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Saint of Killers

For the Unforgiven character portrayed by Clint Eastwood, after whom the Saint of Killers is named and designed, see William Munny.

Saint of Killers
The Saint of Killers, as drawn by Glenn Fabry
Publication information
PublisherVertigo Comics
First appearanceCameo: Preacher #1 (1995)
Full: Preacher #2 (1995)
Created byGarth Ennis
Steve Dillon
In-story information
SpeciesGod
Place of originEarth
Team affiliationsConfederacy
Notable aliasesPatron Saint of Murderers and Assassination, Death Bringer[1]
Abilities
Saint of Killers
GenreSuperhero

The Saint of Killers is a fictional character who appears in the comic book series Preacher, published by Vertigo Comics in 1995. Writer Garth Ennis created the Saint of Killers with artist Steve Dillon. The Saint is described as "a grim, taciturn, implacable killing machine" with supernatural abilities involving divinity, immortality, and influence over Heaven and Hell.[7] His goals typically centre on bringing down individuals through destruction and death by the laws of Paradise.[8]

The Saint of Killers first appeared as a heartless murderer, who is transformed into the Angel of Death under the condition that he takes up the role of collecting the souls of those who die by violence. Following his reanimation, Heaven arranged for him to be put into a deep slumber, until he was needed to kill people. The Saint was a primary antagonist in the Preacher series, who is tasked by Heaven to kill protagonist Jesse Custer due to his possession by the entity Genesis.[9] Aside from Ennis and Dillon's Preacher, the Saint was featured in his own four-issue limited series, Preacher: Saint of Killers, which expanded on the Saint's background and motivation,[10] and has appeared briefly in the DC Comics series Hitman, cantered on a "wise-cracking assassin plying his trade in Gotham City",[7] and was portrayed by Graham McTavish in the television series adaptation of Preacher; simply referred to as The Cowboy. In the first season, the character's real name is revealed to be William Munny in the series' second season, after Clint Eastwood's character from Unforgiven,[11] who was initially cited by Ennis (along with fellow actor Lee Marvin) as his principal inspiration for the Saint's design in the original comic series, with artists Dillon and Glenn Fabry making him look far more physically imposing. The Saint's character and the nature of his evil have been the subject of considerable critical attention.[12]

Empire ranked The Saint of Killers number 43 in their 50 Greatest Comic Characters of All Time,[7] Topless Robot placed him number 3 in their Top 10 Least Heroic Antiheroes,[13] What Culture placed the Saint #57 on their list of the 100 Greatest Comic Book Villains Of All Time,[14] and the character ranked #74 on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Villains compilation.[15]

  1. ^ Ennis, Garth (1998). The Saint of Killers #3. Vertigo Comics. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-56389-261-5.
  2. ^ Ennis, Garth (1998). The Saint of Killers #4. Vertigo Comics. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-56389-261-5.
  3. ^ Ennis, Garth (1998). The Saint of Killers #4. Vertigo Comics. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-56389-261-5.
  4. ^ Ennis, Garth (1995). Preacher #2. Vertigo Comics. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-56389-261-5.
  5. ^ Ennis, Garth (1998). The Saint of Killers #2. Vertigo Comics. p. 19. ISBN 978-1-56389-405-3.
  6. ^ Ennis, Garth (1995). Preacher #1. Vertigo Comics. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-1-56389-261-5.
  7. ^ a b c "Empire – The 50 Greatest Comic Book Characters". Empire. February 2, 2015. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  8. ^ Ennis, Garth (1995). Preacher #32. Vertigo Comics. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-56389-261-5.
  9. ^ "PREACHER BOOK ONE". Vertigo Comics. March 11, 2015. Archived from the original on March 23, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  10. ^ "Garth Ennis". Vertigo Comics. March 11, 2015. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  11. ^ "AMC Orders Pilot for 'Preacher' Comic Book Adaptation From Seth Rogen". Variety. December 3, 2014. Archived from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  12. ^ Miller, Cynthia J.; Bowdoin Van Riper, A. (March 11, 2015). "Undead in the West II: They Just Keep Coming". Google Books. ISBN 9780810892651. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  13. ^ "The 10 Least Heroic Antiheroes". Topless Robot. May 23, 2011. Archived from the original on May 27, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  14. ^ "100 Greatest Comic Book Villains Of All Time". What Culture. October 6, 2013. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
  15. ^ "Top 100 Comic Book Villains". IGN. February 2, 2015. Archived from the original on June 9, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
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