The Essential Supernatural [Revised and Updated Edition]: On the Road with Sam and Dean Winchester

by Nicholas Knight, Eric Kripke (Primary Contributor)

Go back on the road with Sam and Dean Winchester in this revised and updated edition of the best-selling The Essential Supernatural. Filled with interviews with the cast and crew of the hit show, stunning behind-the-scenes-imagery and art, and a wealth of thrilling removable items, this updated version includes new chapters on seasons 8 and 9 and a preview of the upcoming season 10. This deluxe edition dissects the show season by season, state by state, tracking the Winchester brothers as they travel across the U.S. in their distinctive classic car. Join them as they hunt all those things that go bump in the night, seek vengeance on the Yellow-Eyed Demon that killed their parents, deal with the Knights of Hell, and stop the bona fide Apocalypse! Illustrated with full-color images, behind-the-scenes photos, exclusive production art, and other elements—such as continuity photos and even the covers of the in-universe Supernatural novels by Chuck Shurley—this is the ultimate guide to Supernatural for the show’s legion of fans.

Genres: Supernatural, Nonfiction, Horror, Fandom, Reference, Ghosts, Found Family

232 pages, Hardcover

First published October 9, 2012

Reviews

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Seriously everything you would want from a Supernatural book. If you're a dedicated, obsessed, loyal fan like me, this book is a must have. I love it so much. You might say that it's... essential. THANK YOU KING KRIPKE

[Stephanie Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stunning paratext, one that both explores and expands the world and mythology of Supernatural while at the same time providing a great deal of behind the scenes perspective. Those two trajectories may seem contradictory, but if you're a person in firm grasp of reality and are aware it's all a fiction, it works, mainly because it's the kind of show that leaves you wanting more--more of anything, any scrap--and this book delivers on two fronts. It's beautifully designed, overlarge and full of glossy photos and interviews with cast and crew, and it goes further by including a good deal of ephemera--some collectible type stuff, glossy cardstock pictures of the cast, a sheet of stickers featuring various symbols used in the show--but some is more strictly paratextual, such as postcards from the crummy motels the boys frequent, a guide to hunting demons, a sealed pouch of documents (that I haven't actually opened yet), even a pine-scented air freshener in its package, inserted into the section about the Impala. It's a feast for any Supernatural fan, worthy of a place of honor on any coffee table, except that if you put it there, other people might try to put their grubby mitts all over it...

[Anne♡loves♡romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Fabulous. Loved it. Fabulous. Now I've fantastic pics of my favorite brothers, I'm a very happy girl :)

[Juli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Letztes Jahr habe ich die "Supernatural" TV-Serie für mich entdeckt. Ich weiß, ich weiß, viel zu spät und ich schäme mich förmlich, gerade als Fantasy-Fan. Dennoch hatte ich das Glück dadurch alle Staffeln am Stück zu schauen und mich nicht durch ewig lange Wartezeiten auf die Folgestaffel zermürben zu lassen. Als neu erkorenes Supernatural Fangirl habe ich natürlich gleich das Internet nach brauchbaren Supernatural Fanartikeln durchsucht und bin auf dieses grandiose Begleitbuch zur TV-Serie gestoßen. Besonders als Lesesüchtige freut Frau sich eben über solche fantastische Schmankerl zu ihren Lieblingsserien. So werden gleich beide Hobbys miteinander verknüpft, äußerst praktisch.

Nicholas Knights "Die Welt von Sam und Dean Winchester" ist im Panini Verlag erschienen. Den bezaubernden Panini-Verlag durfte ich ja bereits aufgrund der wunderschönen Harry Potter Begleit-Fan-Bücher kennen lernen, die ich ebenfalls inhaliert und geliebt habe. Das Supernatural-Begleitbuch ist zu der TV-Serie und man sollte definitiv ein paar Staffeln, wenn nicht sogar alle, geschaut haben, ansonsten könnte man sich eventuell spoilern. Egal ob jung oder alt, dieses Buch wird absolut alle Sam und Dean Fans begeistern. Alleine die optische Aufmachung von außen ist schon direkt der Knaller und lassen jedes Supernatural Fan-Herzchen höher schlagen. Aber nicht nur die äußere Gestaltung ist wunderschön, sondern die Innengestaltung toppt absolut alles und lässt mich immer wieder glücklich aufquietschen. Als Supernatural Fan lässt einen dieses Schmuckstück auf keinen Fall kalt!

