Geekshow

‘Sitting Now’ Comic Review: Preacher – Vertigo Comics

Recently, I was asked by Ken Eakins, of the site Right Where You Are Sitting Now!, to contribute a bi-weekly comic review. The site is an online magazine that explores the latest in alternative, underground and counter-culture. Bearing this in mind, I wrote my first review this week on the Vertigo series Preacher, which I thought fit the bill quite nicely, and I wanted to share it with all of you.

From the orignal post on Sitting Now:

When I was asked to begin writing reviews for comics with a counter-culture spin for Sitting Now, only one comic immediately came to mind: Preacher. Part Western, part Horror story, part Religious Epic, and a lot of weird, Preacher is as counter-culture as it gets.

Created by writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon, Preacher is the story of a small town Texas minister, named Jesse Custer, slowly losing his faith in the god he’s devoted his life to. In one bizarre instant, his life is changed forever, and with his gun-toting ex Tulip and a hard-drinking Irish vampire named Cassidy, he aims to find out why and who’s to blame. The story that Ennis and Dillon have crafted here is unlike any other, comics or otherwise. It’s done so masterfully well that as an aspiring writer myself, I find it both inspiring and discouraging, knowing full well that nothing I can ever do will be at the quality of storytelling that Preacher succeeded in being so effortlessly.

Reverend Jesse Custer is the perfect protagonist. Confidant but not without his flaws, Jesse never ceases to be interesting, and regardless of the other worldly circumstances he may come against throughout the story, he continues to be an everyman who simply asked God what everyone has asked at some point, “Why me?” The difference is, this is a story about that everyman determined to find the answer, no matter the cost. Jesse is a man of principles, through and through, In his world, no one gets by without answering for the things they’ve done. Not even God.

Jesse isn’t alone in his journey, either. Preacher is filled with a cast of characters that are just as well-rounded. Tulip, Jesse’s ex whom he left to pursue his life as a preacher (for reasons I won’t reveal here), is a damaged and mysterious woman who’s story is slowly told through late into the series. Tulip and Jesse’s connection is as believable as it is heartbreaking. It’s that  relationship that we’ve all found ourselves in at one time or another. The kind of love that never goes away, no matter how many time you hurt each other. Jesse and Tulip are two people who are absolutely fated to be together, and when its not taking Jesse across the world on his search for God, Preacher spends a lot of time focused on their trials and tribulations as a couple.

Then of course there’s the fan-favorite, Cassidy. An Irish vampire who is about as complex a character as I’ve ever experienced in any medium. In a story like this, the sudden appearance of a supernatural being like a vampire should seem out of place, but Ennis makes it work in a way that is commendable. Cassidy, while being a bloodsucking abomination, is still relatable. He’s that guy who just can’t help but make bad decisions. He’s always fated to make the wrong choice, no matter what. It’s Jesse’s friendship that makes him decide to become a better person, the idea that someone believes in him gives him the strength to try, but it never seems like enough. This is his character’s constant struggle, and it makes for the most interesting progression of the series.

A man of God who has lost his faith. A demon who is trying to renounce his evil ways. A woman who just wants to get her life back on track. The kinship  of these three characters is the biggest strength of this series. Ennis writes a convincing portrayal of a modern friendship between three people who can barely get a handle on themselves, let alone be a good influence on each other. But they stick together, despite a few set backs, to the bitter end. And I do mean bitter.

Now, while Preacher is praised as one of the best (albeit, unquestionably adult) comics of the past 20 years, it isn’t without its critics. Most of which write it off as a perverted, ultra-violent illustration of blasphemy. Funny thing is, I can’t really argue with them as Preacher can be all of those things at times. Ennis is showing us, however exaggeratedly,  the evil and ugliness in the world, but is in no way condoning any of it. His constant commentary on religion and spirituality that soaks every page can very easily be construed as blasphemous, but it’s really just meant to be thought-provoking. At the end of the day, this is a work of fiction that should hold no bearing on your actual religious beliefs, and if it does, well I don’t think the comic is to blame for that.

I would also be remiss to not mention the artwork of Steve Dillon. Preacher is as much his story as it is  Ennis’. There is no one on the planet who could possibly draw this book any better. He brings a sort of ugly realism to the series that no other artist would have brought so well. Ennis and Dillon have a natural synergy when they work together. They compliment each other so well, that you wonder why they ever stop. It was like that on Hellblazer, it was like that on Punisher, but it was never any better than when they were on Preacher. I would love to see them work together again (and I hear they are soon with a sequel to their Punisher run), but I think that topping Preacher would be impossible to even attempt.

So, while I’ll admit that Preacher isn’t for everyone (the conservative and the religious spring to mind…), it will go down as one of my favorite series of all time. What Ennis and Dillon created is nothing short of genius, and they should be praised and envied. I know I’ll never have enough good things to say about it. I’ll never stop preaching about Preacher…

… until the end of the world.

Scott Carelli loves comics and other geek-related stuff. He talks about it weekly on his podcast Two Geeks a Mic and a Podcast on Geekshow.us. He also created and produces an audio series called Geek By Night also on Geekshow.us. Check them out!

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