Preacher: Virgin Ground

[Mr. Palmer]

I have a confession to make that will probably earn me a public flogging...

I've never read PREACHER.

There, I said it.

My interest in the book is at an all-time high.

I've ordered the first two trades, and am eagerly awaiting their arrival.

However, I'd like a bit of early feedback...

I know the book will be praised to high heaven, but I'm wondering---aside from it being armed with a great story---how OTT it will be? I'm really enjoying THE BOYS, and with Ennis proclaiming that it will outdo PREACHER---I'd like to know what I'm in for. Give me the lowdown on how explicit the language, violence, and nekkid sex will be...

Any comments will be appreciated... :)

[Jack Zodiac]

Whoooo buddy! The language made me shudder sometimes, and I'm sure I could make God cry with the mouth on me. The violence is outstanding, and the sexuality is pretty vivid as well. Mostly it's just foul and violent, though. You'll love it! :)

I really need to get The Boys. I don't know why, but my store hasn't carried the last two issues. :(

[Mr. Palmer]

Jack: Thanks for that response; it's exactly what I've been looking to hear! :D

And yeah, you definitely need to get THE BOYS. It's full of everything you just described...

[Johhny Blame]

I just started Preacher at the beginning of the summer and now I'm hooked. I really liked it up until volume 6, now I love it. The violence and grossness are probably my least favorite parts of it but it wouldn't be the same without it. Just the relationships between the characters is beautiful.

[PanzerMega]

No matter how gross, violent and profanity-filled that you want Preacher to be, it will satisfy.

But what makes it truly great is the story, the humor, and the character relationships.

[noh-varr]

Preacher is so much better then The Boys, it has real characters, relationships and a set plot early on and continues on a grand epic from there. It has horrible violence as well, and sexuality, but really both are more realistic to what sex and violence are in the real world. The black humor is still there as well, not to mention many people being bastards just because that's what they are. But Preacher also has a great love story, a buddy story, and a tale of religion and God like none other. Oh, and it's also got one of the baddest motherf***ers in the Saint of All Killers. Really I think Preacher has better characters. The Boys so far has decent characters and lots of violence, Preacher is the more superb product, you should love it.

[Chimichanga!]

Having just finished the series tonight, i can say without doubt that it is the greatest story that i have ever read. The finale especially was full of friendship, loyalty, sacrifice, the best climax i've ever read.

Its amazing, i love it. The friendship, betrayal, loyalty, redemption, its what makes the story great, the violence and sex is just eye candy.

[dancj]

It has horrible violence as well, and sexuality, but really both are more realistic to what sex and violence are in the real world.

Are you kidding? I don't think the Jesus DeSade character and the guy in the Salvation story are that similar to sex that goes on in the real world.

Also Preacher is written in that strange Garth Ennis world where no amount of training, body-building, weapons etc, is a match for someone being "hard" (like Jesse and the Good Ole Boys). And where you can blow someones entire jaw off with a gun and they just sit there with no apparant side effects as Tulip did in the first storyline.

Dan

[noh-varr]

Are you kidding? I don't think the Jesus DeSade character and the guy in the Salvation story are that similar to sex that goes on in the real world.

Also Preacher is written in that strange Garth Ennis world where no amount of training, body-building, weapons etc, is a match for someone being "hard" (like Jesse and the Good Ole Boys). And where you can blow someones entire jaw off with a gun and they just sit there with no apparant side effects as Tulip did in the first storyline.

Dan

There are people THAT messed up in the world, so yeah people do that f***ed up sex stuff. Not everyone of course, not even close to a majority, but DeSade and the meat man fetishes do exist I'm sure.
The voilence is realistic as it's horrible and bloody and not pretty like it is seen in movies. Yeah it does bow down to loads of the western archtypes that the "hard" bad asses will kick everyone's ass just because they are hard bad asses. But it IS a work of fiction and partial a send up to western culture be it westerns, war movies and the like. But the effects over all were realistic as I stated in how horrid and sickening the violence was and that people like sex (suprise), even if it's seriously messed up ala DeSade and Meat Man (I swear he called himself that at one point, but maybe I have just been referring to him as that with friends for so long that's his name as far as I'm concerned).

[Bazooka Tooth]

Simply BLASPHEMOUS if you do not read this all time classic.

