This fall sees the launch of three new DC Comics-based TV series across three different networks, including FOX's Gotham, CW's The Flash (joining Arrow) and NBC's Constantine , debuting on Friday, October 24th, paired with Grimm.

A new adaptation of DC’s Hellblazer comics, Constantine stars Matt Ryan (Assassin’s Creed IV) as the title character, John Constantine, a demon hunter and master of the occult. Starring alongside Ryan is Lucy Griffiths (True Blood) as Liv, the daughter of an old friend of Constantine, who has her own abilities that prove crucial when it comes to thwarting evil.I spoke to Ryan and Griffiths about their characters, what it’s like starring in a comic book adaptation, working with director Neil Marshall (The Descent, Game of Thrones’ “Blackwater”) and more.

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Lucy Griffiths and Matt Ryan in Constantine.

Yeah, definitely. I think as with the source material, there's so much to draw from in terms of the character and the balance of humor and wit and dark and gritty. It's great, because John has this kind of real sarcastic, ironic British wit. It's funny, but at the same time it's serious and dark and gritty. It's got it all, I think.Like how all women like to feel about men, she loves him and she hates him. She thinks he's an absolute idiot, and she just finds him annoying. At the same time, she can't deny that he's a genius, and she's thrilled by what he has to offer her in terms of excitement. He's irresistible to her from that point of view.But dangerous to her as well.Yeah, and she helps him. She's his psychic sidekick.Yeah, I actually have more magic than him. [Laughs]Not so much "magic." Let's be firm on this! But no, she actually has an ability, and John seeks her out because he's got a message from beyond the grave, from an old friend of his, whose daughter is in trouble. That's Lucy's character Liv. Then John goes about saving her and at the same time discovers that she has this ability. So then he kind of uses that ability and slightly manipulates her, but they need each other, and they set about trying to rid the world of all the evil.Yeah, man. That's just the most amazing thing.It’s fantastic.There’s over 300 issues of the Hellblazer comic alone.I was so shocked by the artwork… as in, I was amazed!Yeah, there's just so much source material to glean from. I've read about 100 of them now, so I’ve got a way to go.It's great, man. As an actor, your research is reading comic books. That's not a bad job, right?Yeah, and we're trying to stay as close to the source material as possible and really do the comics justice. So, hopefully, we can do that.It’s pretty faithful!I was just so comforted by the fact that he was English -- which sounds silly, but when you're used to working away from home -- but that was an instant comfort; that's the only way I can really explain it.I thought he was great. I've been a fan of his for awhile as well. The Descent, Dog Soldiers, those films, I've loved for years, and the tones of those. As soon as I knew that he was part of the team, I was thrilled. For this kind of thing, you really do need someone with that vision to get that kind of tone right.He's got a very calm demeanor on set as well.Yeah!Yeah, except for we've got to win. Let's not forget the competitive element![Laughs] I think it's the new golden age of comic books, isn't it? It's great to see DC having so many shows on the air as well. It's just a fantastic opportunity for NBC, I think, on a Friday night, to have this genre. We follow Grimm, and I think that that's a fantastic thing for fans of this genre. They can really get a kick out of that.

Eric Goldman is Executive Editor of IGN TV. You can follow him on Twitter at @EricIGN , IGN at ericgoldman-ign and Facebook at Facebook.com/TheEricGoldman