Die Bilder, die für dieses Buch ausgewählt oder angefertigt worden sind, sind grandios, atemberaubend, wunderschön und definitiv sehenswert! Grandiose Farbfotos von Sam, Dean, Castiel, Bobby, Crowley, den Monstern und noch vielen weiteren versetzen den Leser gleich wieder in die faszinierende Welt aus der TV-Serie.
Das Buch ist so aufgebaut, dass es für jede Staffel der TV-Serie ein eigenes Kapitel gibt. In diesem wird zu erst die Story der Staffel wiedergegeben und anschließend alle wichtigen Charaktere vorgestellt. Natürlich gibt es nicht nur Charaktersteckbriefe, sondern auch interessante Hintergrundinfos und Skizzen und Beschreibungen zu den gruseligen Monstern, Engeln, Dämonen und co.

Als Kenner der TV-Serie "Supernatural", ist dieses Begleitbuch Pflicht! Ich könnte nun noch stundenlang über diese Kunstwerke, die auf jeder einzelnen Seite des Buches zu finden sind, schwärmen, aber kauft es einfach selbst, lasst euch verzaubern und überzeugen und verschlingt und liebt es genauso wie ich. Dieses Buch gehört einfach in jedes Buchregal! Und nun werde ich es erst einmal wieder stundenlang glücklich durchblättern. Ein absolutes Must-Have für alle Supernatural Fans da draußen!

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got some points from here that I’ll be able to use in a (hopefully published) academic article. Not only a trip down memory lane, but a PRACTICAL revisit of who I was before the finale.

How do people insert pictures because I’m currently feeling like Old Sam in his party city wig.

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have the first coffee table book they put out, but I have not read it yet. This new and revised edition is awesome! They have a synopsis of each season. I really love all of the postcards, stickers, maps etc throughout the book. Of course, I will never tear them out! This is a great book for all fans of the show and all things Winchester :-)

[Svenja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wirklich ein Buch für Hardcore-Fans der Serie. Ich fand es super!

Allerdings waren die Staffelzusammenfassungen über mehrere Seiten manchmal ein wenig zu viel...

Sehr cool sind die Postkarten, Aufkleber und herausnehmbaren Landkarten, die man zwischendurch immer wieder findet.

[Stefani Robinson]

Want....so...badly...*drools* This is going on my Christmas list like, right now. Emailing mom *emails*

[Lori Schiele · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extensive and thorough book that follows "Supernatural" episode by episode all the way up to the end of Season 9. In between introducing not only Sam and Dean Winchester (as well as Jared and Jensen who portray them), as well as other main characters like parents, John and Mary, Castiel (angel), Bobby (hunter) and many other characters--both enemies and allies--it discusses the various monsters (large and small) and the weapons/means in which to kill them.
There is also a bunch of behind-the-scenes information from the writers and producers to the costume department, and special effects department, and others including the various 1967 Chevy Impalas that are in various stages of disrepair depending on what needs to happen to "Baby" in any given show--and whether or not she is actually being driven, or being towed behind a filming truck. They also show the various designs of the vast number of motel rooms that "the boys" have used throughout the first number of seasons--and then shows the Men of Letters Bunker once that enters the story line.

Additionally, includes a fold-out map of the U.S. with a list of states and what they did there, who they had to deal with and/or kill in each state. And, of course, you can't ignore the many, many beautiful, well-posed color photos and sketches of "the boys", as well as a good number of postcard-sized additional photographs/sketches tacked into various pages with mild adhesive so that they can be removed and placed into envelopes provided if you so wish, rather than leave them tacked to the page.
There is also a list of episodes from Seasons 1-9, providing the name of the episode and a brief description.
This book has been added on each time it is reprinted--tacking on additional seasons, so I am certain that reprints will have Seasons 10-15 at some point and I will not hesitate to purchase it again--but not until the final (*sigh*) season 15 has been added.

This book is not for someone that has only a passing interest in the show, but for the avid fan--or for someone just starting to watch it who wants to catch up--this is a must have. I have recently started introducing Supernatural to my 19 year old niece, starting from Season 1, and this book has been a tremendous help for her to read further into things that a specific episode might not go into depth with.

[Becca Nark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful book. But the devout fan who will buy it knows 3/4 of the info- they could have really put more interesting & in depth information inside. The extras are cool but they tear the pages they are glued to when you try to get them off. Basically it's just a gorgeous picture book. But I'm fine with staring at the boys in full glossy color.

[Lisa Janssens · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have for any supeenatural fan. It's filled with all kinds of info about the show. Many high quality pictures and nice goodies inside!