It's everything that you can ever wish for to have in a comic book. I mean hell..it keeps you on the edge of wanting more and more each time you move from one panel to another.

by the way...i just had to become a member and post this when i saw this thread. hahaha. Other than that, i strongly urge you to read this. It has its ups and downs of course but nonetheless it's 90% ups and 10% downs. It will not dissapoint.

Trust me.

[Mr. Palmer]

I've brought forth a new member! Cool. Hope you enjoy your stay. :)

I've ordered all the trades (minus the cover collection - should I get it, too?), now, and can't wait to get them! I'll certainly give my thoughts as I plow through them.

[Bazooka Tooth]

If you enjoy the art done by Glen Fabry then yeah sure, why not? They're vivid and amazingly artistic to me.

[Mr. Palmer]

Are the covers in the trades?

I ask, because alot of the trades disrupt each chapter with the cover photo. If that's how the Preacher books are, I'll pass.

[Bazooka Tooth]

I think most of them are.

[Johhny Blame]

Yeah, the covers are in the trades.

[Apathy Boy]

Are the covers in the trades?

I ask, because alot of the trades disrupt each chapter with the cover photo. If that's how the Preacher books are, I'll pass.Yeah, the covers are placed before their respective chapters. I prefer that, myself. I like to know where the chapter breaks are.

[Mr. Palmer]

Apathy Boy: Thanks!

I received the trades, yesterday, and have managed to read the first two issues. All I can say is: Whoa.

So far, it's made me laugh aloud, gave me an eerie feeling, and set me to thinking. And the cast of characters, though I'm still in the early stages, are already engaging.

I honestly never thought it would start this good, and can only imagine what awaits in my the rest of the first volume, as well as the following eight.

This is some great material.

[Bazooka Tooth]

It just keeps on getting better.

[Infinitylantern]

The first 5 trades are really really good. Your not lacking in badasses in either the Saint to Killer, Cassidy, Jody, Preacher, etc.. Good Good stuff. Keep reading, Bill Hicks makes a Cameo. If you don't know who he is find out, he's a real person and great comedian. Highly recommended.

[PanzerMega]

Bill Hicks was an awesome cameo.

Really turned me onto the comedian. I hadn't really heard of him before that.

[SoulOnIce]

I envy anyone who is reading Preacher for the first time. One of the best series of all time.

[Alphan76]

Hey, man. Don't worry about it! It's not like you said that you've never read Sandman...:D

[Chiasm]

Simply the best comic book series ever written. My only regret is that I didn't come on board the series til it was in its 40's.

I love the blasphemy. I love the black humour. I love the violence. I love the character interactions. And I love the blasphemy.

[Bazooka Tooth]

Hey, man. Don't worry about it! It's not like you said that you've never read Sandman...:D


Mmmm...i havent. =/

Yeah, honest.

[geordiesteve]

It was one of those that also passed me by when it was out. I knew about it, but was more of a mainstream reader back then, so kind of ignored it and was probably too young (well that's my excuse)

Currently up to trade no 6, and I love it. Really enjoy the humour, the study of faith, humanity, mixed in with all the violence, bloodshed, over the top action but mixed in with that you sometimes get very touching and poignant moments. I'd better stop there, I'm filling up......

A class read.

[Agentum]

This is something you should read, good non superherocomics deserves all the fame it can get.

I'm not fond of the ending but otherwise this is a comic series i could read again in the future.

[Subotai]

Really shows how a limited run can bring out the best in a book. What was it, 66 issues in total? A symbolic number.

There are genuine moments which will enrage you, make you laugh from your gut, thrill you and make you cry. You can't do better than that. Some people knock Preacher in retrospect, maybe for the sex, violence, or whatever, but it really showed what comics could be. In the years since it's finished nothing has really come along to top it. I briefly thought Chaykin's American Century had a chance, but not even close.

[JERM]

About the time PREACHER was at issue 40, I, having never before read the book, bought GONE TO TEXAS. I went right back out and bought trades 2 - 5. Each time a new trade would come out, I'd start all over again with book one; which is how I read a lot of books. I make it a point to read through PREACHER and TRANSMETROPOLITAIN at least once a year.

And I got the PREACHER: DEAD or ALIVE covers hardcover because it was the only way to get more PREACHER; it pulled me back in, if just for a little while.

Everyone that I've got to read the first five pages has read all nine books.


Word,
~Jerm

[Hush Little Batman]

Preacher is far and away the best comic series I've ever read.

Nuff said.