passed out drunk. [[spoiler: He'd stumbled home to find her waiting, told her to get the hell out, and even drew a magic circle around himself to keep her away, but in his drunken state, he left a gap of just an inch in the circle, and that was enough for her to get at him while he was unconscious. Despite the fact that John very explicitly did ''not'' consent to the encounter, it wasn't taken nearly as seriously as the aforementioned graphic novel, perhaps due to DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale]].
** [[spoiler: Then there was the ''other'' demoness who decided to both physically and [[MindRape mentally]] rape John so she could have his demonic children. He had a real mental breakdown after that one.]] Really, John's life is practically a TraumaCongaLine.
* ReallyGetsAround: The title character. One could easily lose track of his exes, especially with the frequent introductions of [[NewOldFlame New Old Flames]]. From his appearance in ''ComicBook/TheBooksOfMagic'' alone, it's clear he's been involved with ComicBook/MadameXanadu and ComicBook/{{Zatanna}}. He's quite the slut, and is not above paying for sex, though he is also shown having real, longterm relationships, and was happily married by the end of the series. Even if he often sleeps around while in a relationship. On the other hand, he's rarely been jealous when his lovers have slept around, either.
* RealityWarping: John's synchronicity wave traveling allows John to warp events so they favor him. Things like the roll of the dice, catching the right taxi, meeting the right person, are not pure chance or John's own ability. Sometimes this ability is active on its own and other times John has some control over it.
* RulesLawyer: Constantine relies heavily on manipulation of rules. Most of his victories over beings tremendously more powerful than himself have relied on his use of the magical rules and restrictions they must abide by. In some ways his greatest threats have come from TheUnfettered — particularly regular humans, who don't have any magical restrictions.
* ScrewDestiny / YouCantFightFate: John tries to do both. When he learns he is fated to die he goes along with it to the point of physically "dying" and pretending to accept death. Yet he has previously taken steps to arrange his own resurrection by using his ashes to create a new body. The Fates know something is up so they send Gemma to kill him once again. Realizing the Fates will never give up and how sooner or later he destroys the lives of everyone he cares about, John disappears, leaving it ambiguous as to what finally happens to him.
* SignificantMonogram: John Constantine and several of his ancestors and relatives.
* SmokingIsCool: John is rarely without a cigarette and the the most iconic images is Constantine lighting his cigarette like the page image. Also {{averted}} — he actually has to face the consequences of lung cancer (though, as usual, he weasels his way out of inescapable and hideous death). Still, even after almost dying of lung cancer, he went right back to chain-smoking.
* TenderTears: John cries openly and not infrequently, often alone but also in the company of others, even enemies.
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Trademark Favorite Cigarette: Constantine prefers the Silk Cut brand of cigarettes.
* TragicHero
* TrenchcoatBrigade: John is the UrExample and actually coined the term.
* TheTrickster: Yours truly. Constantine is the TropeCodifier of DidYouJustScamCthulhu.
* WeakButSkilled: John doesn't fight fair or use magic all that often. Yet he still manages to take on Heaven, Hell, and whatever else, if only because he's ''really'' good at planning and manipulating others.
* WeirdnessMagnet: [[spoiler:Turns out John's unborn twin is the actual Reality Warper, arranging things to bring John into the greatest contact with horror and despair while leaving him physically unharmed. The goal is to induce a final HeroicBSOD so John will essentially go catatonic, retreat from reality and allow the twin to take over.]]
** Lampshaded by a demon in ''Son of Man':
-->''"You belong here, don't you, Constantine? This is your world. Eyelids slit off and babies on hooks. Guttings and rapings. I swear to fuck, yours is the kind of life serial killers wank off to."
* WeWantOurJerkBack: In-universe example. Following the events of "Critical Mass", John is left ''entirely good''. Deciding he doesn't like it, he goes on a journey to recover his inner bastard.
* WhatTheHellHero: It's ''rare'' to see a story arc without it.
** [[spoiler: One great and early example is the ''Original Sins'' arc. Gary Lester, a long time junkie and close friend of John Constantine, has successfully trapped a demon. The demon suddenly escapes and Gary looks for John's help. He finds John and seeks his assistance in retrapping the demon. John agrees to help, but instead uses Gary as a sacrifice to placate the demon. He ends up waiting next to Gary while drinking and sobbing until he collapses and pukes all over himself. Nice work to start off the series.]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: New 52 (2011-present)]]

