Constantine: City of Demons

Well who knew there would be entertainment in 2018? Back again gals and guys, I am checking out some DC Comics animated. This ran 6 minutes apiece webisodes voiced by Matthew Ryan who played John Constantine in CW's live action series. DC's supernatural shamus, magi and all around pain in the ass is back and up to his hips in paranormal activities. This is Constantine: City of Demons.

Bloody Imp! Gimme my ciggies back!

With a flashback sequence of Constantine in Ravenscar Asylum, and his buddy Chas trying to bolster enthusiasm, you can tell Chas loves John like a brother. Yup, a Newcastle event flashback.

Johnny Boy is his usual gloom and doom self, wallowing in his standard self-pity in a Liverpool flophouse when signs of darkness start showing him evil is not only on the rise but plans to drown everything in a tide wave of terror. For example: A physical manifestation of his subconscious inner demons. The size of imps clawing and biting him. His old friend Chas (Damian O' Hare of Fable, The Royal, Risen, Fable III, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, Assassin's Creed III and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) shows up at John's doorstep after 9 years of being happily married and having a daughter when she fallen into a mysterious coma, that science cannot determine cause or origin. Hmm dark magics perhaps?

With an innocent's life and very soul on the line, John grabs his kit and assorted mystical nick knacks and is on the case. With seasoned cartoon/Sci-Fi and comic book graphic style writer J.M. DeMatteis (The Real Ghostbusters, Superboy, Earth: Final Conflict, Justice League, Justice League Unlimited,Legion of Superheroes, Ben 10: Ultimate Alien and Young Justice) taking graphic novelist/comic book writer Alan Moore (Swamp Thing, Hellblazer, Watchmen, V for Vendetta) magi detective and running him through the ringer.

The Doll and the Demon: Coming this fall on CW.

With Chas' blessing, John proceeds to do that voodoo he do so well as he observes Trish (Laura Bailey of Diablo III: Reaper of Souls, Vampire Knight, Avengers Assemble, Batman Unlimited, Batman: Arkham Knight, Digimon Fusion and Spider-Man) to see her very mind is in torment.

John extends a call to a specialist, Asa the Nightmare Nurse (also Laura Bailey), a demoness that adheres to her mistress Alice Winter, in the hopes a second opinion can reach a better conclusion. Big shocker, John's knocked boots with her. He does get around. A bippity boppity boo later, and Nightmare concludes the girl's soul is missing or rather taken. (quick nerdy facts, Asa actually possesses Alice and does good deeds in spite of being a demon and is a member of Justice League Dark, the mystical heavyweights of the JLA)

What's happen, spell slinger?

With a demon appearing through Nightmare, taunting John and telling him to make his way to the City of Angels. Yeah, it's going to be one of those cases. Chas insists on coming with John to L.A. Whether that is for his protection, his daughter's soul or if needs be punching John has yet to be revealed.

Sid Vicious in rehab YET AGAIN.

Nightmare Nurse and Renee (Emily O' Brien of Rogue One: Recon- A Star Wars 360 Experience, Guardians of the Galaxy: The TellTale Series, Batman: The Enemy Within, Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul and Dishonored: Death of the Outsider), Chas' wife girl talk about Chas and Constantine being friends since they were 10, forming a punk band and getting into the wrong club in Newcastle. Yup it always comes back to Newcastle for you Constantine fans.

With an address presented via Hellfire; John and Chas make their way to 1247 Enstrom. Clearly the trap is there but John already knew that. Well with a bit of a piggish butler, our duo make their way in a gothic house looking to be constructed in the 1920s. Don't kid yourselves about Spanish Colonial, kiddies. These stone and mason jobs are pretty common on the coast, if you have the bucks. Granted I wouldn't step foot one in it without a team of exorcists and unlicensed nuclear accelator on my back but that's just me. Probably some cold iron and salt too. For those playing the home game, this is a house of extremely bad juju. If the owner offers to let you join him in the pool, SKIP IT!

The demon Beroul (Jim Meskimen of Lego Marvel Superheroes: Avengers Reassembled, StarCraft II: Nova Covert Ops, The Last Tycoon, World of Warcraft: Legion, Final Fantasy XV, Avengers Assemble and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) greets John for a game of wits, cunning and downright underhanded deviousy. All John's hallmarks. Seriously don't be letting the kiddies watch this particular animated movie unless you like paying gargantuan therapy bills.

With a few obscure notions, rings of truth and random babbles, a contest is underway between Beroul and John. He's a glutton, bored and frankly a bit of a knob.

Beroul has many competition for the souls of L.A.and makes business topside difficult but Beroul has many names and many designs. He mustn't have anyone else fouling the waters. He has coffers to fill.

The personification of Los Angeles comes before John and makes a plea that he rids her town of the demonic scourge that runs rampant. Gonna fight five ranking demons? Better have a pretty big stick.

Overall, this feels like it came right off the pages of Hellblazer, clever snark from Constantine, Matthew Ryan has got his number of good and bad. The artwork is similar to that of the New 52 approach of the animated films such as: Batman and Son, Justice League War, Flashpoint and Reign of the Supermen. It's dark, eerie and all things in John's corner of the supernatural. Plenty of tongue in cheek gags, gore and things and monsters getting ripped up.

Again I cannot stress enough, parents DO NOT let the little ones watch this. Clearly the big kids viewing. So if you enjoy 90 minutes of a blonde git in a tie and trench coat constantly pissing off demons, devils and the damned, this is a fine edition to Constantine.

Demon and chiropractor.