Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Get Your Comic On
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    • Hot Topics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Marvel
      • Power Rangers
      • Star Trek Universe
      • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
      • Titan Comics
      • Transformers
      • Universal Pictures
    • Features

      Six Crime Films to Watch After ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE

      September 29, 2025

      Five Dark Knight Animated Projects to Watch This BATMAN DAY

      September 16, 2025

      Who Could Superman and Lex Team-up to Defeat in 2027’s MAN OF TOMORROW

      September 15, 2025

      The 10 Most Memorable Deaths In The ALIEN Series, Ranked

      August 15, 2025

      Are the FINAL DESTINATION Films All Linked to the Events of 1968?

      May 17, 2025
    • Comics

      STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS (2024-) #12 Review

      October 8, 2025

      ABSOLUTE BATMAN (2024-) #13 Review

      October 8, 2025

      IDW Shares First Look at Blockbuster TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES x GODZILLA Crossover Event

      October 7, 2025

      Comixology x Kindle Unveil New York Comic-Con 2025 Plans

      October 6, 2025

      Oni Press Brings “The Loudest Thing in Color” to the Big Apple for NYCC 2025

      October 6, 2025
    • Film

      Preorder The Ultimate DISNEY Collection Box Set Now

      October 8, 2025

      JUJUTSU KAISEN: EXECUTION Coming To Cinemas This November

      October 8, 2025

      V/H/S HALLOWEEN (2025) Review

      October 7, 2025

      Studiocanal Breathing New Life in to Two HAMMER FILMS Classics in November 2025

      October 7, 2025

      Meet the Real People Behind-the-Story of Paramount’s ROOFMAN

      October 4, 2025
    • TV

      Chris is Behind Bars as A.R.G.U.S. Explores the Multiverse in new PEACEMAKER Stills

      October 7, 2025

      AMC Shares Official Trailer for FEARFEST Featuring 2025’s “Halloqueen” and Host Janelle Monáe

      October 3, 2025

      Paramount+ Renews Mega Hit Series LIONESS for a Third Season

      October 2, 2025

      Earth-X Continues to Cause Trouble for the Gang in Latest PEACEMAKER Episode Stills

      October 1, 2025

      Shudder Releases Spectacular – and Fractious – Trailer for THE BOULET BROTHERS’ DRAGULA: TITANS Season 2

      September 30, 2025
    • Culture
      • Anime
      • Collectibles
      • Conventions
      • Gaming
    • Podcast
    • Interviews

      Anson Mount Breaks Down the STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS Season 3 Finale (EXCLUSIVE)

      September 12, 2025

      Richa Moorjani Breaks Down ALIEN: EARTH Episode 5 (EXCLUSIVE)

      September 3, 2025

      PEACEMAKER Stars Jennifer Holland & Frank Grillo Discuss Working Together on Season 2 (EXCLUSIVE)

      August 25, 2025

      Sol Rodriguez & Steve Agee Talk Dance Routines and Sharing Scenes in PEACEMAKER Season 2 (EXCLUSIVE)

      August 25, 2025

      Danielle Brooks & Freddie Stroma Talk Shooting Emotional PEACEMAKER Season 2 Scenes (EXCLUSIVE)

      August 25, 2025
    • Directory
    Get Your Comic On
    Home»Comics»Comic Book Reviews»CONSTANTINE: DISTORTED ILLUSIONS Review
    Comic Book Reviews

    CONSTANTINE: DISTORTED ILLUSIONS Review

    Neil VaggBy Neil VaggSeptember 27, 2022No Comments5 Mins Read
    Constantine: Distorted Illusions (DC Comics)
    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

    Constantine: Distorted Illusions is published by DC Comics and written by Kami Garcia. Artwork is by Isaac Goodhart and colours by Ruth Redmond. Letters are by Steve Wands.

    Constantine: Distorted Illusions releases in comic book stores and on digital platforms from today.

    Synopsis

    Constantine is not your average bad boy…

    John Constantine is, and has always been, a magician of the highest caliber—who doesn’t need additional training from any highbrow magician, thank you very much. 

    Sensing an opportunity for independence, Constantine falsely accepts an apprenticeship in the United States to instead become the lead singer of his best friend’s punk band, Mucous Membrane. When the band begins to dabble in magic, a complicated spell gets out of hand…and the disastrous consequences might be more than Constantine can handle.

    Join #1 New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia (Beautiful Creatures) and artist Isaac Goodhart in the most thrilling magical team-up of the year!

    Review

    “Not your average bad boy”. Those are the first words that you will read when you break in to Constantine: Distorted Illusions, the latest in DC’s long-running series of YA orientated graphic novels. They also perfectly encapsulate author Kami Garcia’s interpretation of the bad boy magician.

    As with Garcia’s work on the Teen Titans franchise, Distorted Illusions quickly finds a way to access the heart of the character before opening him up to the YA audience. With John Constantine that means tapping in to his wild side. When we first meet the character he’s sat in his room, surrounded by posters and strumming his guitar. We might not all be musicians but the scene is still familiar. The posters. The skinny jeans. It’s typical teenager.

