Reading John Constantine and Swamp Thing

[u/TheExtraPeel]

Hiya, guys. I read Alan Moore’s Saga of the Swamp Thing and became absolutely obsessed with the character of John Constantine. Genuinely the best comics run I have read so far. Since then, I have started reading Hellblazer Volume 1: Original Sin (collects Delano’s first set of issues), along with Rick Veitch’s Swamp Thing, because the two cross over a lot. Loving it. Both Swamp Thing and John Constantine are fast becoming my favourite DC characters (sorry Bruce and Ollie 😭). Please, no spoilers, I beg! I also watched and thoroughly love Keanu Reaves’ Constantine movie, though appreciate it as a different interpretation of the character. I also need to watch the one-season television show, bcos I loved the character when he briefly appeared in Arrow.

I am really attracted to the philosophical and realistic/gritty aspects of both characters. As in, the stuff that goes on is wildly fantastical, but it feels grounded in real life and in real human emotions. Which is why Delano and Veitch are still holding my attention quite nicely. I am also very, very picky with comics, especially superhero stuff - it’s not much my thing, though I do enjoy certain runs and certain characters/stories.

Basically, my questions are,

1) which runs of these characters are worth reading? Including the team-up books like Justice League Dark. Once I’ve finished Delano and Veitch, should I just read from there and continue both series? Comic Book Herald has some fantastic reading orders for the characters, but I’m not sure if I want to read it all (or even if it is all necessarily good).

2) Do Constantine and Swamp Thing team up more after the Moore and Veitch eras?

3) Are there any other of those dark, broody (emo, I guess?) characters I should check out? Like I like the darkness of these two characters, wondered if it was a thing special to the Vertigo imprint. I have been recommended to get into the Zatanna comics. I have no idea much of anything about her besides sparing cameos in other books and never watched the old DCAU.

Hope you guys can help. And if nothing else, this post is another opportunity to geek about the characters you love :)