Summary
WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for Wonder Woman #11!DC’s blockbuster crisis event,Absolute Power, begins explosively with significant repercussions forJohn Constantine. As the magic-user loses his powers, shocking revelations surface about their origins, unveiling dark Hellblazer lore. These revelations deepen Constantine’s mystique and illuminate why he remains an outcast in both the hero and magic communities.
Madame Xanadu reveals that John’s magic is directly linked to the devil.
Tom King, Tony S. Daniel, and Tomeu Morey’sWonder Woman#11 marks the trio’s first tie-in issue to DC’sAbsolute Powercrisis event, where Amanda Waller aims to eliminate metahumans using her power-stealing Amazo robots. This issue unfolds during the events ofAbsolute Power#1, as heroes retreat into hiding following Waller’s smear campaignagainst heroes using AI-generated deepfake videos.
Hiding out at the Watergate Hotel, Wonder Woman, John Constantine, Shazam, Detective Chimp, Madame Xanadu, Jim “the Spectre” Corrigan, and Mary Marvel soon find themselvesambushed by one of Waller’s Amazos, with Constantine being the first to fall victim to its power-draining capabilities.
Madame Xanadu Reveals That John Constantine’s Powers Are Directly Tied to the DEVIL
Constantine is knocked unconscious after the Amazodrains his powers. As a result, the other six heroes are unaware that John’s powers have been taken and are now possessed by the robot. This leads Shazam to charge at the Amazo, only for the robot to use its newly acquired powers to teleport Billy across the Atlantic Ocean, sending him crashing into the Eiffel Tower. Wonder Woman then asks Madame Xanadu if she can track where the robot sent Shazam. Madame Xanadu responds that she can’t, explaining,“John’s magic is so tied to the devil, I don’t like to get near it.”
Madame X’s revelation brings to light several profound truths. Firstly, she reveals they are dealing with a power-stealing Amazo robot now equipped with Constantine’s abilities. Secondly, she discloses that John’s magic is directly linked to the devil himself, implying some of his powers have hellish origins. This raises significant questions about how exactly Constantine’s abilities are intertwined with the devil and whether it’s a mutual exchange.Madame’s statement also sheds light on why John is perceived as such an outsider within magical communities—other magic-users want nothing to do with his satanic magic.
John Constantine’s Latest Team Up Is So Perfect, He Needs to Leave the DCU
Hellblazer John Constantine’s latest supernatural team-up proves that there may be a better home for the dark magic wielder other than DC comics.
Other Explanations of Where John Constantine’s Magic Come From
While it was always somewhat implied that Constantine’s magic had ties to the devil, DC has offered various explanations over the years regarding the origins of John’s powers. Apart from his deliberate dabbling in black magic and other occult practices, Constantine’s magic is directly connected to his blood and lineage.In theHellblazercomics, he undergoes a transfusion of demon blood from Nergal while hospitalized, which grants him magical healing and slowed aging. Additionally,John Constantinebelongs to an ancient bloodline of magic-users known as The Laughing Magicians, further illuminating his innate magical aptitude.
WONDER WOMAN #11 (2024)
John Constantine
John Constantine is a dark, morally complex, supernatural detective from DC Comics. As a chain-smoking, trenchcoat-wearing master of the occult, he battles demons, angels, and magical forces while navigating his own haunted past. He has appeared in comics, live-action films, animated features, TV shows, and the Arrowverse. Known for his cynicism and reluctant heroism, Constantine often sacrifices personal happiness for the greater good.
