Transmetropolitan, Vol. 8: Dirge

Transmetropolitan (Collected Editions) #8

by Warren Ellis

Investigative reporter Spider Jerusalem attacks the injustices of the 21st Century surroundings while working for the newspaper The Word in this critically-acclaimed graphic novel series written by comics superstar Warren Ellis, the co-creator of PLANETARY and THE AUTHORITY. In this eighth volume collecting issues #43-48 of the groundbreaking VERTIGO title, all hell breaks loose as a nameless sniper terrorizes the Print District and a raging superstorm clears the streets of The City.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Fiction, Cyberpunk, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

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

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's getting kind of stressful to read this series. Not because it's bad. I'm invested in these characters and I'm getting absorbed in this crazy world. And there's at least one more shoe left to drop. I can feel it. It's made each volume a little harder to pick up, because I know something awful will happen. But I can't stay away, because I need to know what will happen. This is no exception. It's interesting how Ellis can just keep raising the stakes all the time without it feeling like artificial drama.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warren Ellis has written the series so far with 3-issue bursts of a linear story with a couple of one shot issues that either expand the world or are side stories to the overall story arc but with “Dirge” he ditches this arrangement and goes straight out for the story arc. A sniper is picking off innocents in the Print District at the same time the police have “blue flu” and decide to call in sick, en masse. Something’s up and Spider’s on the case. If the carnage wreaked by the sniper weren’t enough, a ruinstorm (like a tsunami) hits the east coast turning the City into a disaster zone. And if that weren’t enough for a bad day, Spider gets the medical verdict on his recent health problems…

“Dirge” takes what was already an insanely addictive storyline and turns it up to 11. From the opening shots of the sniper to the crescendo of the disaster weather, Ellis doesn’t let up on the throttle for a moment, careening the reader from one maniacal scene to another. He brings it down slowly for Spider to find out he has a brain disease and a limited amount of time before it destroys his mind, and then sends Spider into the penultimate confrontation between himself and the Smiler.

This book is a roller-coaster journey for fans of the series and only serves to whet the reader’s appetite for more. Masterful storytelling from Ellis, art from Darick Robertson which is the best work he’s done on the series yet, this is a must-read for any fans of the series and an example of how comics can be more interesting than movies, TV, or the internet when it’s this good.

[Jedi JC Daquis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, something substantial happened in Dirge! after two to three volumes of going almost nothing, Spider Jerusalem and his filthy assistants make a nove against the Smiler, but this volume also shows how powerful their opponent is. Well, that would be obvious since they are going against the president.

Spider's sickness is also taking a toll on him and the doctor said he may not live that long.

This volume gains up some speed, which tells me that the next one would be an awesome one, a head-to-head battle between journalism and politics, both sides geared up for the warfare.

[André · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume brings a new pace to the story. Spider and his assistants find themselves among a mass media warfare. A storm hits the city, Jerusalem's health is getting worse, and a sniper thunders the Print district. Hidden and prepared to deliver some essential information against the president, the protagonists will have to face unforeseen dangers.
In a later part of the volume, Spider, slowly accepting his growing disease, will face the president at the conference room.

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes it's good to read of a total bastard in charge of everything. It's such a comforting thing, in these trying times - to realize that things could be even worse.

More to the point, it's good to read of said total bastard being ousted out of power. Won't be just yet, but hey, we're getting there. We're nearing the end now.

[Hilary "Fox" · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate it here, but I love this series.

Warren Ellis has crafted the outrageous gonzo journalist from sheer hate, cynicism, rage, and good humor. He has infused him with an altruism that is remarkable and relentless, a thirst for justice purely unquenchable, and a righteous wrath that would set any red-blooded human's heart a-pumping. Transmetropolitan is priceless, and truly shocking in the way the cyberpunk series continues to hit home.

With the [ author: H.L. Mencken] quote in Gouge Away Warren Ellis set the stage for the final story arc, the only story arc in some ways, that is bringing the series racing towards its finish. The startling pace and the true tragedy of this issue bring it home to the reader that this isn't your normal graphic novel - nor even remotely close to being such.

What I mean is, I care about these characters. The worry I feel is as real as the way my throat closed when the diagnosis was set down. I care about these characters, I care about their quest, and I care about the final dredges of humanity that Warren Ellis has so cleverly infused into the new scum and the dreaded audience that Spider Jerusalem preaches to.

Man, I care about these characters... and as much as I want to finish the series, to see how the final battle goes down and watch the e-ink dry on the strangely iPad like tablets... I also don't want to finish the series and see these characters go. They've touched my heart, and the plot has set the wheels in my own brain racing.

And I thought I loved Preacher. Transmetropolitan takes this medium to a whole new level.

[Otherwyrld · Rating 5 out of 5]

If volume 7 felt a bit scattered then volume 8 more than makes up for it by being laser focused. Two seemingly unconnected tragedies - a sniper attack and a devastating storm - combine in a deadly attack against Spider's vendetta with President Callaghan. The loss of all of his proof of the President's collusion in murder is a major setback, but combined with the reveal of the deadliness of his illness makes this an important watershed moment in this series. The probable murder of the presidents family is almost an afterthought here.

If the words have been breathtaking to read, then the art is equally great in this volume. The storm is depicted like your average disaster movie images, but here it takes time to show the devastation that ordinary people suffer when they are faced by an unimaginable tragedy. Equally impressive is the black and white sequence where a comatose Spider is forced to face the reality of the degenerative affects of his illness.