    At the age of 18 John is at an interesting crossroads in life. Through the book we see him jostling between his need to forge his own path and the need to prove himself to his family. The punk streak which feeds so much of his creativity and that reflects the teenage rebellion we all went through also feeds his craving to further his magic. Garcia brilliantly taps in to the uncertainty and angst that go hand in hand with being a teenager.

    As with The Mystery of the Meanest Teacher, it’s no small task in trying to take a binge-drinking, chain-smoking, literal Hellraiser and turn him in to an accessible character for a young audience. Garcia rightly strips out a lot of the character’s vices and that includes reigning in his use of colourful language. But still she is able to keep traits which make him instantly recognisable. Calling other characters “love” instantly connects this younger version to his classic portrayal. The leather jacket definitely also helps.

    For the uninitiated Distorted Illusions has excellent pacing. The book is broken up in to a number of chapters which add an extra layer of accessibility to its 194 pages for the young audience. Early chapters focus on Constantine’s inner workings whilst setting up his family situation before getting down to business. The central plot line focusses on his grasp of his magical abilities, something which adds much more fantastical elements to the book. It’s all presented perfectly logically and reachable for younger readers.

    The story introduces a small supporting cast to round out Constantine’s world. There’s his absent father, his mother and stepfather. But more important to the narrative thrust are his closest friend, Veronica and is potential love interest, Luna. All play an important role in pushing John towards becoming the character we know and love. Obviously there are wrinkles along the way, namely a spell gone awry.

    The scenario allows for some wonderful character development. Across the book we see John grappling with his insecurities as well as facing up to his shortcomings. Garcia has shown across all of her DC books that she is more than capable of sticking the landing. Distorted Illusions is no different. The book winds up with some excellent sorcery as well as a compelling emotional payoff for the character.

    Distorted Illusions has a wonderful visual language. Ruth Redmond’s colours are incredibly playful, often painting foreground elements in more energetic colours whilst backgrounds are littered with small details in Isaac Goodhart’s art. Together they bring a vibrancy to the book which plays in to the magical side of the DC Universe perfectly. Across the story we’re treated to a number of dynamic locations. From Constantine’s family home and the London Underground all the way through to dingy Washington punk clubs. There’s plenty of opportunity for the art team to flex their muscles and they do so with real gusto.

    Verdict

    Packed with magic intrigue, Constantine: Distorted Illusions is a fun introduction to DC’s resident Hellraiser. Between Kami Garcia’s excellent story and Isaac Goodhart’s imagery this book will undoubtedly open up a whole new audience to John Constantine.

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Constantine: Distorted Illusions (Comic Book) Isaac Goodhart Kami Garcia Ruth Redmond Steve Wands
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Neil Vagg
    • Website
    • X (Twitter)

    Neil is the Editor-in-Chief at GYCO. He has a BA in Film & TV and an MA in Scriptwriting; he currently works 9-5 in an office and 5-9 as a reviewer. He has been reading comics for as long as he can remember and is never far away from any book which has the word Bat in the title.

    Related Posts

    GLAAD Media Award-Nominated THE ODDLY PEDESTRIAN LIFE OF CHRISTOPHER CHAOS to be Collected in Oversized Library Edition

    August 15, 2025

    Mysterious Threats in First Look at MINOR ARCANA #9 From BOOM! Studios

    June 16, 2025

    BATGIRL (2024-) #8 Review

    June 4, 2025

    The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos: Children of the Night to feature New Recurring Back-Up Story MONSTERS IN LOVE

    May 10, 2025

    BATGIRL (2024-) #7 Review

    May 7, 2025

    A New Mini Arc Begins in First Look at MINOR ARCANA #7

    April 17, 2025
    Latest

    STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS (2024-) #12 Review

    October 8, 2025

    ABSOLUTE BATMAN (2024-) #13 Review

    October 8, 2025

    Preorder The Ultimate DISNEY Collection Box Set Now

    October 8, 2025

    JUJUTSU KAISEN: EXECUTION Coming To Cinemas This November

    October 8, 2025

    V/H/S HALLOWEEN (2025) Review

    October 7, 2025
    Latest Podcasts
    News

    Join us to Visit the Warner Bros. Prop Archive for BATMAN DAY 2025 Celebrations

    By Neil VaggSeptember 20, 2025
    News

    ALIEN: EARTH and the Return of PEACEMAKER

    By Neil VaggAugust 20, 2025
    News

    Superman ’25 & the Future of the DCU

    By Neil VaggAugust 6, 2025
    News

    The Best of 2025… So Far

    By Neil VaggJuly 23, 2025
    News

    Reviewing FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES and Apple TV+ Series MURDERBOT

    By Neil VaggMay 21, 2025
    X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook LinkedIn
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Community Guidelines
    • Directory
    • Pitch to Us
    • Advertise
    GetYourComicOn.co.uk is a property of Get Your Comic On Ltd. © 2025 All Rights Reserved. Images used on this website are registered trademarks of their respective companies/owners.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.