Graphic Novel Review Garth Ennis Saint of Killers Preacher Four

GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW – GARTH ENNIS – SAINT OF KILLERS – PREACHER #4 AINCIENT HISTORY.  1998. – VERTIGO BOOKS.

Spoiler space warning .

In a break from the main Preacher narration, Ennis relates three separate stories about some of the colourful and violent background characters and villains the preacher faces in the main story. This is a very entertaining little interlude to the main action to which Ennis will return in volume #4.

The opening story deals with the origins of the sinister, mysterious and unstoppable ruthless gunslinger that relentlessly pursues the hero for his soul.

His roots lie in the Wild West where the figure is already a legendary gun fighter and bounty hunter. He fought like a demon at Gettysburg.

Pursuing a group of cutthroat mercenary bandits he is captured and left to freeze to death in a blizzard, but he survives and kills all but one of his attackers. Taking a lover, he finds brief happiness but accidentally kills her while trying to kill the last of the bandit men he fought earlier. Shocked into despair he kills himself and goes to Hell where his depressive state even freezes the fires around him. The Angel Of Death is sufficiently impressed by his stance as to make the gunslinger his successor. The gunslinger promptly kills Satan and then sets off to kill every one who must die with a gun that can never run out of bullets. Eventually we know he will pursue the Preacher.

A great, surprising and dark parody of Spaghetti westerns with a passing nod to Eastwood’s High Plains Drifter. The Saint Of Killers is one of the coolest villains in all comicdom. 

Arthur Chappell