[Transmetropolitan, Vol. 1: Back on the Street] [By: Ellis, Warren] [March, 2009]

by Warren Ellis

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 TRANSMETROPOLIT

Paperback

About the author

Warren Ellis is the award-winning writer of graphic novels like TRANSMETROPOLITAN, FELL, MINISTRY OF SPACE and PLANETARY, and the author of the NYT-bestselling GUN MACHINE and the “underground classic” novel CROOKED LITTLE VEIN, as well as the digital short-story single DEAD PIG COLLECTOR. His newest book is the novella NORMAL, from FSG Originals, listed as one of Amazon’s Best 100 Books Of 2016.

The movie RED is based on his graphic novel of the same name, its sequel having been released in summer 2013. IRON MAN 3 is based on his Marvel Comics graphic novel IRON MAN: EXTREMIS. He is currently developing his graphic novel sequence with Jason Howard, TREES, for television, in concert with HardySonBaker and NBCU, and continues to work as a screenwriter and producer in film and television, represented by Angela Cheng Caplan and Cheng Caplan Company. He is the creator, writer and co-producer of the Netflix series CASTLEVANIA, recently renewed for its third season, and of the recently-announced Netflix series HEAVEN’S FOREST.

He’s written extensively for VICE, WIRED UK and Reuters on technological and cultural matters, and given keynote speeches and lectures at events like dConstruct, ThingsCon, Improving Reality, SxSW, How The Light Gets In, Haunted Machines and Cognitive Cities.

Warren Ellis has recently developed and curated the revival of the Wildstorm creative library for DC Entertainment with the series THE WILD STORM, and is currently working on the serialising of new graphic novel works TREES: THREE FATES and INJECTION at Image Comics, and the serialised graphic novel THE BATMAN’S GRAVE for DC Comics, while working as a Consulting Producer on another television series.

A documentary about his work, CAPTURED GHOSTS, was released in 2012.

Recognitions include the NUIG Literary and Debating Society’s President’s Medal for service to freedom of speech, the EAGLE AWARDS Roll Of Honour for lifetime achievement in the field of comics & graphic novels, the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire 2010, the Sidewise Award for Alternate History and the International Horror Guild Award for illustrated narrative. He is a Patron of Humanists UK. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex.

Warren Ellis lives outside London, on the south-east coast of England, in case he needs to make a quick getaway.

Reviews

[Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spider Jerusalem is a madman who also happens to be a shining example of what journalism needs to be and maybe what it once was back in the day. In the streets, interviewing, analyzing, sharing, and never shying away from blunt reality. Vol. 1 covers the first 6 issues of the series. Spider has been a recluse in a cabin away from it all for 5 years, but he still owes his publisher 2 books. He has to return to the big bad, apocalyptic city of the future.

The artwork is bright, brutal, and brilliant. This is for mature audiences that can take all kinds of inappropriate imagery, topics, and language, so be forewarned.

[jedioffsidetrap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astonishingly misanthropic & hilariously dystopian. Hero-gonzo-journalist-avenger Spider Jerusalem scours the City’s gutters to expose corruption, injustice, lies & debauchery in his weekly column, “I Hate It Here.” And he genuinely does, but he also can’t help himself in seeking out the sordid truth in defense of the outcasts & powerless on the streets he himself grew up from. He has a heart but it’s rage-filled & bitter, but on the side of Truth & Justice. It’s also drug-saturated…

Spider, author of two hugely popular books— Waving & Drowning and Shot In the Face— has retreated to a mountain cabin to escape the City & burden of his own success. However, the publishing house he signed a five book deal with calls after five years of no more books & threatens to sue him dead. The mountain is his retreat but he can’t write there— he needs the squalor & crime & decadence & vitality of the city to inspire him. But he’s a bit of a sociopath— he blows up the local pub on his way back to the city. He tells the cheeky toll booth guy he reminds him of why he escaped the city: “worthless scraps of frogshit with a pulse & a bit of authority.” He is shaggy & bearded, unkempt, manic & wearing a long trench coat.

He needs a job to support himself to write the books & looks up an old friend Royce at The Word, launching a literal assault on the office to ask for a job. He tells Royce he went up the mountain because with “the fans, the noise and the tv and the bullshit… I couldn’t get at the truth anymore.” Royce gives him a weekly op-ed column along with an apartment and journo insurance and a “maker:” a household fabricator that turns out whatever you request “fueled by a base block of super dense neutral matter,” from clothes to food.

[Ophelia Starks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ultimately closer to a 2 1/2 but I’m rounding up for prose. I recognize Ellis’ writing as a product of the time and the particular sentiment around Bush era politics. But noise, filth, and energy aren’t the only things oozing of the world, there’s a particular 90s kind of transphobia as well. Depending on how the transhumanist stuff sits with me I might return and finish the series but realistically who knows.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Showing its age in 2024, but honestly still pretty great. The end of that third issue, with Spider live streaming his column from the rooftops and stopping a riot though the sheer power of his good good words still gets me.

[Marlan Harris]

This is an empty listing.

[Leighton Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

unhinged and brilliant

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spider Jerusalem is the man! This series is a great rage against the excesses of modern culture, politics, and capitalism. Some stories are gripping and emotional, some are hilarious satire, and some are great action-packed fun raging against the machine. Bright, colorful, creative artwork that sets a unique stage and feeling throughout the series. This book is great to pick up and read at anytime - every short is a guaranteed banger!