Tune in to the classic rock station, fill a flask with holy water and make sure your car is stocked head to toe with rock salt and guns. You’re about to drive head first into the darkness with Sam and Dean Winchester. They are the hunters of demons, ghouls, vampires, ghosts and all the things that go bump in the night.
Welcome to the world of Supernatural.
After Buffy the Vampire Slayer ended in 2003, and its spinoff Angel in 2004, a horror-show-shaped vacancy needed to be filled on the WB Network. The “monster-of-the-week” format had become hugely popular and the network wanted something to continue it. Enter creator Eric Kripke, who had an idea for a simple story based on two brothers driving around the country in a classic car, listening to classic rock and killing monsters.
Quick as a shotgun blast full of rock salt, Supernatural was born.
Supernatural premiered during Fall of 2005 on the WB network, featuring two demon-hunting brothers, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) battling urban myths and supernatural lore. Now in its eighth season on The CW Network with a huge fan following, this hit show doesn’t look like it’s slowing down anytime soon and fans of the show now have a terrific new book to behold: The Essential Supernatural.
This deluxe coffee table book dissects the show season by season, following the Winchester brothers as they travel the U.S. in their ’67 Chevy Impala and hunting all manner of nasty creatures along the way. The oversized book is illustrated with tons of behind-the-scenes photos, production art, posters, maps, and other secrets hidden within. Featuring a foreword by the show’s creator, this is the ultimate visual guide for any Supernatural fan. Author Nicholas Knight’s comprehensive and elaborate book is broken up into seasonal chapters including an overview of the events, themes and plot arcs throughout each season.
Each chapter includes special interviews conducted just for this book, with appearances from Jensen and Jared to most of the reoccurring actors that have made an impact on the show such as Jim Beaver, Misha Collins, Mark Sheppard and the Devil himself, Mark Pellegrino. Many others actors have their moments in the book as well, even if they were just there for a few episodes here and there. The attention and love given to the actors and guest stars in the show is wonderful. Some behind the scenes books look over some of the lesser characters but here they are given the credit they are due.
The book features all kinds of still photography from the production of the show. It breaks production down into its various components – like the multiple cars used and the iconic motel rooms and numerous truck-stop diners the brothers have eaten at along they way. The book includes occasional hidden envelopes filled with postcards, mini posters and stickers of the various monsters allowing for a much more interactive experience.
The book also features some great background information on Supernatural‘ s setting, like the hierarchy of demons and angels, a monster episode guide and a walk-through of the various weapons in the show like The Colt, Heavenly Weapons, Demon-Killing Knife, the Necklace, Rabbit’s Foot, etc… With so many details, it would be hard for any fan of the show not to want this book.
Although some of the information is quite repetitive, it’s still fun to read. There’s always something new to find within these pages, and the intense attention to detail makes The Essential Supernatural a must-have for all die-hard fans of the show. I’ve watched the show since its premiere and this book blew me away. I wish there were more books examining shows I love that would take the time and care to make something worthy of fans.
The book has a $50 price tag, which might be a little pricey for those with smaller budgets but I assure you, it is worth every penny.