The Collection - Preacher: Book 1
From DC Comics/Vertigo
Preacher is a special book where I can pick up the first book and then, hours later, find myself finishing the last book. It mixes humour, action and a lot of heart…
Preacher #1-12 plus pinups from Preacher #50 and #66 are collected in this new paperback that introduces Preacher Jesse Custer, Cassidy and Tulip. Disillusioned with his own beliefs, Custer begins a violent and riotous journey across the country in search of God, who has abandoned heaven.
Author: Garth Ennis
Artist: Steve Dillon
Coming from the classic DC Comics imprint, Vertigo, you should know this isn’t about superheroes. Garth Ennis is renowned for his views on classic superheroes, and this has none of that.
This initial book does more than just set up the quest that Jesse is on. It also gives us various backstories and potential hints towards what is going to happen in the future. The story has some excellent links, with references and familial links being made cleverly.
This part doesn’t start right at the beginning, with some of the fallout of the arrival of Genesis on Earth. It’s link with Jesse is established, but you know there is more to it than that.
The power given to Jesse via Genesis is well established and there is some uses being made of it - even being partial responsible for the friend/foe Areseface!
Even so, there is some limitations made here - cats, the French and those who can’t hear - as well as a short amount of times where the power of the word doesn’t work due to God making a deal with Jesse’s estranged family.
That family makes up part of the third arc in this book, with some interesting dynamics to the story and it also gives us some good backstory of Jesse, and one of the most powerful panels.
Steve Dillon’s art is magnificent in these books, and the combination of action, facial expressions, and scenes is brilliant. Along with the countryside of Texas, there are the cityscapes of New York and even parts of France included in this story. There are also some fun and grim scenes throughout, which must have been something when reading the script!
The supporting cast includes Cassidy, an Irish Vampire who has his own problems and a long past, which is hinted at here. Tulip is an excellent character, and her interactions with both Jesse and Cassidy are especially good. There are some interesting parts of her past to come and some dark times in her future, but this doesn’t include her getting shot in the head.
Then, on the opposing side, there is, of course, God, who is hinted at in a special way and has some interesting effects around him. The Saint of Killers feels like a force of nature and keeps on coming. Humanity is hinted at behind those eyes, and he is worth keeping an eye on.
There are also the angels. I like the different types of them, and their various roles in heaven are well done.
Of course, Starr, whose life seems to be getting worse and worse throughout the book, supports this. I love how he is introduced, and his two colleagues make up the trio well.
I could go on raving about this book. It is certainly one of the classics and is recommended for everyone!
