#deja re-vu

[thenortherncollective]

Deja Re-Vu: Preacher Vol 2: Until The End Of The World

Obligatory Warning: This series of books are intended for a mature audience. This review may contain mild spoilers. One thing that was lacking on in Volume 1 of Preacher was any serious character building. Sure it was there, but it was downplayed due to obvious reasons of establishing lore and expositing plot points. Luckily in Volume 2, we’ve got it in bucket loads. We kick things with Jesse and Tulip on their way to settle a debt with Tulip’s old boss. Things don’t go exactly to plan however as the pair are abducted by Jody and T.C; the ruthless enforcers of Jesse’s evil grandmother. Having lost the power of the voice, Jesse is forced to bide his time to try and keep his volatile girlfriend safe from their captors. The first half of this volume is essentially Jesse’s backstory, which is just gut-wrenching. The loss of innocence is evident in every panel, and you just wonder how someone could have gone through all of that shit and come out halfway decent. It also explains Jesse’s conversations with John Wayne, which was brought up briefly in the last volume; he’s a coming mechanism for the damaged Reverend Custer, offering advice and not afraid to tell it like it is. Needless to say, the conclusion to such a dour tale is incredibly satisfying. Elsewhere in the book, our leading couple join up with Cassidy and get entangled in a caper that involves the world’s most depraved party, a pair of detective rent boys and a conspiracy within a secret organisation. This is the beginning of one of Preacher’s biggest (if not the biggest) story arcs. It also introduces Herr Starr; one of my all-time favourite villains. Steve Dillon did a stellar job at this stage of the series, especially in the flashback sequences in the beginning of the book. A lot of light colours for Jesse’s childhood scenes, as with dark colours to represent the sombre mood in his childhood home. The more I’ve been rereading Preacher, the more I realize that this could never be written in this day and age. Jesse is chivalrous and overprotective of Tulip that he could be considered a little bit sexist. I don’t buy that though, he’s just an old fashioned kind of guy. Tulip comes into herself as well; giving fools a dressing down when they need one. There is also a joke in this book that makes fun of an incredibly taboo subject; it’d never pass in a book these days, and it is fucking hilarious. Context is a wonderful thing. If there is one complaint, it’s that the All In The Family arc feels like it should have been much later in the series. Maybe they could have had Jody and T.C as recurring baddies who bum into our heroes every now and then, before they’re able to catch them and bring them home. It wouldn’t have hurt to have given them a bit of backstory as well; the only things we know for sure is that Jody is a manly man who likes violence, and T.C likes to shag chickens. They’re utterly hateful characters but it’d have been nice to have known why. And no! The Good Ol’ Boys does not count! Still, that’s just a little nitpick. Favourite Scene

It’s a toss-up this time between two very similar scenes this time. After years of putting him through hell, Jesse finally gets his revenge on Jody.

Herr Starr throttles Hoover for cocking up the simple task of hiring a prostitute. Favourite Cover

This sums up the book perfectly. 4/5 sodomised Armadillos: This is Garth Ennis at his finest; kicking things off with heartbreak, straightening out with some kick-ass action and some great laughs. I’m happy to say that it gets better from here. - Gerry Trimble

[thenortherncollective]

Deja Re-Vu: Preacher Vol 1: Gone To Texas

Obligatory Warning: This series of books are intended for a mature audience. When emma asked me to contribute a piece to the website, I realized that, with a library of 100+ Trade Paper Backs, I’d have my work cut out for me. So what better way to start than with the first volume of Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s masterpiece, Preacher. The tale begins with Jesse Custer, a down and out minister in the arse end of Texas, getting drunk, spilling the locals’ secrets and getting a beating for his trouble. The next morning, during a packed out sermon, Genesis; a supernatural entity, enters the church, possessing Jesse and leveling the building with the force of an atomic bomb, killing almost everyone inside. Elsewhere, whilst fleeing from a botched hit, Jesse’s ex-girlfriend Tulip attempts to hijack a pick-up truck, only for the owner, a charismatic Irishman by the name of Cassidy, to offer her a lift instead. They head west and come across the destruction caused by Genesis, along with a disorientated Jesse who now has the power to make people follow his command (distinguishable by dark red lettering). Throw in some bureaucratic angels, an incredibly racist cop, an immortal gunslinger, a young boy called “Arseface”, some good old fashioned vampirism, as well as a quest to find God in order to kick his arse, and you've got the first half of Gone To Texas; the first Preacher TPB. Gone To Texas does a fantastic job of setting up the rest of the series, establishing themes and character traits that feel very natural. The first half of the trade obviously has a fair amount of exposition, but this is mainly kept to the Adephi explaining the origins of Genesis, and luckily, it doesn't break the flow. Steve Dillon’s artwork, as always, is instantly recognizable. Although not his strongest work on the series, Dillon’s art does progress wonderfully with each subsequent book. Dillon has a simple style that doesn't clutter the panels, which is a big plus in my mind. Rereading this book recently, it became clear to me that Garth Ennis had this all planned out very early on. During the latter half of the book, in which our heroes find themselves in New York entangled in a spate of grisly murders, there is a brief exchange that really hit home for me, knowing what comes later in the book. It is little bits of foreshadowing like that reward rereads. Garth Ennis clearly knew exactly where he was taking his characters in this regard. Mr Ennis I salute you, you evil genius, you. Favorite scene:

Fed up of Sheriff Root’s constant harassment, Jesse gives him an order… with unfortunate results. Favorite Cover:

The covers by Glenn Fabry some up the tone in their respective issues perfectly. The cover for issue 3 perfectly presents Cassidy from the end of issue 2; the revelation that he is an unholy abomination. If you can, I’d recommend getting Preacher: Dead or Alive, which collects the covers in a hardcover. It is rather awesome. 4/5 pints of blood: A solid introduction to the sublime Vertigo classic. - Gerry Trimble