Supernatural: Origins

Supernatural Graphic Novel #1

by Peter Johnson, Matthew Dow Smith

This new collection — featuring the six issues of WildStorm's SUPERNATURAL: ORIGINS comic — acts as a prequel to the hit CW television show. Written by series Executive Producer Peter Johnson, it gives readers an incredible never-before-seen look into the mythos of the series!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Supernatural, Comics, Horror, Fantasy, Paranormal, Fiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published May 20, 2008

About the author

Peter Johnson is a television producer and writer as well as a comic book writer.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[CG. · Rating 2 out of 5]

3.5 stars ***
Review:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/18...

[Otherwyrld · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few years ago Wildstorm Comics produced several prequel Supernatural comic books, of which this was the first one. All of them follows John Winchester as he drags his two young sons across the length and breath of the United States hunting for the creature that killed the boys mother.

The story is pretty average, given that it covers some of the early lessons that the inexperienced John Winchester must learn as a hunter. We get a road-trip to Harvelle's, the bar that serves as a base for hunter's for a few seasons in the series, but otherwise there is little that is familiar. John does get a few answers to his quest at the end, but I'm not sure that the journey was worth the pain he has to go through to get them. The boys don't really feature that much in this one - Sam is just a baby and Dean is about 4 years old at this point.

The artist is trying very hard to be Mike Mignola in this book - it's not bad, but at times it's a little unclear what is going on. No attempt is made to make the characters in the book anything like those in the series, which is fine for Sam and Dean but less so for John, who bears no resemblance to Jeffrey Dean Morgan in any way.

All in all an average and fairly forgettable addition to the series.

[Shel Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason I did not give this 5 stars was because the the dates were off.

[Oceana2602 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fangirl says: OMG WHERE ARE YOUR EYES, JOHN!?!

Ok, so I'm not a comics fan. I like exactly three kinds of comics: Donald Duck, Peanuts and Calvin & Hobbes, which, you know, really doesn't make me part of the "graphic novel" fandom (that's not what it is called. I think.) I'm just not interested in the genre, nothing against it, but, things to do, books to read, no time to look at pretty pictures. (and I do think that many graphic novels are very pretty).

However, I was willing to make an exception for SPN, because it's SPN, and it's pretty, and it's Wee!chester fic, so, you know, fangirl must love.

Well, this fangirl loved exactly nothing about this book. The story was stupid (and far away from canon as we know it). The mysterious stranger helping John become a hunter could be spotted as the bad guy miles away. But the worst thing was the "artwork", and, well, maybe I'm the wrong one to judge, but let me repeat,

OMG WHERE ARE YOUR EYES, JOHN!?!

I could easily add to this things like


OMG DID YOU GET LIP IMPLANTS AT ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD, DEAN!?!

and

OMG WHY DO YOU LOOK LIKE A MONKEY WITH A SQUARE HEAD, SAM!?!


I'll leave it at that.

(my copy will be available on ebay for the next couple of days)

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I recall correctly, the story here gets trampled and contradicted by later episodes in the series, but before that happened it stood well on its own.

[KK · Rating 3 out of 5]

huh the story was okay but the artwork was awful. I really didn't like it.

[Emma Kay Krebs · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Ending was dull, but I love John Winchester's A+ parenting being acknowledged. Get your kids in therapy, king!!

[Janelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I had to describe this graphic novel in two words, they would be 'strange' and 'inconsistent'. When TV or movie tie-in graphic novels are released, they generally tend to read as deleted scenes or extra episodes. This didn't read as either. It read more as a horror film set in an entirely different universe, reminding me far too much of Insidious.

First up, I have to say that I didn't care for the style of drawing at all. It was very rudimentary and angular, and nobody seemed to have eyeballs! This would've been more appropriate for a noir detective comic, but it didn't work at all here. It just looked lazy, like the author couldn't be arsed to make the characters look anything like their TV counterparts.

The storyline itself held great potential as it shows how John reacted in the wake of Mary's death, and how he turned into a hardened hunter. I had always assumed that John grew up as a hunter, until around season 6 when it was revealed that Mary's family were hunters, and that John had been relatively clueless until her death. In a way, I'm glad I read this after season 7 concluded, because I'm not sure I would've understood it properly had I read it when my friend purchased it around the time of season 2!

So I went off on a bit of a tangent there. What I'm trying to say is that the storyline had so much potential, but didn't quite get there. It could've been really heartwrenching, showing John in a severe state of depression after Mary's death. There could've been some wonderfully awkward moments as he learned to fight monsters, and a transformation of John from clueless n00b to hardened slayer. It could've added many layers to the Azazel storyline, which to this day still leaves me feeling like it was missing something.

