Written by Warren Ellis Art by Darick Robertson, Jerome K. Moore, Keith Aiken, Ray Kryssing, Dick Giordano, Kim DeMulder and Rodney Ramos Cover by Darick Robertson DC's new editions of TRANSMETROPOLITAN begin here, with this volume collecting issues #1-6 of the acclaimed Vertigo series from writer Warren Ellis and artist Darick Robertson! After years of selfimposed exile from a civilization rife with degradation and indecency, cynical journalist Spider Jerusalem is forced to return to a job he hates and a city he loathes. Working as an investigative reporter for the newspaper The Word, Spider attacks the injustices of his surreal 23rd century surroundings. In this first volume, Spider ventures into the dangerous Angels 8 district, home of the Transients - humans who have decided to become aliens through cosmetic surgery. But Spider's interview with the Transients' leader gets him a scoop he didn't bargain for. And don't miss Spider's first confrontation with the President of the United States . . . in a men's room. Advance-solicited; on sale March 11 - 144 pg, FC, $14.99 US - MATURE READERS
Transmetropolitan, Vol 1: Back on the Street
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Amazon Review
Warren Ellis (whose recent work includes the excellent The Authority) is a fine comics writer. Spider Jerusalem, his tortured journalist protagonist, is a wonderful creation. Back on the Street is the first in the Transmetropolitan series and essential as an introduction to Spider and his world. Preacher's Garth Ennis introduces the book, rightly praising "the finest, blackest humour, and the purest hate, and a sense of justice hissed through gritted teeth". If the message is sometimes a little heavily, a little clumsily overbearing, this does not detract too much from a great story. Ellis has produced a fine comic series in Transmetropolitan. This is a future classic.
The scenario goes something like this. Spider Jerusalem left the City ages ago and grew an awful lot of hair up on a mountain. The City was just too corrupt, too sinful, too unbearable a place for a journalist with a heightened, if awry, sense of what's right, what's wrong. Then his editor calls. Spider still owes him two books. A contract from way back when. And if he doesn't come up with the goods there will be consequences. Trouble is, Spider can only write when he's in the City, hasn't written a thing since he left. He doesn't want to go back but he has to write, has to go back. So he returns to the trouble and the turmoil, back to the mess that feeds him as a writer and gets himself a story. A punk he used to know, Fred Christ, is causing trouble. Fred is the leader of the Transients (humans knowingly infused with alien genes) and he wants them to have their own land and is ready to lead a rebellion to achieve that end. The authorities, obviously, see things differently. And Spider sees through both group's hypocrisies... --Mark Thwaite --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
Ellis's dystopic narrative, with its full-color tale of a gonzo journalist, shares with mainstream superhero comics a macho ethos that undermines the otherwise cool Watchmen-like script. Spider Jerusalem, a hip reporter of the Hunter Thompson mode, breaks a five-year drug binge on a mountaintop to replenish his resources. The city he returns to resembles the post-apocalyptic Blade Runner and all its funky visual progeny, and Jerusalem soon uncovers a government plot involving a staged rebellion by half-aliens. Two pages at the end (done by a different artist?) suggest how much better this would have looked in a style like Moebius, instead of the conventional DC-house graphics. Still, lots of background gags and some sharp cross-cutting panels make for a compelling read. (Kirkus Reviews)
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Charles
Format:Paperback
You like political satire? Buy this. Like sci-fi? Buy this. Like black humour? Buy this. Like comics in any way? BUY THIS.
Transmetropolitan is a brilliant example of comic work, and at equal times hilarious, thought-provoking and rage-inducing. As our hero, embittered junkie ultra-violent journalist Spider Jerusalem, returns to the futurities City and covers the Transient movement (humans turning themselves into aliens who want more civil liberties), you will see corruption from both the authorities and the movement leaders, and you will see Spider dealing with it... by reporting the truth.
And the truth, as he puts it, "can blow the knee-cap off the world".
Now freaking buy it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Noel
TOP 50 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
I read the Transmetropolitan series a few years ago but loved it so much I decided to go back and give them a re-read and see if they hold up the second time around. And if this first volume is any indication, they most certainly do!
