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Preacher Vol. 4: Ancient History |  | Author: Garth Ennis
Creators: Steve Pugh, Carlos Ezquerra, Richard Case
Publisher: Vertigo
Category: Book
List Price: $14.99
Buy New: $8.88
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New (37) Used (18) from $8.50
Seller: thermite-media
Rating:  35 reviews
Sales Rank: 18169
Media: Paperback
Pages: 224
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 10 x 6.5 x 0.4
ISBN: 156389405X
Dewey Decimal Number: 741.5973
EAN: 9781563894053
ASIN: 156389405X
Publication Date: March 1, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Written by Garth Ennis. Art by Steve Pugh, Carlos Ezquerra and Richard Case. Cover by Glenn Fabry. A new edition of the classic collection featuring PREACHER SPECIAL: SAINT OF KILLERS #1-4, PREACHER SPECIAL: THE STORY OF YOU-KNOW-WHO and PREACHER SPECIAL: THE GOOD OLD BOYS, featuring tales of the oddest members of PREACHER's supporting cast. 224 pg, FC. MATURE READERS
Amazon.com Review
While technically the fourth book in the Preacher series, Ancient History isn't part of the main Preacher story line and doesn't even use any of the main characters (Reverend Jesse Custer, his girlfriend, Tulip, and his vampire buddy Cassidy). Instead, this collection of side stories delves into the freakish, perverse, and downright mythic supporting characters. The main feature is the 106-page demonic Western featuring the "Saint of Killers." In many ways this guy--and the spirit of the ruthless frontier he represents--is the soul of the Preacher series. Writer Garth Ennis said, taking all of the characters of the series into account, "I felt one more character was needed to round out the cast: someone who would directly represent the Old West, who had walked straight out of history, and who brought with him the horror and terror of those times." If this is the soul of the book, then its heart is the "Story of You Know Who," a reference to the character Arseface, whose self-imposed shotgun wound to the face has left him rather disfigured. This boy's abusive family is so overblown, his tragedy so all-encompassing, that a lesser writer would let this swerve into complete silliness. Ennis's talent is to pull pathos out of such outrageousness. He succeeds here again. --Jim Pascoe
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 35
 A great example of incredible writing in comics. June 2, 1999
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Probably the biggest problem with most comics is the lack of a good back story to support the main characters. Ennis and Dillon looked to change that, and succeded with flying colors. Not only does this book provide a good backing to many of the characters in the actual comics, but it also is a great standalone, a monument in an industry overburdened by flashy art and flamboyant characters. I reccomend this book to anyone who likes Preacher, and also anyone who likes a good (allbeit dark) story.
There ain't worse than me in all of Hell- Go see! November 16, 2004
OAKSHAMAN (Algoma, WI United States)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Personally, I thought that the four issue mini-series "Saint of Killers" deserved it's own separate trade paperback. Lumping the other material in here doesn't really fit or make sense. The story arc works perfectly by itself- hell, it's a masterpiece of graphic story telling. Moreover, you don't need to know anything about the rest of the Preacher series to appreciate it- either before or after. I remember when I first found this miniseries- my reaction was Wow, this is really GOOD! I reread it three times and then sent a fan letter to Ennis (which he probably never got.)
What we have here is an interesting union of real world, western myth, and cosmic myth. We never learn the name of the "Saint", he is always "that man"- or Sir! We do learn his story though- from Gettysburg to the Llano Estacada- from Confederate cavalryman to bounty hunter. He was a hard man, but a fair one. While he hunted down bad men for bounty (red and white) he never saw himself as any sort of hero. He treated good folk with respect and decency- but primarily he just wanted to be left alone. Then he rescued a good woman from the hands of a Kiowa raiding party- and for eight years he enjoyed a peaceful, full family life that he suspected that he had no true right to. That all came to an end in the Great Blizzard of '86. While he was riding to get medicine for his sick wife and child he was delayed by a gang of murderous scum. He made it back to them too late. Only one thing remained for him- vengeance against those who had kept him from his mission. He tracked them down and got his vengeance- but he knowingly and deliberately killed an innocent soul that got in the way while he was doing so. Before that, his soul had been balancing on a knife's edge- neither a good man nor a strictly bad man- just a hard man. And so he died before killing the leader of the outlaws- and his soul went straight to Hell.
Yet, that wasn't the end. So cold was his heart, so perfect was his hatred, that Hell itself literally froze over in his presence. Even the Devil himself couldn't whip the hatred from him. The doors of Hell were frozen shut and the Devil himself was frightened. It was then that the Angel of Death offered to trade places with the newcomer. He would walk the earth harvesting souls and doing God's bidding- when death and Divine Wrath were called for. To this end the Angel's sword was melted down to make two Walker Colts....
Better than what I expected February 1, 2003
N. Durham (Philadelphia, PA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
When I first laid eyes on Ancient History, the fourth book in the Preacher series, I was leary about it considering it does not follow the ongoing storyline of Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy. But like the old saying goes, I shouldn't have judged this book by its' cover. Garth Ennis' fantasticly written stories on the pasts of supporting characters (including the Saint of Killers, Arseface, and Jody and T.C.) combined with great art by Steve Pugh, Carlos Ezquerra, and Richard Case (no Steve Dillon for this volume) make Ancient History one of the best in the series. The first story (and arguably the best) deals with the past of the Saint of Killers, a man whose burning, never ending hatred condemned him straight to Hell where he shot the devil and became the new Angel of Death. This story is extremely violent and the scenes of Satan and the Angel of Death playing cards in hell is laugh out loud hilarious. The second story explains just why Arseface shot himself in the face and deals with his abusive past. The final story, which is extremely funny, is a semi-spoof of older action films starring Jody and T.C. being the "good 'ol boys" that they were. All in all, this is an essential read for Preacher fans.
The best Preacher yet... February 22, 2002
C. Fletcher (California)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This has got to be my favorite Preacher book yet. I tore through it in about half the time it took me to read any of the first three books. Once I picked it up, I just couldn't put it down."Ancient History" doesn't follow the main story of Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy, but rather makes some entertaining detours to pick up the back stories of three of the side characters who up until this point have only reared their various ugly heads in perplexing cameoes. This time out, we get treated to the inner workings of the Saint of Killers, the mysterious craggy-faced gunslinger who for reasons unknown has been persuing Jesse Custer. We also learn just what makes Arseface tick, and how Jody and T.C., Jesse's down-home good-ole'-boy relations, set their ducks in a row. The illustrations for these side-stories were done by a series of hired guns (Steve Pugh, Carlos Ezquerra, and Richard Case) while Steve Dillon was working on the main storyline, but the stories are all classic Garth Ennis. In fact, I think the tales here include some of his best writing. I especially enjoyed the prologue by Ennis himself in which he details some of the origins of the Preacher story, and what first interested him in the legends of the West. This is a great comic. Definitely don't skip this one!
Saint of Killers Meets Nirvana March 14, 1999
basharx (Cleveland, OH United States)
I liked it.This books includes 3 stories. The first is the story of The Saint of Killers, dramatic and depressing yet attractive - even though the art work stinks. I recommend reading this Preacher book after reading Gone to Texas. Any Preacher fan should read this collection. The second story is the story of Arseface. Ennis seems to have some good insights, as I am sure readers can identify with one or more of the characters. A very sad and powerful story with a a conclusion a very moving and REALISTIC. I am refering to pages 158 and 159. Get the book, but don't read these pages before you read the full story.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 35
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