Instead, we got this really weird Insidious-esque story that read more like a feature film than an additional episode. This random dude in a duster, who looks not unlike Hugh Jackman's awful interpretation of Van Helsing, is the monster-hunting Mr Miyagi to John Winchester's Daniel LaRusso. John is certain that a hellhound killed his wife, and they follow the markings on a hellhound's tooth (long story...) to an evil hotel.

The hotel is something of an enigma in the nearby town, with residents aware that something isn't quite right, but content to leave it the hell alone until the next hunter comes asking. John and weird duster man encounter rain, hail (okay, a mini rockslide) and shine, trying to get to this hotel. The paranormal forces surrounding the mountain throw everything they have at John and co, trying to keep them away from this hotel.

When they eventually reach the hotel, John is thrown to an endless loop of all his worst fears. John eventually breaks free, and weird duster man calls a hellhound to heel, revealing that he's been manipulating John all along. Duster man wasn't responsible for Mary's death, but he's been helping John develop into the hardened demon-hunter he's destined to become. John kills the hellhound and duster man and reunites with Sam and Dean, beginning the long journey to where we are today.

Like I said, it's weird. The story was no doubt cool, and I'd LOVE to see the evil hotel turned into an original film, but it didn't fit with the tone of the show at all. It's almost as if someone gave the author a TL;DR rundown of the show, and he wrote a comic without actually watching it. The only parts that felt real to me were the sad little exchanges between young Dean and Sam, as they come to terms with losing their mother and having a semi-absent father.

Overall: Although it was a moderately entertaining read, I wouldn't recommend this graphic novel to fans of Supernatural at all. It's incongruous with the tone of the show, and you'll put the book down wondering what on earth you just read. The style of illustration also reads as sloppy, as if the artist couldn't be arsed to get the likenesses correct. Ultimately, it's like 2 guys sat down and put together a Supernatural graphic novel without having actually watched the show.

[Amber Earley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was absolutely mortified at this comic. I expected it to be fairly decent at the least, but I was disappointed from even that. The art is terrible, hard to decipher, and nothing like what the characters look like. The writing is corny and overdone, and the only redeeming quality in this book is the demon plot twist near the end with "Uncle Hunter," although any sensible person could see that coming. Would not recommend.

[Ágnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like it, maybe because I hate John Winchester. But I think the plot was almost non-existent. Yep, there are some interesting things in it, for example how Winchester Daddy became a hunter, but the story isn't elaborated or compelling. And the drawings... well let's just say, I saw better. I only liked the Sam and Dean scenes which were very rare. If you're a fan, it's readable once...

[Lea · Rating 2 out of 5]

After the ending of my favourite show, I'm incapble of a rewatch right now, and so deprived of Supernatural content that I actually went and read the pre-series comics. "Origins" is the first one and, um, it's not good. The art is weird and dark and cheap looking. The setting itself has so much potential. It's about John Winchester, whose wife just died and now he goes on the road with his two little sons in tow, hunting the demon that killed her. On the way, he tries to figure out hunting and the supernatural. On the plus side, it's very gloomy and dark. Sadly, it's also quite boring, with silly dialogue and it feels like a quite trashy old school horror story. The glimpses we got of Dean and Sam as kids were great, although they look nothing like them.

[Madeleine · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Y'see, evil found a way to grow like weeds in all the little cracks around us. Let it grow, and eventually it's everywhere."

I didn't like the art style, and I don't think the story brings anything new to the tv show. But it made me excited to continue watching Supernatural, cause I had stopped on Season 8.

"What you call supernatural is simply part of a bigger world around us which most willfully blind themselves from seeing."

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story is very reminiscent of the pacing and twists of the TV show. I believe the author has been a producer on the show, and it shows in the care he takes with the characters and the plot. I wish the art was a lot better but there's something to be said for style.

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was quite interesting. It was nice to know the early days of John Winchester's hunting days. I wonder who the Hunter guy was.

Good comic book for fans of the Supernatural tv series.

[Lilly]

[Leeann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was different but kind of cool.

[Amory · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate John Winchester so much, but liked seeing Ellen and some familiar plotlines; the artwork in this really isn't my taste though.

[Aldana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me encantó y me hizo recordar por qué amo tanto está historia

[🐦‍⬛ · Rating 2 out of 5]

we need to beat john winchester to death with hammers

[Cale · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm kind of curious if this is no longer canon in light of the prequel series. This focuses on John Winchester in the early days after his wife's death, as he's led on a journey into the world of hunters by a mysterious figure.
It's got its moments, introducing some characters who will become prominent in the future (Ellen and the Roadhouse), but for the most part stays away from John's known history. It's a story about a man trying to find a new focus in his life, balancing his family duties and his need for revenge (and doing a poor job of it). Ultimately, it's a decent enough story with a couple mystifying 'twists' that don't really justify their existence (including the *big* twist), but nothing that really feels like it adds to the Supernatural Universe. Very much a middle of the road experience.

