Key Comic #8: Preacher #1

Preacher #1

On your mark, get set, go! Word to the wise, readers, here is a head start before this book sky-rockets out of most collector’s wallets. Granted you don’t have much time, if you are interested in hunting down this comic, don’t wait, do it now. Grab the best copy/condition of #1 that you can afford.

Preacher was a 66 issue twisted series by DC Comic’s Vertigo line by writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon, with gorgeous painted covers by Glenn Fabry. The entire series is done by the same creative team, a rare feat in comics nowadays.

AMC, the same cable channel that brought the hit comic and phenomenon, The Walking Dead, to the television masses, will be premiering Preacher late 2015. Dominic Cooper was cast in the lead role of Jesse Custer, Joseph Gilgun as Cassidy, Ruth Negga as Tulip O’Hare, Ian Colletti as Arseface, and W. Earl Brown as Sheriff Hugo Root. You might be familiar with Dominic Cooper, he recently played Tony Stark’s father, Howard Stark in Marvel’s Agent Carter television mini series this year. Ruth Negga is also no stranger to comic adaptations, she recently finished guest starring in the Marvel’s Agents of Shields show.

Okay, let’s get a few things out of the way. This comic is not for the faint of heart or easily offended. Each issue is littered with strong profanity, and riddled by F-bombs. God is the villain in this storyline. Stories are harsh and graphic, and nothing is sacred in this series. This book is about as “unpolitically correct” as you can get in a comic. This comic is definitely for mature readers. Still here, well if these themes don’t bother you read on?

Preacher is the story of Jesse Custer, a preacher in Texas, who is accidentally possessed by a supernatural entity named Genesis. His possession kills his entire congregation and destroys his church. Genesis, is the product and unnatural pairing of an angel and a demon, and with enough power to rival that of God himself. Jesse Custer begins his odyssey across the United States to find God, who has abandoned Heaven when Genesis was born. He discovers that he has powers, to command obedience of those who hear his words. He tells you to do something, you have no choice but to do what he says. Literally, sometimes! His travels are joined by his old girlfriend Tulip and they soon meet up with an alcoholic vampire named Cassidy, who joins their journey.

Jesse Custer, the Preacher.

Tragic, Arseface.

This comic series is major series in DC’s Vertigo line. IGN declared Preacher the third-greatest Vertigo comic, after Swamp Thing and Sandman. The fans are legion. I am hoping that the general public will accept the sensibilities of the story and its subject matter. We have God, angels, demons, vampires, murder, mayhem… and wait until you meet Jesse’s insane scary grandmother, Marie later in the series, arguably a contender for best villain! She is a real piece of work…

Cassidy, a hard-drinking vampire.

Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #45 (2015) has the NM of this comic at $210.00. The value has increased $10.00 (5%) since the year before, and overall an increase of $180.00 (70%) since 1999. I am glad that I picked up one of these earlier this year. I hope it is not too late for new collectors.

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