We’ve had how many iterations of John Constantine, but Kid Constantine might just be the oddest one yet… The Constantine we know and love smokes cigarettes by the dozen, is known for his ratty trenchcoat, and couldn’t be friends with a demon if he tried, and somehow this latest (shrunk by a few decades) John aka “Kid” turns all of this on its head for his solo adventure to an American boarding school. After running afoul of a pack of ghosts (now that’s on brand!) Constantine flees to America until the heat dies down but it’s not long before he’s busted once again. A fellow classmate, Anna, catches him doing magic and the two quickly pair up as an unlikely magical duo of outcasts. It’s not all smooth sailing for Kid and Anna, though, as they discover that one of their teachers is actually an evil witch, and she’s planning on doing a horrible ritual that will doom the town. The story is rife with expected themes about growing up, making friends, and learning to face your fears, so it falls far short of the grit and panache of a true Constantine hellbender, but it is written for a much younger audience so I am not entirely surprised that they kept the tone very light. It is decently written, though, with fast pacing and snappy dialogue that pair well with the well-executed design and artwork, resulting in a pleasantly light intro to the slightly darker side of comics that John Constantine is a harbinger of. Will the young audience members grow up to be adult readers of the classic Hellblazer graphic novels remains to be seen, but if this is their mode of entry it might just happen, given enough time. ( )

Johnny has majorly upset some ghosts in his English hometown so he convinces his parents to send him off to boarding school in the United States for safekeeping. Of course, almost as soon as he gets there, he begins to think that one of his new teachers is a witch. With the help of some newfound friends, can he discover the secret of the witch and defeat her?

This book was so clever and fun as an introduction to the comic book character Constantine for younger readers. There are still demons and other supernatural beings, so it might not be for every reader, but those who don't mind those things will certainly love it. The "heck blazer" shirt that Johnny wears early on is a nice touch as well as the introduction of Johnny's schoolmate Anna, who also has some magical powers. (Readers learn at the end that she is a young Zatanna.) The conclusion of the suspected witch story has some unexpected twists and turns that will keep readers at the edge of their seats. The illustrations are well done and fit the story perfectly, with just the right blend of realism and cartoon. ( )

The Squirrel Girl team disappoints with a sanitized kiddy version of John Constantine. I mean, first of all, with all the characters at their disposal why would DC want to market cynical Constantine to the G-rated crowd? Because of the TV version that's been floating around the Arrowverse the past few years? (I haven't seen him.)

I didn't buy the character in this form nor in this story with its weak plot that finds Kid Constantine (his preferred name!) moving into a Massachusetts boarding school to escape some magical heat in England, only to find himself deep in the magical loo again. Amongst its silly turns is one that hinges on the amount of salt in sweat (and my friends it is a ridiculously minuscule amount unlikely to be of help outside of topping a single pretzel).

There's a big reveal at the end about one of the main characters that will probably be lost on many younger readers and is obvious from page one for older DC fans. So I'm not sure what the point of it is, really. ( )

I have always loved the brooding John Constantine. DC kids is bringing readers a young Constantine who prefers to be called Kid. He still talks with demons, and gets into bits of trouble. Some trouble is so bad he gets sent to an American boarding school where he tries to hide his magic and abilities, but it doesn’t work as trouble seeks him out. This was a fun graphic novel for upper elementary and middle school. It has a bit of humor without being as dark as many adults remember Constantine being. It has something for everyone. I could see this book becoming a big series and then a TV series. ( )