NBC To Halt Production on CONSTANTINE

by Ron Purtee

@ronpurtee

So let's say you are a major network and you are part of this major push of new shows television wide of properties from the DC Comics brand. You really want this show to be amazing, and get noticed by all the viewers, not just comic fans. 

So what do you do?

You put the show on at 10pm EST on Friday night of course.

Such is the case of CONSTANTINE. The story of John Constantine, a paranormal detective, exorcist and petty dabbler in the dark arts, pulled from the pages of the popular comic book, HELLBLAZER. 

Now while the show has been performing decently, most notably last weeks episode getting a 38 percent increase in the key demographic of 18-49, NBC has decided to half production after 13 episodes and not give the show it's back end to season 1. Despite it's death sentence of a 10pm Friday slot, the show has done well in delayed viewing and has retained 85 percent of it's lead in viewers from GRIMM.

From the word go, this has been kind of a double edged sword. Fans of the comic finally get a HELLBLAZER show that's pretty loyal to the comics, while being toned down enough to bring in casual viewers. But we also had to worry about them pulling the plug because of the time slot. 

So for fans of HELLBLAZER, watch all you can because this may be all you get. 13 episodes. Soak up Jim Corrigan, and forget ever getting Dr Alec Holland or Dr Fate on the show. I heard a rumor that the show may get pushed to SyFy, but only time will tell.

CONSTANINE's freshmen season is set to end in February and the new episode "Rage of Caliban" airs this Friday at 10pm EST on NBC. 

Valiant First Look: DIVINITY #1

The thing I love about Valiant is that they took the time to make sure that the characters everyone knows and loves came back and were solid hits before they decided to start putting out new titles. 

I was skeptical at first because I thought things were going along just fine with the current roster, but after reading what some of the new titles were and what was going to happen, I was sold. 

DIVINITY is no exception. Here is what VALIANT has to say about the book:

At the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union – determined to win the Space Race at any cost – green lit a dangerously advanced mission. They sent a man farther into the cosmos than anyone has gone before or since. Lost in the stars, he encountered something unknown. Something that…changed him.

Long thought lost and erased from the history books, he has suddenly returned, crash-landing in the Australian Outback. The few that have been able to reach him believe him to be a deity – one who turned the scorched desert into a lush oasis. They say he can bend matter, space, and even time to his will. Earth is about to meet a new god. And he’s a communist. 

How long can it be before the first confrontation between mankind and DIVINITY begins? 

Check out some of the art below!

February cannot get here fast enough!

DIVINITY #1 (of 4) [VALIANT NEXT]
Written by MATT KINDT
Art by TREVOR HAIRSINE
Cover A by JELENA KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC
Cover B by TOM MULLER
Valiant Next Variant by BUTCH GUICE & TOM MULLER
Character Design Variant by LEWIS LAROSA
Artist Variant by LEWIS LAROSA
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | PRESTIGE FORMAT | On sale FEBRUARY 11