This third helping of the Ennis and Dillon's "Preacher" begins with a flash-back to Vietnam where we learn more about Jesse's father and his influence on Jesse's current mission. Then we come back to the present and retrieve our good friend Cassidy from the clutches of the Grail (sort of like getting Solo back from Jabba in "Jedi"). In the third act of this graphic novel, we get a longish back story from Cassidy, about how he became a fanged-one, and how he made it to this side of the Atlantic.

The main thrust of "Proud Americans" is that we are nothing if we don't stand up for our friends, and that we should never allow ourselves to be led blindly into doing "the right thing". This is a great series, and I highly recommend it. I gave this one only four stars because I felt some of the second and third sections moved a little too slowly. Still, this is great stuff, and I'm eagerly looking forward to getting book 4.


Scary, exciitng, and wet-your-pants funny...   January 3, 1999
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

Since this story arc ended, PREACHER hasn't been, well, as good. It still eclipses most other comics today, but it's hard to imagine anything topping the first 24 issues. Most of the book is excellent, with funny moments like the story of Frankie the Eunuch and the "messiah", and scary scenes like the Angel in the basement (you'll have to read for a better explanation). The opening and closing chapters pale in comparison to the larger narrative, but serve to tell stories of "proud americans" just the same.


Prime Preacher   February 6, 2000
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Proud Americans is a very good, and very, very funny Preacher graphic novel. It has some of the series funniest (as well as most violent) moments. This is Preacher at it's best. One thing Proud Americans is NOT is a good introduction to the story. If you've never read Preacher before, get Gone to Texas. Don't get this - you'll be really confused.

The first story is that of Jesse's fathers experience in Vietnam and is contained in a single issue. That issue is one of Preacher's all-time best. The story is very, very good and well-written, and it's great seeing how like his dad Jesse is. The rest of the book focuses on the events leading up to Jesse's confrontation with The Grail and the face-off between Jesse, Starr, and the Allfather. By the way, the Allfather's fate (that's all I'll say about it) is one of the series funniest single moments.

Proud Americans shows, again, that Preacher simply rules.


Different from the Previous Work   April 25, 2003
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

The third installment of this collected series about a Preacher mixed up with the divine, his hit(wo)man girlfriend, Tulip and their vampire friend, Cassidy is not as good as the previous two chapters.

The story divided into three parts. The first part is a flashback story about Custer's dad. A well told poignant story that finally speaks out wha the heck of a relationship it was with John Wayne.

The second has Custer following the path of his kidnapped friend Cassidy who was taken hostage in the last book. From all the stories, this one is the best told, though not as strong as the previous chapters in the previous books. Some light is shed on what is the being that is sharing Custer's body and why the beings in Heaven and Hell are just scared to confront him.

The last story is an origin retelling of the vampire, Cassidy. More questions stem out of this story than those attempted to be answered.

I have to admit the books was not as good as the previous installments. Ennis has toned down the content and the humor of the storyline. Dillon, however, just seems to move on like a locomotive, complteley and utterly unstoppable. The work here is comparable to the work Ennis has worked on the Punisher. The problem with this book is that you can't not read it. Some important aspects of the characters are showcased.

A wonderful read, just don't expect to much. The guys were taking a break and so should you.