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on April 22, 2016
From the opening issue I remember reading hunched over my computer five years ago, the series four or more years defunct already, this has been my absolute favorite serial comic. Living in a future that is a caricature of the present, and that has only grown more gut wrenchingly accurate since these issues were first published, our hero Spider Jerusalem attacks the evils of his world with naught but keyboard, camera glasses, his lovely assistant, and a vast arsenal of mind altering chemicals. Its the kind of antics real life heroism is made of, the stuff you want your journalists out doing, and as our world's news cycle has become more and more white washed and vapid, Spider has become the only comic book hero that has any real need to exist in real life. He transcends the boundaries of the comic book as a fantasy place where fantasy people solve fantasy problems in fantasy ways, by fighting metaphors for our problems in a real way, the way real people can and should be fighting them. Takes all the lessons the medium gained from the graphic novel form and creates a serial that cuts to the bone nearly every issue.
Aside from praise for the series, the volume itself arrived well bound and vibrantly printed.
Aside from praise for the series, the volume itself arrived well bound and vibrantly printed.
on May 21, 2017
This is a very interesting comic series; a lot of the issues that are discussed in this are still very relevant today (remember, this was written around 1995-1997). Trans-humanism, transient-ism, and hardcore journalism are the highlights here. I recommend it, but with one caveat: it is pretty rough. Definitely not for kids.
on August 24, 2016
This is one of the best series every written, in my opinion. If you were to take the topic matter discussed throughout all 10 volumes and have it written today, it'd be no different. Granted, politics is timeless in the worst way possible, but Ellis really hit the nail on the head with his characters, setting, and overall views. A must read for fans of comic books, political commentary, and Hunter S. Thompson.
on April 16, 2016
Profane, politically incorrect, unapologetic and hilarious! If you're a bit of a cynical, misanthropic person with dark, perverse humor, this is the comic book for you. Spider Jerusalem descends from isolation in the mountains to the city, bounded by a contract he sets out to write articles on the morally decaying metropolis. You never know what Jerusalem will do or say next but rest assured you will grin, laugh and possibly release bodily fluids. Warren Ellis is nothing short of a sick, twisted genius and it shows in this badassery of a story.The artwork by Darick is detailed and unique. The color adds vibrancy to compliment the humor.
In short, Transmetropolitan KICK ASS!
In short, Transmetropolitan KICK ASS!
on March 23, 2017
Like Hunter S Thompson meets Total Recall meets political commentary. Fun. Great art.
on August 13, 2015
I only recently picked up Transmetroplitan, and I had absolutely no idea what it was about. Holy ****, this series is absolutely amazing. Little bit about me first, I love cyberpunk, and I hated Fear and Loathing(characters, not the writing), so when I picked this up and started getting the Hunter S. Thompson vibe, I was a bit leary. I was wrong, Ellis' writing is superb, and the over the top Spider Jerusalem set in a future gone wrong makes for a poignant, funny, and just downright enjoyable experience.
The only negative I could say about this is if you pick up this first volume, you will end up spending a bunch of money picking up the rest.
The only negative I could say about this is if you pick up this first volume, you will end up spending a bunch of money picking up the rest.
VINE VOICEon September 25, 2010
This is the opening collection of the adventures of Spider Jerusalem. Spider appears to be loosely based on Hunter S. Thompson, except the world he inhabits occurs perhaps 50-100 years in the future. Perhaps they tell the actual date, it's irrelevant. Take our crazy world and extrapolate the worst parts of it out several generations and you will get the idea. Spider covers politics for a "newspaper" and manages to get himself in the middle of it all. It's an irreverent, filthy, in your face comic, guaranteed to push one or more of your buttons as it suggests what contemporary society could become.
