The Walking Deadplayed a pivotal role in bringingThe BoysandPreacherto the silver screen, opening the door for non-traditional comic adaptations to thrive on TV. However, there is also an argument that can be made about howPreacherpaved the way for comics series such asThe Walking DeadandThe Boys, even if Garth Ennis believes that thePreachercomics had little influence onThe Walking Dead.
Garth Ennis spoke withCBS Newsin 2016, when the first season ofPreacherwas released. Adapting the legendaryVertigo series created by Ennis and Steve Dillon,Preacherhit the small screen thanks to the screenwriting and producing duo of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.
When asked about the influence that the originalPreachercomics may have had onThe Walking Dead, Ennis statedhe sawThe Walking Deadhaving far more influence onPreacheras a TV show. He went on to elaborate thatThe Walking Deadproved you could have a successful adaptation of a comic book on TV that has nothing to do with traditional superheroes. Hence, this logic can be applied to the success of the atypicalThe Boys.
“I thinkThe Walking Dead’s influence onPreacheras a TV show is far more important than any influencePreachermight’ve had onThe Walking Dead, because it shows you can have an adaptation of a comic book on TV that has nothing to do with superheroes. It kicks down that particular door and I think that’s very, very important. I don’t see much influencePreacherthe comic had onThe Walking Deadthe comic. I see a very well-produced zombie story, but I don’t really see anyPreacherin there.”
Preacher&The BoysMay Not Have Happened on TV Without Kirkman’s Zombie Show
Running from 1995 to 2000,Preacherbecame a huge success for theDC Comics imprint Vertigo.Preachertells the story of a Texas minister who becomes imbued with the Word of God.He then joins up with his vampire buddy Cassidy and his contract killer ex-girlfriend Tulip to find the missing God. Long in development as both a movie and a TV show,Preacherfinally made its way to the screen in the 2016 AMC series, which wound up running for four seasons.
Ennis’ claim thatThe Walking Deadadaptation opened the doors for comic book shows beyond the typical superhero genre certainly seems to be proven, thanks toPreacher. It’s also interesting to note that Ennis doesn’t believePreacherhad much influence onThe Walking Deadcomics.One could argue that Ennis and Dillon’sPreacherdemonstrated a demand for dark, violent horror in monthly comics, which played a significant role in paving the way for a series likeThe Walking Deadto thrive in the American comics market. Much likePreacher,The Walking Deadquickly gained a following, bolstered by strong sales of its trade paperback collections.
The Walking Dead Is Done, But the Series Still Needs to Answer One Burning Question
The Walking Dead managed to wrap up a lot of loose plot points over the years, but there’s still one burning question that needs an answer.
The BoysContinues the Trend of Ultraviolent Comic Adaptations
The Ultraviolent Superhero Show Owes a Debt toThe Walking Dead
After gettingPreacherthe green light, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg would later set their sights on another Garth Ennis comic,The Boys. Created by Ennis and Darick Robertson,The Boyswas initially publishedby another DC Comics imprint, Wildstorm. The ultimate satire of superheroes,The Boyscontinued Ennis’ trend of profane humor and ultraviolence. The satire proved to be a little much for DC, who let Ennis and Robertson sellThe Boysto indie publisher Dynamite Entertainment, where it proceeded to run for 72 issues.
Much likePreacher,The Boysalso had a long road to the screen, but would finally see an adaptation appear on Amazon thanks to producers Rogen and Goldberg and show-runner Eric Kripke. It all seemed to work out for the best, asThe Boyshas gone on to become one of the biggest TV shows in the world, with two spin-off series produced to date. It’s pretty impressive for a book that Ennis originallyclaimed would topPreacherin terms of pushing the bounds of what’s acceptable in monthly comics.
Although all three series cover very different subject matter, it’s fascinating to comparePreacher,The Walking Dead,andThe Boys.All three started as successful monthly comics that pushed the medium forward regarding mature themes and adult content, and all three made it to the small screen in equally successful TV adaptations. Comparing all three properties shows how nothing is created in a vacuum. Even though the influence may not be immediately apparent, it’s clear to see how the success of one series carries over into another.
The Boys' Creator Thinks You Missed the Point of Watchmen
Garth Ennis, the creator of The Boys, believes that Watchmen’s point was lost on most superhero fans, but does The Boys' success prove him wrong?
Without the success ofPreacheras a monthly series, the violence of a series likeThe Walking Deadmay not have been possible. Subsequently, bothPreacherandThe Boysspent several years in development hell in Hollywood, but only got off the ground following the unprecedented success ofThe Walking DeadTV adaptation.Preacherhelped to pave the way forThe Walking DeadandThe Boysin the comics industry, and the success ofThe Walking DeadTV show helped getPreacherandThe Boyson the small-screen.
Source:CBS News
The Walking Dead
The Walking Deadis a massive multimedia franchise that began with a comic book series created by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The franchise gained widespread popularity with the launch of the television seriesThe Walking Deadin 2010 on AMC, which chronicles the lives of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies, referred to as “walkers.” The success of the original show has led to numerous spin-offs, web series, video games, novels, and other media. The franchise explores themes of survival, human nature, and the breakdown of society in the face of an existential threat, making it one of the most successful and influential horror series of the 21st century.
The Boys
The Boysfranchise is a satirical and dark superhero series based on the comic book by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. It explores a world where superheroes, or “Supes,” are corrupt, violent, and morally bankrupt, all controlled by the powerful corporation Vought International. The story centers around two opposing groups:The Boys, a vigilante team aiming to expose and defeat the corrupt heroes, andThe Seven, Vought’s elite team of Supes led by the ruthless Homelander.