In the ''ComicBook/{{New 52}}'' reboot, an alternate, younger John works as a member of the ComicBook/JusticeLeagueDark, a team that focuses on the magical and supernatural aspect of the DCU. He also received a DC solo title called simply ''Constantine'' in 2013, which often ties into ''Justice League Dark''.
----
* CannotTellALie: In a parallel universe where everyone's natures are reversed, John is forced to tell the truth. It's hilarious.
* CantActPervertedTowardALoveInterest: Despite John's obsessive attachment to Zatanna, he never hits on her because he knows it would only make things worse.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: To be fair, there are two notable exceptions to this in the Newcastle incident and ''[[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness the very first issue of Hellblazer.]]'' Given the former was a BreakTheHaughty moment for John and the second is likely many people's first impression of him, it's likely a NeverLiveItDown moment for him. John also has a high casualty rate with his followers that is going to look suspicious to anyone even if his past is only in BroadStrokes. "New John" is very much a con man influenced by these elements.
* {{Flanderization}}: He is constantly accused of backstabbing his own friends and leading them to their destruction. Unless they've done a lot of rewriting, John doesn't actually betray people to their doom: instead, he tends to be helpless to save people who were already doomed (Gary Lester, Brendon Finn, etc.) He's not a good man, but as a rule he's not making a moral choice to damn people. Such treatment is also unjustified considering much of the character's original past (i.e. Hellblazer) was reset.
* HiddenDepths:
** John admits, while sober and not magically-compelled, that he feels responsible for the death of Zatanna's father and it will not do him any favors winning Zatanna's heart back.
** He has either forgotten how good he used to be, or thinks that he is beyond saving. He remarks that he could never be as kind as Zatanna, but in flashbacks he wasn't far off from her in terms of decency.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: On his better days.
* JerkWithAHeartOfJerk: New 52!John is more often this than his Vertigo counterpart. Some writers seem to forget to make him sympathetic most of the time.
* TheLeader: Started out this way because of his efficiency, but was eventually usurped by Zatanna, who is more of a team player.
* ManipulativeBastard: In general, but a notable example is inviting Zatanna, Deadman, and the others to the House of Mystery - without telling them that once they come in, he can call them back there at any time, without their consent.
* MoralityChain: John saves Zatanna's life several times and clearly worries when she is in danger. Not that it stops him from using Zatanna in part of his own schemes, or from flirting with Black Orchid right after he told her about his feelings for Zatanna. [[spoiler:Or from killing Zatanna in a possible future, according to Xanadu.]] John really does ''not'' like the last one.
* ScrewDestiny: After [[spoiler:Xanadu prophesied that John would kill Zatanna]] in the conclusion of the Books of Magic arc, the House of Mystery is stolen. John does not call Zatanna to help despite her usefulness, which is likely an attempt at this trope. Right before that, John's intended loss on a horse race may have been another attempt to change destiny--which was rejected.
* SympatheticMagic: He tends to use blood, hair, and other personal objects in spells, which makes this his specialty.
* TokenEvilTeammate: Treated as such in-universe by every member of the Justice League Dark, and pretty much anyone he meets, to be honest. He seems quite hated by all.
* TokenRomance: John and Zatanna's love life ''could'' have made an excellent story - but not in the middle of a team book in which the writers' focus is the supernatural, and not their relationship.
* TooSpicyForYogSothoth: Deadman attempted to possess John and left a few moments later, calling John filthy and disgusting.
* UsedToBeASweetKid: As a young man, he was more of a LoveableRogue who fell in love with Zatanna at first sight, then saved Nick out of pure decency. While not a villain in the current series, he's still extremely jaded and cynical to the point where Zatanna would not put it past him to kill an innocent child for selfish reasons.
* WorkingWithTheEx: Deconstructed. John's attachment to Zatanna is obsessive, and Zatanna is upset and angry whenever he shows up trying to win her back. No matter how many times he saves her life, she never starts to like or even respect him again. In issue #30, [[spoiler:Zatanna kicks John out of the House of Mysteries and the JLD. John has matured enough to realize that she, and everyone else, would be better off without him]].

[[/folder]]

[[folder: TV series (2014-present)]]

[[Characters/ArrowverseJohnConstantine See the character page for the series]].

[[/folder]]

->There's been a lot said about John Constantine, all right, and everyone who's known him has their own pet theory.\\
Really, though, he's just a man.\\
Perhaps one day, if we let him, he can be a hero.

----

* AndYourLittleDogToo: If you're ever associated with John Constantine, chances are you're already dead.
** A perfect example was during the ''Reasons to be Cheerful'' arc. John's demonic children attempted to kill everyone that John has ever met and knew. That includes his family, close friends, and those he hasn't seen for a long time. They almost succeeded, and it nearly drove John to suicide.
** Even Dream, of ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' fame — a being more immortal than most gods — expired within a few years of first meeting John. Although there was no causal connection between the two events. As far as we know.