AMC has proven with ‘The Walking Dead’ that darker comics work as television shows amazingly well and are going to test this theory once again with ‘Preacher’. The network has ordered a pilot episode based off the classic Vertigo comic by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon. While to some, taking on ‘The Walking Dead’ might have seemed to be a gamble that has paid off, but the everyday world of ‘Preacher’ makes the darker moments of ‘The Walking Dead’ look like a walk in the park with the love of your life on a sunny day.

Disturbing can’t quite begin to explain what this comic is about. It’s actually so messed up that I’d be surprised if they didn’t cut out at least a third of what made the comic interesting just to get it on TV. Here’s a quick synopsis:

Merging with a bizarre spiritual force called Genesis, Texan Preacher Jesse Custer becomes completely disillusioned with the beliefs that he had dedicated his entire life to. 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, the Preacher loses faith in both man and God as he witnesses dark atrocities and improbable calamities during his exploration of America.

In the ‘Preacher’ comic, we follow Jesse Custer, a small town Texas preacher who has given himself over to both booze and sin. He ends up being possessed by Genesis, a child who is both an angel and a demon. Not only is he given great power, but he is also given The Word of God which allows him to control anyone with it. His quest? To find God himself who has abandoned creation. This is not a tale where “with great power comes great responsibility” is invoked.

Jesse is a little angry that they’ve been abandoned and has decided to track God down and show him that his children are angry. Not that bad so far? Well let’s mix in his ex-girlfriend who’s a hit woman, an ancient Irish vampire and the fact that they have to fight against the Angel of Death, a serial killer, an organized group who secretly control the government, fallen angels, and more. The main point that will probably upset people is the incestuously produced mentally challenged descendant of Christ who is so horny that he will sleep with anything, including meat. Yes, it’s a whole tale of blasphemy that could cause rioting in the streets!

There have been multiple attempts at turning ‘Preacher’ into a movie going back as far as 1998 with Garth Ennis of the ‘Constantine’ comic and Kevin Smith (‘Red State’) trying to get the movie together. In 2011, D.J. Caruso (‘I Am Number Four‘) was attached to direct but that has now also fallen to the wayside. AMC is one of the few networks willing to put in the budget and who has the chops in proper horror that could do it these days to possibly make this work.

Are you interested in seeing this on television? Do you think AMC can properly show off how screwed up the comic is on screen? Any ideas who would be perfect for playing the part? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!

Source: Bad Ass Digest