Living in isolation atop a mountain idyll, renegade journalist and bestselling author Spider Jerusalem is living the life he's always wanted - shooting rats in a hovel far from the bustling metropolis of the future. If only he'd unplugged the phone... His publisher calls to remind him that he needs to deliver two books or they'll come looking for his advance, and if he's spent it, then they'll do terrible things to him. Knowing that he can't write without being in the city, Spider makes the shaky and hesitant journey from solitary confinement to people saturation, losing the Alan Moore look he's been cultivating for the Hunter S Thompson image that we all know and love.
The best thing about this series, or one of them anyway, is the way everything is skewed and different from our world but seems familiar in small ways. Like Monkey Burger or Ebola Cola, to the kind of narcissistic twerps who endlessly blog and tweet and flood the net with their boring lives, there's plenty here that's similar to our world.
More best things about this series: Warren Ellis' writing. It's never been better than in Transmet and it is scathing, righteous, furious, white hot genius morphed into words from the page and searing itself onto your brain. The lack of restraint and free-wheeling nature of Spider gives Ellis free reign to write the most amazing screeds of hate and disgust you're ever likely to read. Put simply, there are more ideas and more poetry in a single issue of Transmet than most comics books contain.... Read more ›
Living in isolation atop a mountain idyll, renegade journalist and bestselling author Spider Jerusalem is living the life he's always wanted - shooting rats in a hovel far from the bustling metropolis of the future. If only he'd unplugged the phone... His publisher calls to remind him that he needs to deliver two books or they'll come looking for his advance, and if he's spent it, then they'll do terrible things to him. Knowing that he can't write without being in the city, Spider makes the shaky and hesitant journey from solitary confinement to people saturation, losing the Alan Moore look he's been cultivating for the Hunter S Thompson image that we all know and love.
The best thing about this series, or one of them anyway, is the way everything is skewed and different from our world but seems familiar in small ways. Like Monkey Burger or Ebola Cola, to the kind of narcissistic twerps who endlessly blog and tweet and flood the net with their boring lives, there's plenty here that's similar to our world.
More best things about this series: Warren Ellis' writing. It's never been better than in Transmet and it is scathing, righteous, furious, white hot genius morphed into words from the page and searing itself onto your brain. The lack of restraint and free-wheeling nature of Spider gives Ellis free reign to write the most amazing screeds of hate and disgust you're ever likely to read. Put simply, there are more ideas and more poetry in a single issue of Transmet than most comics books contain.... Read more ›
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant story, great art, inferior printing - buy the older edition
24 Dec 2009
Format:Paperback
Transmetropolitan is a thing of greatness, for many reasons which are described in other reviews. This is purely a review of the print quality of this edition, which is not as good as the previous version; it appears to be printed on newsprint, which considering that the art of this series is uniquely detailed, colourful and imaginitive, is a pity. Usually these days graphic novels are treated with more respect by the publishers.
Format:Paperback
A Gonzo Journalist in a cyberpunk setting is forced out of retirement and finds he can still make a difference.
This is a very dense read. You can't just sit back and be entertained here. There is a lot of prose, a lot of subtext and lashings of futuristic Orwellian technobabble. Imagine Hunter S Thompson meets Mega City One and you will have some idea of the strangeness that is weeping from Ellis' pustulent mind. Anyone who can get Garth Ennis to write their introduction is definitely going to be off the wall.
The art is equally garish and anarchistic. Darick Robertson does a fantastic job of rendering a decadent technopolis completely out of control. There are lots of creative angles and great expressions at work too. The colouring is totally over the top yet there is an expert depiction of light and shade that gives it a sophisticated look.
This is only three issues long yet feels so much longer because of the almost Clockwork Orange dialogue. Anything longer might have proved too tangled for many readers to persevere with so you get a good idea what to expect for the next nine volumes. Thumbs Up!
This is a very dense read. You can't just sit back and be entertained here. There is a lot of prose, a lot of subtext and lashings of futuristic Orwellian technobabble. Imagine Hunter S Thompson meets Mega City One and you will have some idea of the strangeness that is weeping from Ellis' pustulent mind. Anyone who can get Garth Ennis to write their introduction is definitely going to be off the wall.
The art is equally garish and anarchistic. Darick Robertson does a fantastic job of rendering a decadent technopolis completely out of control. There are lots of creative angles and great expressions at work too. The colouring is totally over the top yet there is an expert depiction of light and shade that gives it a sophisticated look.
This is only three issues long yet feels so much longer because of the almost Clockwork Orange dialogue. Anything longer might have proved too tangled for many readers to persevere with so you get a good idea what to expect for the next nine volumes. Thumbs Up!
