Is the name "Constantine" pronounced Constan-TEEN or Constan-TYNE? The Sandman creator Neil Gaiman is putting the debate to rest.The new television show adapting the comic series created by Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg is now streaming on Netflix. Actor Jenna Coleman's debut as Johanna Constantine has once again raised the question of how the last name should be pronounced, being that the show elected to use the Constan-TYNE pronunciation as opposed to the other, which is more commonly heard in adapted media. On Twitter, Gaiman responded to a viewer claiming that the show has the pronunciation incorrect, writing, "It's always been pronounced Constantine (to rhyme with wine) in comics," citing earlier tweets made in October 2021 with comic panels of DC character John Constantine.
Why Do DC Fans Feel Constan-TEEN Is Correct?
Many consider the Constan-TEEN pronunciation to be correct due to it being the way John Constantine's name is said in most television and film projects. The character has been portrayed by actors Keanu Reeves and Matt Ryan in live-action before, and in both Reeves' Constantine (2005) film and Ryan's performances in the Arrowverse television shows (like Legends of Tomorrow) and animated DC films, the name is Constan-TEEN.
In fact, The CW's Arrowverse goes as far as acknowledging the confusion in pronunciation, reversing the panels that Gaiman shared in October to justify the proper way to say Constantine. In The Flash episode "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Hour Three," Ryan's Constantine speaks with Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis) from Netflix's Lucifer television series, which is inspired by The Sandman comics. Lucifer calls John "Constan-TYNE," with the sorcerer chuckling and correcting the devil, saying, "Constan-TEEN."
Neil Gaiman Has Defended John Constantine's Name More Than Once
What remains to be seen is whether this is the final time Gaiman will defend The Sandman's choice in pronunciation. After already highlighting the comic book version in October, in July 2022, he was approached again by fans online over what the correct pronunciation is. Gaiman once again shared the panel from 1985's Swamp Thing #37 in which John Constantine says, "TINE," writing, "Alan Moore named and co-created the character, and that's how he pronounced it."
Of course, the name Constantine will come up a lot more if Coleman is given her own spinoff from The Sandman, something Gaiman supports. Many have praised her performance in the show, exhibiting excitement online even before it released. Responding to another fan online saying it would be "cool to have a Johanna Constantine Netflix show," Gaiman agreed with, "You are not alone in this thought."
The Sandman is now streaming on Netflix.
Source: Twitter