Transmetropolitan, vol. 1: Back on the Street by Warren Ellis, art by Darick Robertson

Vertigo, 2009

ISBN-13: 978-1401220846

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition, comiXology

As I was writing this, it became a little too personal to call it a formal review. Suffice it to say, I was wowed by this graphic novel and by Spider Jerusalem.

Transmetropolitan is science fiction, taking place in a near-future dystopia that is far too close to our present culture and government– uncannily so. The protagonist, Spider Jerusalem, is a former investigative reporter forced into contact with civilization after five years in hiding, in order to fulfill a book contract. Once back in the city, he reverts to the hard-hitting journalist he used to be: a foul-mouthed, vulgar, cranky, wily, angry prankster, ready to take on city government, police, religious cults, and even the President ( who is frighteningly similar to our president-elect, although this issue was published originally in 1997). Ellis has imagined a seedy, violent, consumerist future that challenges what it means to be human. Spider faces it head-on: to him, “journalism is a gun. It’s only got one bullet in it, but if you aim it right, that’s all you need”. As we are living age of false equivalencies, fake news, and media mistrust, it’s inspiring to see that in his world, Spider is on the scene, live, and in the face of anyone claiming to have authority or truth. Outrageous, obnoxious, and blunt to the point of rudeness, Spider is not anything near a traditional hero– but his world, feels so close to ours that they could almost touch, and that someone like him (well, maybe not exactly like him) might exist outside a fictional future gives me hope.

Given the setting I have described, it should not be a surprise that the storylines are dark and gritty, and Darick Robertson’s art brings Spider and his grim world to life. The artwork for the Angels 8 riot is fiery and explosive, and Robertson doesn’t shy from depicting dripping blood and bizarre bodies. In a separate storyline, he impressively manages to depict action, along with despair and anger, as Spider attempts to watch an entire day of television, something which requires almost no movement at all. Ellis is a master at character development and world building– not every issue covers a great crusade, but there are moments that are either small victories for Spider, or illuminate aspects of the society Spider is reporting on, both positive and negative. Transmetropolitan portrays a messy world through the eyes of a complicated character, with moments of both bleakness and laughter, and leaves a space for optimism in what seems, recently, to be a very dark time for the First Amendment. Very highly recommended.

I would like to credit Susie Rodarme at Book Riot for cluing me in to this series. She did me a great service.

Transmetropolitan, vol. 1: Back on the Streets includes issues #1-6.

Contains: body horror, violence, gore, nudity, language, drug use.

Reviewed by Kirsten Kowalewski