Garth Ennis's lovechild of mythology and the south come together in his epic series Preacher. If you don't know what Preacher is...well then you arent a true comic book geek. Since the late 90's Ennis had a success in Preacher and with the resurgence of comic book movies, people were wondering when Jesse Custer and crew got there share.
Well, they wont. Here is why...
In a post 9/11 world, we have seen a resurgence in religious faith and a respect for those within this profession. While, Jesse Custer is obviously not preaching the almighty word to his flock anymore ( because they got burned like Kentucky BBQ) he still carries the outfit and the responsibilities. With only that collar and back story, if we were to ever see Jesse tell a sheriff to " Go f*** yourself", thus causing the sheriff to actually do it, the public would be in outcry. Jesse Custer is a judgmental man, a vulgar man, a violent man and while we all realize that men of religious authority do this, it corrupts the image we as a society reflect onto them. Let me give you an idea of our limits today are on pastors/priests in the media. In 2006, a short lived show ran on NBC called "The Book of Daniel." It centered around a painkiller addicted Episcopal reverend named Daniel who struggled to raise his family which included a homosexual son, a drug addicted daughter, and adopted Asian teenager and a deceased twin of the eldest who had died of leukemia. The main character Daniel wasn't even close to being Jesse Custer in terms of controversy. Due to public outcry, the show lasted 4 aired episodes with a total of 8 filmed. This just shows that whether it were to end up on a movie screen or in a HBO night line up. It just won't fly.
Then there is Cassidy. In the years before the vampire outburst of popularity there was only one southern non-traditional vampire. It was in Preacher and went by the name of Cassidy. Now, we have shows like The Vampire Diaries and True Blood, all which pull aspects from the Preacher series. If there were ever to be an inkling of the character being a vampire (which actually was a twist earlier in the series) the adaptation would be nailed with the titled "Another Vampire Bullshit Movie" by the public. That wouldn't ever do Garth Ennis and Preacher justice.
Also, the portrayal of many of religious icons wouldn't be to good either. I'm not talking about the Angels and Archangels and Genesis. I'm talking about the incest bred mentally handicapped ugly teenage boy, descended from a crucifixion-surviving Jesus Christ, known as the Messiah. Let me repeat that, in Garth Ennis's Preacher, the Messiah is a incest bred mentally handicapped ugly teenage boy, descended from a crucifixion-surviving Jesus Christ. If that isn't the most blasphemy in the world I don't know what is. I realize that this isn't even the tip of the controversy iceberg, but I felt the need to throw the most basic ones out there.
In all, we won't get Preacher on any screen. It's not because of money or casts or scripts, but it's the public's readiness to accept Preacher. That is why I believe that Preacher should be OUR book, our own for us comic geeks to praise. We gave the public Watchmen, now let's keep this. Being a comic is what made Preacher groundbreaking. What could have easily been the next DaVinci Code is an amazing comic book just for us to hold dear.
Until next year, I'll see you on the Throne