From AMC and showrunner Sam Catlin (Breaking Bad) comes the TV adaptation of Garth Ennis’ and Steve Dillon’s iconic DC: Vertigo comic series Preacher. The pilot episode was written and directed by executive producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. Starring Dominic Cooper, Joseph Gilgun, Ruth Negga, Graham McTavish, Pip Torrens and Ian Colletti. Season 2 debuts Sunday June 25, 2017.
After merging with a bizarre spiritual force called Genesis, Texan preacher Jesse Custer has become completely disillusioned with the beliefs to which he had dedicated his entire life. Now possessing the power of “the word,” an ability to make people do whatever he utters, Custer begins a violent and riotous journey across the country. Joined by his gun-toting girlfriend Tulip and the hard-drinking Irish vampire Cassidy, Custer loses faith in both God and man as he witnesses dark atrocities and improbable calamities during his exploration of America.
Pip Torrens as Herr Starr in Preacher on AMC
Pip Torrens. This is the actor that will be playing Preacher’s greatest villain Herr Starr – yes I said it. GREATEST VILLAIN. What about The Saint of Killers you say? Well — he’s not a villain dude. Does he try to kill Jesse and friends? Sure he does – but he’s doing it because he has to. He has to kill everything because that’s what he does. I like to think of The Saint as an anti-hero… Sorta… Herr Starr was briefly seen in season one (played by a different actor) and comic fans know that the batshit crazy white-suited man with the cool facial scar will go on to be Jesse’s greatest rival in Preacher. Herr Starr is the leader of an organisation called ‘The Grail’. This group of well-dressed nutjobs are tasked with preserving the bloodline of Jesus Christ and to hunt down all those who oppose that mission. You’ll have to wait and see why The Grail’s path leads to Jesse in season two.
Pip Torrens as Herr Starr in Preacher on AMC
Major Spoilers for The Rest of Preacher
No really, this will ruin the entire series for you if you haven’t read the comics – so STOP NOW IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE COMICS
Here are my top 7 Favourite Herr Starr Moments from Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s historical run of Preacher from Vertigo Comics. Please – PLEASE may they adapt these onto the show eventually… Pip Torrens just landed the role of a lifetime if they actually do adapt this character faithfully onto the show. Note – I didn’t include Starr’s final showdown with Jesse and crew because although it was incredible – I didn’t want to COMPLETELY destroy the series for you if they wind up adapting those panels and you didn’t heed my spoiler warning above.
#7. I Have an Erection
Herr Starr in Preacher from Vertigo Comics. Art by Steve Dillon.
Herr Starr is into some creepy shit. Sexually. Whether he tells a woman during intercourse to shove her head back into the toilet, or he announces that he has an erection right before a military assault that he’s leading – Starr is a big perv. Garth Ennis is so great at making sex so gross and Starr was his canvas to go crazy on.
#6. Grammar Outrage
Between Starr’s constant put-downs towards his co-workers Featherstone and Hoover – he also has a furious hatred towards the bastardisation of grammar… Especially the improper use of inverted commas. Starr is such a bizarre character and this moment is just one of several, but the fact that he shoots the paper SEVEN times is astounding. I truly hope the series injects his character with these quirky personality traits.
#5. The Man in the Mirror
Herr Starr in Preacher from Vertigo Comics. Art by Steve Dillon
Herr Starr in Preacher from Vertigo Comics. Art by Steve Dillon
After an unfortunate and fairly violent encounter with Jesse, the top of Herr Starr’s head is scarred down the middle, making the top of his bald head look extremely dick-like. Realising this, he starts to try on several hats in order to cover that up. Hilarity ensues over several pages dedicated entirely to Starr’s hat shopping.
#4. The Dog
Herr Starr in Preacher from Vertigo Comics. Art by Steve Dillon.
Starr has so many violent encounters throughout the course of Preacher it’s hard to keep count. But there’s one in particular where a big ass dog winds up biting off lil’ Starr leading to one of the most uncomfortable reveals in comic history when the villain is forced to reveal the aftermath in what has to be one of the most awkward work meetings of all time — just try to “un-see” this panel below.. You can’t. Ever.
Herr Starr in Preacher from Vertigo Comics. Art by Steve Dillon.
#3. Origins
Herr Starr in Preacher from Vertigo Comics. Art by Peter Snejbjerg.
Garth Ennis wrote a one-shot exploring the origin of Herr Starr as a soldier who actually used to TRY and do the right thing. During a terrorist attack on an air plane, one soldier who is holding a dead child removes his helmet and says the words, “This is not the way the world should be” and we see Starr’s face. Turns out even the badguys maybe aren’t all that evil… Or weren’t anyway…. At one point in time.
#2. The Hillbillies
Herr Starr in Preacher from Vertigo Comics. Art by Steve Dillon.
After an intense encounter with both Jesse and The Saint of All Killers, Starr winds up separated from his associates and finds himself held hostage by a group of cave-dwelling rednecks who start to eat him piece by piece. To add insult to injury, the littlest one makes Starr wipe his ass from time to time. His eventual escape is easily one of my favourite moments of the series overall.
#1. Blessed
Herr Starr in Preacher from Vertigo Comics. Art by Steve Dillon.
Even though Starr works for The Grail, he soon realises that the organisation is run by a disgusting, bloated moron (The Allfather) who believes he is protecting the last descendant of Jesus Christ. It’s really just an inbred and mentally challenged shit throwing idiot who can only say things like “Humperdumperdido!” Taking matters into his own hands, Starr actually shoves the Allfather out of an aircraft and sends him rocketing towards the ground – directly ontop of Jesus’ great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandson ending the bloodline once and for all. Blessed is Allfather Starr!! This moment is hands down the best for the villain and one of those times we get to cheer for the badguy.