1. Preacher
In at number one from the brilliantly twisted mind (and possible bastard lovechild of David Lynch and Guillermo Del Toro) is writer Garth Ennis supernatural modern day western epic Preacher. First published in 1995 by Vertigo Comics Preacher is as dark as they come and is strictly for adults or any kids who think they can process ultra-violence, coke snorting angels, bestiality and cannibalism in the same comic. The story follows small town preacher Jesse Custer who becomes possessed by the offspring of an angel and a demon. He finds out can he make people do whatever he commands as he sets out across America in search of the Almighty looking for answers with his old girlfriend and an Irish alcoholic vampire in tow. His quest for answers soon becomes a journey of vengeance as he comes up against The Grail (a secret religious organisation aren't they always), his own redneck family (who make The Hills Have Eyes tribe look like respectable citizens) and a veritable rogues gallery of memorable and unique characters. Ennis characters can be compelling, repulsive or hilarious but they are always original (one character, inspired by Kurt Cobains death, shoot himself in the face with a shotgun but survives. He then goes by the name of Arseface) and the violence is inventive but always shocking (upon hearing Jesses command to go f*ck yourself a character chops off his manhood and sodomizes himself with the severed body part) which all add to the texture and originality of this modern day masterpiece as the story riffs on themes of good and evil, family, revenge and religion set against a western backdrop in modern America. The film rights were sold back in the late nineties but the translation from page to screen hasn't been an easy one with various names like Kevin Smith and Sam Mendes all coming and going. In 2008 it was offered to HBO but they declined deeming it too dark and controversial if even HBO thought it was too dark and controversial, you know this is something special.
Which alternative must-read comics have we missed? Let us know in the comment section below.