EyebrarianPrize winnersGet the app

Books › Preacher, Book One

Cover of Preacher, Book One

Preacher, Book One

392 pages

A blood-soaked, blasphemous road trip through the grimy underbelly of America in search of an absentee God.

What it feels like

Reading this book feels like riding shotgun in a beat-up muscle car tearing down a dusty Texas highway, fueled by cheap whiskey and righteous fury. It is unapologetically loud, profane, and drenched in a grimy, blood-soaked Americana. The narrative moves at a breakneck, propulsive pace, dragging the reader through dive bars, roadside diners, and grotesque encounters with the absolute worst of humanity. Yet beneath the hyper-violent, blasphemous exterior beats a surprisingly earnest heart, exploring themes of fierce loyalty, the myth of the cowboy, and the devastating weight of lost faith. The dialogue is razor-sharp and relentlessly vulgar, perfectly matching the visceral, expressive artwork. This is a chaotic, darkly hilarious ride for readers who crave gritty anti-heroes, pitch-black humor, and a rebellious deconstruction of both religion and the American Dream.

Mood
  • grimy
  • chaotic
  • blood-soaked
  • frenetic
Tone
  • irreverent
  • cynical
  • darkly comedic
  • profane
  • gritty
Pace
propulsive
Themes
loss of faith · the myth of America · found family · righteous fury · rebellion against authority
The writing
Razor-sharp, relentlessly vulgar, and unapologetically profane, driving the narrative with a cinematic, hard-boiled edge.
The arc
Moves from a state of shattered disillusionment into a furious, bloody determination to hold the highest power accountable.
Who it's for
Readers who crave hyper-violent, pitch-black satire and gritty anti-heroes tearing through the dark underbelly of Americana.
Content notes
  • graphic violence
  • profanity
  • blasphemy
  • gore
  • substance abuse
  • sexual content

About the book

After merging with a bizarre spiritual force called Genesis, Texan preacher Jesse Custer has become completely disillusioned with the beliefs to which he had dedicated his entire life. Now possessing the power of "the word," an ability to make people do whatever he utters, Custer begins a violent and riotous journey across the country. Joined by his gun-toting girlfriend Tulip and the hard-drinking Irish vampire Cassidy, Custer loses faith in both God and man as he witnesses dark atrocities and improbable calamities during his exploration of America.

This new collected edition features an all-new introduction by series writer Garth Ennis.

Description from Open Library.

Books like Preacher, Book One

See why they match