Monday 21 March 2011

Books: Transmetropolitan

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Transmetropolitan
Vol 1: Back on the Street
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Darick Robertson

2000



Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

Transmetropolitan
Vol 2: Lust for Life
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Darick Robertson

2001



Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

Transmetropolitan
Vol 3: Year of the Bastard
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Darick Robertson

2001



Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

Transmetropolitan
Vol 4: The New Scum
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Darick Robertson

2001



Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

Transmetropolitan
Vol 5: Lonely City
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Darick Robertson

2001



Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

Transmetropolitan
Vol 6: Gouge Away
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Darick Robertson

2002



Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

Transmetropolitan
Vol 7: Spider's Thrash
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Darick Robertson

2002



Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

Transmetropolitan
Vol 8: Dirge
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Darick Robertson

2003



Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

Transmetropolitan
Vol 9: The Cure
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Darick Robertson

2003



Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

Transmetropolitan
Vol 10: One More Time
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Darick Robertson

2004



Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

Transmetropolitan
Vol 0: Tales of Human Waste
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Darick Robertson

2004



Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/


Spider Jerusalem ("I'm a journalist, damnit.") is maybe one of the finest comic book characters ever created. A foul-mouthed, highly intelligent, permanently pissed-off journalist of the far future permently opposed to all forms of authority and power and forever dedicated to the high ideals of truth: he's mean, quick witted and armed with a bowel disruptor - and afraid of nothing. Forced by terms of his book contract to return to The City - where the air stinks of perfume and deodorant and everything from our world (advertising to religion, television to politics) has been turned up and made more obscene and full on - Spider and his "filthy assistants" are out to take it down and write it up.

Multifaceted and strange with wicked contortions on all your favourite science-fiction tropes (aliens, technology, robots, clones etc) with finely tuned mundane details and unexpected emotional horrors Transmetropolitan is by turns outrageous, moving and will make your laugh out of your nose. From the lineage that stretches from Hunter S Thompson to Howard Beale from Bill Hicks through Charlie Brooker and Doug Stanhope: There is filthy language, ravenous satire and unholy rants. There is righteous anger that seethes out through every panel. There are so many great ideas and choice lines contained within that I am tempted to do nothing but quote them all - but I wouldn't want to spoil your fun [1].

Of course: it's not all just swearing and mindless violence (as much fun as that would be) and like pretty much all of the iconoclasts mentioned above: there's a heart of gold beating underneath all the threats and bad-tempered shouting not to mention a world that's as well thought as (say) Halo Jones and an ever-increasing raising of the stakes that means that (unless you have them all lined up at once) you'll be jonesing hard for the next installment (must. find. out. what. happens). In many ways its the perfect comic experience:  if anyone mention it at a Comic Forum and someone says they haven't tried it then everyone else will turn around and go in a shocked-tone-of-voice: "Oh my god: how have you not read Transmetropolitan?"

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[1] Unless you want to ruin it for yourself in which case - hell: knock yourself out.

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Links: Cyberpunk Review Review, Thinking Fluidly Review, Comics Alliance ArticlePop-Culture-Corn Interview with Warren Ellis.

Further reading: Planetary, The Invisibles, Global Frequency, The Filth, Doktor Sleepless, Preacher, X-Men: New X-Men, The Boys, The Ballad of Halo Jones, No Hero, DMZ, Gonzo: A Graphic Biography of Hunter S. Thompson.

Profiles: Warren Ellis.

All comments welcome.

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