Constantine: Weighing the Heart

The Creators:

Published by DC Comics

Written by Ray Fawkes

Art by Juan Ferreyra

Colors by Tanya and Richard Horie

Lettering by Pat Brosseau

Synopsis:

This comic opens up with Constantine having a very frank and heated conversation with the helmet of fate. Then the story cuts away and we meet Mary Bowen, who is having one of those days where nothing seems to be going right. Her bad day brings  her unexpectedly to an abandoned building after her thoughts switch away from work and to her destiny. But a gruff looking man in a cowboy hat stops her short before she rushes up the stairs to the second floor. This man, Lloyd Ortiz is keeping people out while something big goes down upstairs. One floor up, is were our gruff hero, Constantine, is confronting the consciousness and power that still inhabits Dr. Fates Helmet.

Thoughts:

Constantine is such an intelligent, irreverent character who I instantly fell in love with. Which says something about this specific issue because, until now, my only experience with Constantine was in the 2005 movie starring Keanu Reeves.

Constantine, The 2005 Feature Film

This issue was able to build up enough of his character and fill in just enough of his history with the Helmet that even a newbie like me could get into the story. I enjoyed the animosity between these characters and as their argument gets more heated, but I could tell there was a lot I was missing. It wasn’t too off putting, because the action of this plot was a lot of fun, but it was enough for me to feel like I should eventually go back to the beginning of Constantine in “The New 52” universe and see what I’ve been missing.

The artwork though. I really loved the artwork in this.The comic is in full color, the line art is delicate, like thin pencil line work, and the colors are just incredible. But what really stands out in this is how the artwork is able to make transformations and magic feels as close to an animated movement as a still image ever possibly could. It’s pretty freakin’ cool.

This was a quick read, but it managed to hit a lot of good moments on the way. I won’t say the story was “blow me away” good, but it was enjoyable and I will be looking to read more of this series in the future.

I’m giving Constantine: Weighing the Heart, Issue 1, 3.5 out of 5 blood spattered stars. The art and Constantine’s attitude made this into an engaging and enjoyable read, but I felt like more could have been done with the plot and story  to bring it up to the next level. I can’t put my finger on why this one didn’t quite strike a chord with me, but, hopefully the upcoming issues will leave more of an impression.