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NECA Will Make Toys Based On AMC’s “Preacher”
Before McFarlane Toys could swoop in and take on the franchise toy rights like they did with “The Walking Dead,” NECA took an early chance on “Preacher,” and plans to reveal the first line some time this year (possibly at the San Diego Comic-Con this month).
This isn’t the first time “Preacher” had action figures made, as there’s some really crappy toys (Jesse’s tucked in shirt is all kinds of uh-uh) adapted from Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s comic series. I own them all.
NECA can’t be thrilled by the early numbers AMC’s reported, but they have to feel confidence in the fact that a second season has already been ordered.
“Preacher” is the story of Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper) a conflicted Preacher in a small Texas town who is inhabited by a mysterious entity that allows him to develop a highly unconventional power. Jesse, his ex-girlfriend, Tulip (Ruth Negga), and an Irish vampire named Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun) embark on a journey to, literally, find God.
Other cast includes W. Earl Brown as ‘Sheriff Hugo Root’, the mean-hearted father of Eugene Root aka Arseface (Ian Colletti), a flinty-eyed, conspiracy-credulous redneck who is not a fool and has a vulnerability to him.
I hope the popularity of the show builds enough that NECA gets around to making new versions of the comic characters, much like McFarlane did with their “The Walking Dead” line.
Here are the old figures for reference.
In the grim darkness of the far future there is only war, but it was a cheerful illustrator from England who helped to define the terrifying war-torn imagery that inspired what we now know as Grimdark (a hybrid genre combining horror with sci-fi/fantasy).
Unfortunately for fans of Warhammer 40,000, Trench Crusade and countless other sources of Grimdark thrills, veteran artist John Blanche passed away this week after struggling with health issues for the past few years.
While the artist retired back in 2023, he leaves us with an enormous legacy of iconic artwork that continues to inspire gamers and storytellers around the world to this very day.
The news is especially gloomy as it was only last year that Daniel Lowman and Napoleon Dynamite himself Jon Heder released The Grim & the Dark: The Search for John Blanche, a documentary following Heder’s exploration of the Grimdark genre culminating in a heartwarming encounter with Blanche in his own home.
Below is one of my favorite pieces by Blanche, his highly influential depiction of Warhammer 40k’s God-Emperor of Mankind on his Golden Throne.
We send our deepest condolences to John Blanche’s family, friends, and fans.
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