With the overwhelming popularity of The Walking Dead, the comic-turned-TV-show property goldmine, AMC has been broadening its original programming lineup with a new show based off the cult-favored Vertigo comic Preacher. Since their original show and worldwide phenomenon Breaking Bad ended with its final season, interest began waning in the channel as a source for original programming instead of older movies. Ideas seemed to be drawing thin from spin offs of their more popular properties (Better Call Saul and Fear The Walking Dead) and failed attempts at other shows (Hell On Wheels, The Killing, Low Winter Sun, to name a few). AMC’s continuing flagship is now The Walking Dead, and the show is slowly catching up to the plot that the current comic is now creating. As fans of Game of Thrones and other programs and movies know, this could spell disaster as far as available source material goes. Plots may either stall or veer far off-course from where the original author meant to go. It seemed they were looking for a new idea for a show.

The Preacher comics were originally published from 1995 to 2000, ending its run after a heretical 66 issues. Written by Garth Ennis and with art by Steve Dillon and Glenn Fabry, the comic has won several awards during its initial run and gained a cult status over the years. It tells the tale of Jesse Custer, the titular Preacher, and his motley crew of friends as they search for God and their place in the world (to explain the plot as spoiler-free as humanly possible). It may sound like a boring drama, but once the plot unfolds you find yourself in a whirlwind of hilarious antics and graphic plot points you can’t even begin to fathom.

Enter Seth Rogen and his friend and cohort Evan Goldberg, who had been trying to create an action/comedy movie based off the cult comic Preacher for years. It wasn’t until after years of nagging they finally convinced AMC to help produce the show. Riding off the success of Pineapple Express and other films they’ve made, coupled with a big boost from the popularity of The Walking Dead, AMC soon green-lit the show. The premier of the show was moderately successful, losing viewers to other big shows that also aired on Sunday nights, but garnering views in The Walking Dead’s season break. Anyone who caught on to the show had to then wait an extra week for episode number two due to an unexplained hiatus. This hurt ratings even more when the series came back to it’s regularly scheduled time slot.

If you are a fan of the comics, give the show a try. It is not a direct translation of the comic, but it is an interesting retelling of a classic tale. I feel like comic fans will come to enjoy this show, and fans of The Walking Dead will find it a great fill for their empty show schedules Sundays this summer. If you like the show, then give the comics a try; I bet you won’t be disappointed.

Here is the trailer, and here is an even better version. Check it out and I will see you dudes next time.

Comment your favorite scene from the show or what you can’t wait to see come to the TV screen!

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