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it!! <3

[Pandora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Supernatural. Big photos. Jensen, Jared, Misha. What more could you want? (Except an episode companion to season 8, which for some mysterious reason has never appeared.)

[Roxanne Bedard-Saucier · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a good book, but more pages are spent summarizing the seasons than actually sharing behind the scenes stuff. For someone who has watched all the episodes 3-4 times min, it’s was essentially just like reading the plots and not getting new information. The pictures were awesome and overall, I liked it.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A detailed guide to Supernstural with insight from the cast and creators what is not to love! I love all the wee added insertsninto this book as well they really add to the uniqueness of the book. Really enjoyable read.

[Rachel Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. Anything that involves Supernatural is always on my to read list and I'm glad that I added this. It's also a great way to get a recap of the seasons as well as behind the scenes information as well. Loved this.

[Venessa Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I already knew almost everything in this book but that didn't change the fact that I loved reading it.
Supernatural is the best show in this world 💕

[Angela Mcghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for you superfans out there all kinds of behind the scenes and facts

[Alina Hartlaub · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it.
Every Supernatural fan needs to read it.

I hope there will be an updated version, when the show has ended.❤

[Carlijn · Rating 5 out of 5]

the most exciting thing to read as a big spn fan, I loved the little extras in it

[Jaynie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't really remember when I read this.

[BookLoversLife · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous book!! This book is huge, and one you will flick through time and time again. There is a lot of detail and behind the scenes pictures, which I loved. Glossy pages with some surprises hidden throughout. Well worth the money and a book that I will display proudly.

[rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Research. This is a lovely object but I'm at a loss on how to rate it. A giant picture book of joy?

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted my 150th book on Goodreads to be this epic, coffee table book about my favorite television show. I've been watching this show since the very first episode way, way back. From that very first episode, I was hooked by the relationship between Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki as Dean and Sam Winchester. The stories of folk lore, monsters, and other supernatural creatures and tales just fed my love of this show. As the years have gone by and the mythology has deepened and expanded to include angels, demons, God, and Lucifer, as well as wonderful characters such as Crowley, Castiel, Charlie, Kevin Tran, Bobby Singer, and so many others, I have never wavered from being a fan. If anything, my love of the show has also deepened and grown. In fact, my walls are adorned with Supernatural artwork. That's how much of a fan of this show I am.

I have never watched any show for this length of time. I always fade away from most shows that go one for long periods of time, but I have remained 100% loyal to this show. A bucket list item of mine was seeing the cast at a panel for San Diego International Comic Con, and it was truly amazing. It was a highlight for me for both the convention and being a fan of the show.

This tome is a complete and very detailed breakdown of the stories from each season. In between, there are interviews with cast members, production crew members from every aspect of the show, and the producers. It's a lot of Supernatural information, which I wouldn't have any other way. Another great thing about this book is how much ephemera is included. There are postcards, posters, stickers, and lots of fun things. The book includes hundreds of pictures and is just a great piece to include in one's Supernatural collection.

[Austin J Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it. It was nice to read through all of the seasons and what happened because I do not remember them all. After the end of season eight, I am wondering "What else are they going to do that they have not done already?" Something they may do is have the brothers while hunting, try to find a way to return all of the other angels into Heaven which is a possibility. Whatever they do, I cannot wait to see it.

[xander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the only books I am willing to spend over thirty dollars on... I LOVED THIS. This was the perfect book for any supernatural fan!! It took me a long time to read this because I didn't want it to end!! The pictures were amazing, and each chapter had interesting facts about the set and the characters that I loved reading about. Also, I brought this book to PittCon and had it signed by the cast, so it also holds a lot of really special memories.

[Lady Winchester · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is expensive but worth every penny!There are interviews with the cast and crew,behind the scenes secrets,and stickers and this really cool map that tells you were Sam and Dean have been and what they hunted while they were in town(seasons 1-9)and lots of amazing photos and drawings.this truly is the Essential guide to being On The Road With Sam and Dean Winchester!Love love love it!!!

[Clare Moseley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like coffee table books and this one is fine, but it's hampered by being made halfway through the series and I think the pictures used aren't quite as interesting as they could've been. A lot of reliance on promotional photos, when I would have been more interested in production sketches and the like.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely necessary for fans of the television series--this is the ultimate AUTHORIZED encyclopedia of all things Sam and Dean. It is a beautiful coffee table book, and most definitely worth the cost.

[Meredith Kaupp · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Christmas present to myself. Fun, interesting book with a lot of little extras included (like stickers, posters for the Carver Edlund books, etc.). If you like Supernatural, you'll like this book!!!