Preacher: Tall In The SaddleEnlarge Cover Enlarge Cover

Preacher: Tall In The Saddle

Tall In The Saddle

Writing: Garth Ennis
Pencils: Steve Dillon
Inks: John McCrea
Colours: Pamela Rambo
Separations: Jamison
Letters: Clem Robins
Cover: Glenn Fabry
Editor: Axel Alonso

DC Comics (Vertigo)

48 Pages (Story: 48)

Full Colour

$5.95 USA / $9.25 CAN

2000


Comments

This one is back in the good old days when Jesse, Tulip and Amy were on the crime spree. Jesse and Tulip were being chased by the police, while Amy and a useless guy named Bobby are driving a truck loaded up with stolen cars, but they crash into the fleeing Jesse and Tulip. To cut a long story short, the truck goes over the edge, although everyone is safe, but now minus one million dollars. They guy who was meant to buy the cars off them is understandably upset, and suggests Jesse pays off the debt by driving a truck full of stolen horses. Jesse and his Texan sense of honour says no and beats the hell out of most of them, and our three heroes make their escape observed by a cowboy guy. They're neatly holed up in a motel, where Jesse and Amy don't kiss, once again observed by cowboy guy. Finally, the cowboy guy (Tom) turns up and tells them he's a Texas Ranger. He knows all about the car theft, and offers a solution in that Jesse recovers the stolen horses in return for Tom suddenly forgetting all about their existence. Our heroes head off down to Muleshoe (love the sign: Welcome to Muleshoe - You sinned in a previous life), and are met by a welcoming committee. In a not too welcoming way, they blow Bobby's brains out and there's a general fight. A load of other guys with guns show up, and Jesse and Tom are pretty much captured instantly, while Tulip and Amy make their escape. Now tied up, Jesse and Tom meet the fat French guy who is buying the horses to eat, with the stereotypical name of Vichy. Vichy shoots Tom, and then the bad guy drags them off to the slaughterhouse under the threat that as soon as Tulip and Amy are captured they're going to get the chainsaw treatment. Jesse and Tom are tied up to a pillar and have a very touching moment as Jesse demonstrates the sense of respect he has developed for the old ranger. Just in time to stop the reader from throwing up, Tulip and Amy arrive for the rescue. The big guy who keeps getting beaten up by Jesse tries to stop them, so Jesse rips his eye out and then puts a bolt through his head. Nice. Anyway, Tom decides to peg it but in another touching moment gives Jesse his star. Jesse finds a big stallion and starts a stampede which crushes several of the baddies. Guess Ennis don't know too much about horses, but there you go. Jesse settles things nicely by dragging Vichy into the desert and hanging him. Finishes with a nice little Southern thang as Jesse rides off into the sunset talking to his horse. Why did they write this one? Who knows? Who cares? Preacher is part horror, part crime and part western, and I guess they just realised they needed a bit more western, and what better than horse thieves?

Comments by Cassandra Courtney