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Warren Ellis shows what a great writer he is in this witty, funny and edgy series. Transmetrompolitan is filled with subtext and social commentary by showing what the future could very well look like if the world keeps going as it is. Very ahead of it's time. I recommend this to anyone who reads more than just Superhero comics.
By James Powell
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
After reading Freakangels I wanted to read more from Warren Ellis and rather randomly chose this because it looked cool.
I have just ordered vols 4 & 5 and I can't put them down once they arrive.
It is a great mix of dark humour, social comment and futurism bound together by the brilliant although rather violent, often obnoxious, drug devouring Spider Jerusalem.
There are elements of 2000AD at its best from back in the day but for grown ups this time.
I have just ordered vols 4 & 5 and I can't put them down once they arrive.
It is a great mix of dark humour, social comment and futurism bound together by the brilliant although rather violent, often obnoxious, drug devouring Spider Jerusalem.
There are elements of 2000AD at its best from back in the day but for grown ups this time.
By CrashBang
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Transmetropolitan seems to serve two purposes.
The first is a cultural satire, a glance into where the western world is headed. The world and its characters are reflections of everything wrong (and, occasionally, right) with the world, but its been exaggerated, doused with hyperbole to an hilarious degree.
The second is an excuse for Warren Ellis to rant and rave about everything that frustrates him personally, be it media, religion or politics (it's all three and more). In that sense, the books greatly remind me of South Park, and there's not a thing wrong with that!
Anyway, these books are hilarious. Spider Jerusalem is a fantastic, intriguing and delightfully sadistic protagonist and you'll keep reading just to see what his next move/assault will be. The book is extremely eye-opening, showing its readers just where our society is headed and it doesn't do it in a sickening, gritty manner; it does it with humour, wit and slapstick.
The characters, setting and situations of the stories in Transmetropolitan are fantastic, I can't stress that enough. Go get this and revel in the hilarity and insanity of Spider Jerusalem and the world in which he lives.
The first is a cultural satire, a glance into where the western world is headed. The world and its characters are reflections of everything wrong (and, occasionally, right) with the world, but its been exaggerated, doused with hyperbole to an hilarious degree.
The second is an excuse for Warren Ellis to rant and rave about everything that frustrates him personally, be it media, religion or politics (it's all three and more). In that sense, the books greatly remind me of South Park, and there's not a thing wrong with that!
Anyway, these books are hilarious. Spider Jerusalem is a fantastic, intriguing and delightfully sadistic protagonist and you'll keep reading just to see what his next move/assault will be. The book is extremely eye-opening, showing its readers just where our society is headed and it doesn't do it in a sickening, gritty manner; it does it with humour, wit and slapstick.
The characters, setting and situations of the stories in Transmetropolitan are fantastic, I can't stress that enough. Go get this and revel in the hilarity and insanity of Spider Jerusalem and the world in which he lives.
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4.4 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you really love me, read my bloody review!
I would describe this book as f**king awsome.Its brimmed with politics , bad language and characters so iratingly evil that you want strangle'em all to death. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Doctor polical nerd
1.0 out of 5 stars
Gonzo No NO.....
I have no idea why others have given this 5 stars. Does that mean that Watchmen gets 10 stars out of 5? Read more
Published 22 months ago by D. Mackay
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spider, don't you just love him?
I don't think I can say anything about this graphic which hasn't already been said. It's pretty old now, but Spider Jerusalem still hits home with his honest gonzo journalism,... Read more
Published on 18 Jun 2009 by Sally Barrett
5.0 out of 5 stars
Transmetropolitan is one of the truly great series
I love Transmetroploitan. It was a breath of fresh air after reading so many overly colourful superhero books and dark moody gritty vigilante titles. Read more
Published on 6 April 2009 by J Witts
5.0 out of 5 stars
fantasticly emotive
i must admit when this graphic novel first arrived throgh the small hole in my door; i was somewhat disserpointed. Read more
Published on 25 July 2006 by D. Womersley
5.0 out of 5 stars
It begins...
"The money had long gone, and most of the goods and weaponry it bought had long since been bartered away for drugs, food and cable TV... Read more
Published on 12 April 2005 by Sable Unadorned
2.0 out of 5 stars
Dire Satire
I have to admit having high hopes for this book, especially after reading the rave reviews that it has recieved from both critics and the public, but upon reading the first three... Read more
Published on 18 April 2003 by J P BULL
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