Transmetropolitan

Transmetropolitan Cover

Transmetropolitan is a serialized graphic novel written by Warren Ellis and Darrick Robertson.  Transmet reads as a social satire of American and British Culture. With topics ranging from sketchy religions, to crooked politicians, to DNA-altering youth movements, and of course a two-headed cigarette-smoking house cat.

What makes Transmet spectacular is Ellis’s character of the Spider Jerusalem.

Spider, while having many elements that influenced his creation, is heavily based off of Hunter S. Thompson.

Spider is a Journalist of the Gonzo school. He is unable to separate himself from the events he covers, and becomes part of the story because of this inability to detach himself. In the first view issues of Transmet Spiders role changes from that of a journalist reporting the facts, to a voice that is reminding the citizens of the City how mad and cruel their home is.

The “City” is a pseudo-fictional megalopolis that is taken from New York, London and Los Angelos in the not so far future. Roberston’s art brings the city to life through pages that are packed to overflowing with details. Robertson almost has a biological need to cover all of his canvas. Whether small, simple, fourth-wall shattering jokes, individual faces in a group or a pile garbage that is made up of clearly labeled condom wrappers and french fry buckets, everything is choked full of eye candy.

The series opens with Spider’s messiah-like return to the “City” after a 3-year hiatus which was instigated by the election of a very Nixon-esque President that Spider has termed “The Beast”.  Spider’s return coincides with the following election which he is coerced into covering.

The incumbent loses to the usurper and the “Smiler” is voted into office. Unfortunately, the very John F. Kennedy/ Tony Blair-esque “Smiler” is a case of the worse of two evils. No point in ruining the story, but Spider adopts the role of Righter of Wrongs and Slayer of Abusers of power to fight against his new foe.

Spider Observing

Constantly dealng with the life in the City, beset on all sides by a growing army of fans, and armed only with his bowel disruptor, two “filthy” assistants and a laptop Spider’s fight is sure to be an up hill battle.

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