I only give it four stars because it kind of throws you into the story and expects you to catch up. Perhaps there will be a back-story somewhere along the line, but it doesn't really matter. Also, it's got a certain feel to it that I'm sure will turn a lot of people off - if you are easily offended stay away. I think I'm exceptionally open minded about things and there are moments when I think perhaps the writer has pushed too far to try and make a point, and instead it just seems forced in order to gain shock value. Nothing is off-limits. However, I am currently on #3 and intend to keep going.
One really cool aspect of this collection is the highly detailed artwork. The background is chock full of little zingers and jokes and what-not. If you take the time to carefully study the panels, you realize you're getting a LOT more than you might have bargained for. I recommend it, but it's definitely not for everyone.
I only give it four stars because it kind of throws you into the story and expects you to catch up. Perhaps there will be a back-story somewhere along the line, but it doesn't really matter. Also, it's got a certain feel to it that I'm sure will turn a lot of people off - if you are easily offended stay away. I think I'm exceptionally open minded about things and there are moments when I think perhaps the writer has pushed too far to try and make a point, and instead it just seems forced in order to gain shock value. Nothing is off-limits. However, I am currently on #3 and intend to keep going.
One really cool aspect of this collection is the highly detailed artwork. The background is chock full of little zingers and jokes and what-not. If you take the time to carefully study the panels, you realize you're getting a LOT more than you might have bargained for. I recommend it, but it's definitely not for everyone.
HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE VOICEon March 23, 2008
The first volume in Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson's TRANSMETROPOLITAN is more of a set up for what is to come than a self-contained graphic novel. There is a very brief story, but mainly it focuses on introducing us to the character Spider Jerusalem. We've met Spider before. He is pretty clearly patterned on Hunter S. Thompson, albeit one on steroids. There is even some physical resemblance between them as well as similar journalistic styles and affection for guns and cigarettes. Thompson had a larger than life public image that he carefully cultivated and it isn't surprising to see someone appropriating that image for a graphic series.
There really isn't much negative to say about this first entry in the series except to say that there isn't a lot to it. The whole thing runs to barely 70 pages. Not enough to tell a rich and complex story, but at least enough to set the scene and leave the reader ready for more.
I haven't read most of the books in this series but look forward to doing so. My hope is for a series that deals to some degree with the importance of journalism in a viable society. This is extremely topical, having seen America's journalistic community fail us for several years during the Bush years (Bush was as bad his first year in office than he was when his popularity finally began to plummet, but because the press -- especially the television and radio talking heads -- failed to criticize an obviously incompetent and dishonest president, we were as a nation duped enough to elect the moron twice [though, granted, "elected" might be up for debate]). When those in positions of power, usually some combination of a military-corporate economic elite (Eisenhower's military-industrial complex), control the flow of information, the people suffer. We'll see if this is the direction the books go. The first book, even with Spider's absurd posturing, takes a nice step in this direction.
Definitely interested in working my way through all of these books.
There really isn't much negative to say about this first entry in the series except to say that there isn't a lot to it. The whole thing runs to barely 70 pages. Not enough to tell a rich and complex story, but at least enough to set the scene and leave the reader ready for more.
I haven't read most of the books in this series but look forward to doing so. My hope is for a series that deals to some degree with the importance of journalism in a viable society. This is extremely topical, having seen America's journalistic community fail us for several years during the Bush years (Bush was as bad his first year in office than he was when his popularity finally began to plummet, but because the press -- especially the television and radio talking heads -- failed to criticize an obviously incompetent and dishonest president, we were as a nation duped enough to elect the moron twice [though, granted, "elected" might be up for debate]). When those in positions of power, usually some combination of a military-corporate economic elite (Eisenhower's military-industrial complex), control the flow of information, the people suffer. We'll see if this is the direction the books go. The first book, even with Spider's absurd posturing, takes a nice step in this direction.
Definitely interested in working my way through all of these books.
on December 18, 2016
Really, this is just a spectacular book written by one of the best authors of the twentieth or twenty first centuries, with artwork to match. It's irreverent social commentary at its best, and frankly has done a spectacular job of predicting what is quickly becoming our reality. The Beast had become president.
