The Essential Supernatural [Revised and Updated Edition]: On the Road with Sam and Dean Winchester Hardcover – October 28, 2014

I received this item on the promised delivery date. It is a very nice coffee table book with lots of extras (book covers, post cards, BTS pics) that covers seasons 1 through 7. While I am a fan of the Winchester brothers, I must admit that I cannot stand Castiel. He was introduced in season 4. Having him around changes the dynamic of the show, and not for the better. Where before there was badass Winchester action on hunts, road trips, brotherly hurt/comfort and scenes of the brothers researching their supernatural quarry before they actually hunt, with bird butt around there is none of that. He heals them, transports them to wherever they want to go, protects them in fights. Usually when this pigeon is around the brothers' IQs drop 50 points in order to make this new premise work. Depending on who you listen to, he's either a fan favorite or the ruination of the show. Naturally, I vote for the second option.Despite his presence I enjoyed this book and I don't regret buying it. Most of it is, thankfully, devoted to Sam and Dean. I mention cassbutt only because I know there are others out here who can't stand him and who might let that stop them from buying this book.To his minions? Don't bother flaming me about this. I'll laugh at you. And don't complain about what I said. This is my review and I can say anything I want to within Amazon's review guidelines.This volume is filled with information about the beloved Impala, the other props on the show, the supporting cast and the various types of fuglies the Winchesters hunt. I do wish there had been more on Jeffrey Dean Morgan and the late Kim Manners. Mr. Manners gets a one page tribute. That was nice, but the man deserves more than just one page. Mr. Morgan gets none. There are photos of him portraying John Winchester.I do hope that there will be a follow-up for seasons 8 through 10. I'd be especially interested in purchasing such a book with the Demon Dean story arc coming up.The one physical flaw of this book? The binding is rather weak, too weak to support that many pages, especially if this book is paged through too many times. When the binding finally gives way better have some long, strong rubber bands ready.

As soon as I heard this book was in the works, I was excited! A hardback coffee table sized Supernatural guide book?? YES. PLEASE. This thing is huge! The jacket is removable and the book itself has a very cool leather book-like hard cover. It has a ton of full color high quality photographs and illustrations, many of which have never been featured in the magazines or season guides. It goes into enormous detail on the aired seasons (1-7 and even a bit on 8!), and includes character biographies, creature guides and actor and crew interviews.One thing that could have been very cool if done a bit better were the various pull out inserts. Throughout the book, there are post card sized photos that look like they're meant to be pulled out and displayed, but are glued down so well that they end up ripping the page they're attached to if you try to remove them. They cover some blocks of text and other photos, but they're only glued down on one corner, so they're easily lifted up out of the way so you can read what's underneath. Just don't try to pry them up completely or you'll ruin the page. The book also features these really cool pouches that have all sorts of goodies in them, from the covers of the Supernatural books written by Chuck to a road map of the US marked with important Supernatural landmarks. There was even a page of stickers, which I'll admit I squealed a little bit over.All in all, this book is TOTALLY worth the price. It would make the perfect gift for any fan of the show or a great indulgent treat for yourself. I'm planning on buying copies of this for my friends now that I see how cool it is!

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...

I loved this book from the moment I opened the package. The quality of the paper was top notch, the pictures plentiful and insights with the writers, creators, actors and how it all took root and blossomed became evident from Page 1 on. But was I ever shocked when I turned a page and found a five by seven card with pictures of Jensen and Jared on them. Periodically going through the book I found a map that located all the key areas in the United States that Supernatural Dean and Jared visited for various reasons and more pictures followed. Then there were decals. It was like a little kid opening a birthday gift I could hardly wait to see what came next. This was something I was not expecting it was as I said a very pleasant surprise. I highly recommend this book on many levels especially if you are a die-hard supernatural fan. It is well worth what you pay for it and I guarantee you will not be dissatisfied. Long Live Supernatural and thank you Eric Kripke for your vision and bringing it to life and sharing it with us.