[Jennifer (bunnyreads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to reread this one since I reviewed a later comic tie-in for Supernatural in last years bingo. This comic was the tie-in they did about John’s early years after Mary’s death, and is ten years old now.
Of course, a lot of this has been retconned since this was written- I am sure they never dreamed the show would go for ten plus years, but even so, some of this didn’t even make sense way back then. They really didn’t go out of their way to try and keep anything too faithful.

As far as the story goes it was ok, not the greatest but not as bad as the Dogs of Edinburgh. We get a bit of the Roadhouse with Ellen, some Missouri, and Pastor Jim- early names you’ll recognize but not really enough story with any of them to satisfy.

The art as everyone else has said, is pretty sad.

The colours are washed out and dark, but that’s to be expected- so was Supernatural back then.

The art itself probably would not have been so bad if they occasionally looked like who they were supposed to be, but the only one that even resembled anyone from the show was Baby- the car, not baby Sammy... Lord knows that strong-arm baby on the cover barely looks like a baby, much less baby Sammy and little kid cover Dean, makes me think of Children of the Corn. D:
Also, someone really likes to use black shadows on the face to save time drawing eyes and other facial features. ;)

But you know they tried, and if you’re fan, these tie-ins are fun especially years later despite the flaws.

I will generous and give it three stars for nostalgia’s sake.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

This graphic novel serves as a prequel to the SUPERNATURAL TV Series. It ran hot and cold. I've seen every episode of the series, and this was true to the show. It stars John Winchester, and the story takes place right after Sam and Dean's mother is murdered. Sam and Dean only have cameos as children in this one, and the story is all about their father.

It started out strong, showing how John went after what killed his wife and his early days learning to be a hunter. But then it took a very strange turn. I'm still not entirely certain what the ending was about, but it almost seemed like something wanted to give John a nudge to be sure he got into hunting. A clear reason was never given for why. To me the series seemed to indicate some kind of "bigger plan", which I didn't care for as much as the simpler explanation given in the TV series. Then again, the origin even got complicated on the TV series too.

Quick note about the art. It was well done, and reminiscent of Mike Mignola. The art fit the story well.

In closing, this was a good but not great series. Supernatural is a series that would seem perfect for comics, but this story just didn't quite click.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

So having re-watched the series from the start to the end - I will say that I am not sure how well this book fits in to the continuity of the series - there are just aspects that either were not mentioned or slighting tweaked for this comic book but still great fun - trying not to be too corny but a series that is fondly remembered and sorely missed.


This is an interesting little graphic novel - It came out in the early days of the TV series Supernatural as either an exploitation of the show or as a taster of the reasons for what happens in the show (you decide).The novel is illustrated in a basic manner very reminiscent of Hellboy and BPRD. The story itself is an interesting read but honestly for someone who tries not to give spoilers away - there is really not much new to learn from it. You can see the motivation and the start of the dysfunctional relationships forming but beyond that it leaves more questions than it answers (and in some cases even asks itself)

[Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say, I just didn't get this.
Companion comics should... be a companion to the show.
I know that sounds stupidly obvious, but this book didn't do that. Besides the book focusing on John Winchester (and a trip to Harvelle's), I didn't see any of Supernatural in this book. The demon mythology was weird and new (and confusing) and there are no answers for Jon at the end (or even in the middle! You'd think he invented Hunting or something with the amount of 0 info everyone else gives him) & I'm just not sure this was worth my time to read.

[Elizabeth Walker · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love Supernatural. I mean I LOVE love it. When I found these graphic novels at the library, I was so excited. How had I never known they existed? I settled in to read, and get a new SPN fix. It was not good. At all. I think pretty much the whole book went against Canon. I would not recommend to anyone who is part of the SPN Fandom. It's almost like the people who wrote this had no idea what the show was about.

[lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

They got Mary's birthday and birthyear wrong 🤦🏻‍♀️ You'd think since this comic was written by someone who worked on the show that they'd at least get the details right. Plus, there was a character where, at first, they said it was Mary's uncle, then near the end of the comic they said it was John's uncle? 🤦🏻‍♀️

[Katharine (Ventureadlaxre) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't really mind the artwork (a lot of people seem to have problems with it) and I quite liked seeing how the family started out down the track of being hunters.

The plot was good and felt like a TV episode in comic form. Nothing really bad to say about it at all :)

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is basically a summary of the “John Winchester’s A+ parenting” tag on ao3. John, what the Hell are you doing?! Also, very much not a fan of the face illustrations. I kept flashing back to Carl post-eye loss on The Walking Dead.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's pretty sad that I didn't have the patience to finish a graphic novel, but this one was just boring.

[Melissa White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the story just wasn't a huge fan of the art style.