The Series

Vertigo's PREACHER is the creation of Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, and re-published in nine graphic novels: Gone to Texas, Until the End of the World, Proud Americans, Ancient History, Dixie Fried, War in the Sun, Salvation, All Hell's A Coming, and Alamo.

The story centers on Texas minister Jesse Custer, his ex-hitwoman girlfriend Tulip O'Hare, and a hard-drinking Irish vampire named Cassidy. The action kicks off when Jesse is "inhabited" by an entity that was the result of an illicit union between an archangel and a demon. The possession gives Jesse a power called "the word of God," which means that when he issues an order, people are forced to obey ... sometimes with bizarre results.

The melding of Jesse and this creature leads to the deaths of Jesse's congregation, so he's on the run from not only the cops, but a Terminator type of character (The Saint of Killers) sent after him by the Higher Beings. Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy embark on an erratic quest of sorts and run into the kind of trouble that always results in violent mayhem, occasional sex, and plenty of of dark humor.

What I enjoy most about the series is that at its core is an old-fashioned love story between Jesse and Tulip ("I'll love you until the end of the world") and a complex, bittersweet, and moving friendship between Jesse and Cassidy. All the characters have their strengths and weaknesses, Cassidy most of all (which is probably why he's my favorite of the trio.)

If you're a Preacher fan, I hope you'll add your name to this list.

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PREACHER © DC / Vertigo, Garth Ennis, and Steve Dillon