This is the best volume since the first one, and it clearly lays the groundwork for the final battle as Spider and the President declare war on each other in full view of the assorted press.

[Dev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally! Another volume with significant plot progress! Seriously though, this was a really good volume both in regards to general plot progression and also a few things being thrown in on the side like Spider's illness and Yelena's [I'm sure ultimately unfortunate] transformation into becoming more like him in general. I usually try to space these out because they're honestly a bit depressing [especially in our current political clusterfuck], but I might just go ahead and read the last two volumes right away!

[Joni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un tomo que lee muy rápido, se agregan un par de elementos dramáticos para el inminente final, la confrontación entre Spider y Callahan se recrudece sin importar los sacrificios que amerite. Dos tomos y esto se termina...

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

The parallels between this story and our current political situation are eerily prescient. Ellis is some sort of genius.

[James DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Transmetropolitan has been a series I've enjoyed for a few years now, typically diving into one or two volumes annually. It's incredibly easy to jump back into, as the characters are so memorable and truly stick with you. And goddamn, this volume is absolutely nuts!

The story kicks off with an invisible sniper terrorizing the city from the rooftops, murdering innocent people. Then, a superstorm descends, wreaking catastrophic havoc and leading to a shocking number of deaths. Spider, accompanied by his two assistants, Channon and Yelena, venture out to report on the unfolding chaos. Things quickly go sideways, someone gets seriously hurt, and we end up learning some critical and unexpected details about Spider's health. The second half takes a surprisingly somber and sad turn, but it picks up dramatically once Spider confronts President Callahan, essentially declaring war.

I absolutely loved this volume. It's intense, action-packed, and the art is genuinely gorgeous, showcasing some truly wicked deaths. On top of that, the tension builds masterfully, yet it also knows when to slow down and let the moments breathe. This is easily one of the best volumes in the entire series, which is a remarkably high bar to clear. A solid 4.5 out of 5!

[James DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Transmetropolitan has been a series I've enjoyed for a few years now, typically diving into one or two volumes annually. It's incredibly easy to jump back into, as the characters are so memorable and truly stick with you. And goddamn, this volume is absolutely nuts!

The story kicks off with an invisible sniper terrorizing the city from the rooftops, murdering innocent people. Then, a superstorm descends, wreaking catastrophic havoc and leading to a shocking number of deaths. Spider, accompanied by his two assistants, Channon and Yelena, venture out to report on the unfolding chaos. Things quickly go sideways, someone gets seriously hurt, and we end up learning some critical and unexpected details about Spider's health. The second half takes a surprisingly somber and sad turn, but it picks up dramatically once Spider confronts President Callahan, essentially declaring war.

I absolutely loved this volume. It's intense, action-packed, and the art is genuinely gorgeous, showcasing some truly wicked deaths. On top of that, the tension builds masterfully, yet it also knows when to slow down and let the moments breathe. This is easily one of the best volumes in the entire series, which is a remarkably high bar to clear. A solid 4.5 out of 5!

[Asciigod · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's painful to be the, thus far, only rating of this edition, and to give it one star. This truly isn't meant as an antagonistic hate-rating; the book legitimately disappointed me.

In the Dirge arc, Ellis attempts to balloon a series of small ideas into an epic. More mature, sophisticated writers could have condensed this 140+ page story into a handful of pages to much better effect. Frank Miller would have established this minor dystopian vision, replete with renegade journalists and by-the-books cyberpunk trivia, in a single multipanel, wordless page. The wordless part is key; compared to Ellis's defiantly jejune dialogue silence would be golden. I can see what the appeal is: the dark, underground, paranoid realms are always alluring. But Ellis finds a way to strip the angles of all edges, and really leaves us with a lazy, formless product. His writing makes me feel embarrassment. It's so clearly un-hip and un-cool, yet dwells in total chain smoking oblivion to self-reflection.

Life is short, and unfortunately I wasted 20 minutes on this collection. Perhaps Ellis's other works are stronger - I won't count him out yet. He does have a well regarded pedigree outside of this one book. Maybe one day I'll find something more polished of his to read.

[Benoit Lelièvre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series started really strong, but it became kind of a hit-and-miss over time. This one here has a competent overarching plot that ties-in to earlier volumes and actual development that matters in the big picture. It's competent and fun to read, but once again Spider doesn't use the system to make the Smiler's life miserable and we're left with a standard cyberpunk thriller that rides its own reputation. DIRGE is a better volume than SPIDER'S TRASH, but it's still not up to par with the early material that made TRANSMETROPOLITAN great. I hope the ending doesn't disappoint me.

[Brandon Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s election eve here in 2024. And I’m downing this shit like it’s my fucking job.

[Vikas · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's me and my tablet and the mangas and graphic novels flowing through them and another graphic novel finished with 5 stars. This one was emotional and heartbreaking as Spider's health fails and we learn what's wrong with him. Another smashing volume of this great story and so let's carry on and Keep on Reading.

I have always loved comics, and I have I can. I love comics to bits, may the comics never leave my side. I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and hope always to love them. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics, Diamond Comics, or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on international and classic comics and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics as I just want to Keep on Reading.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't have too much to say except that this series continues to excel. I'll probably have a long review about the entire series with the last book, but as of this reading I can just say that this book continues the greatness of the series. Couldn't put it down.

[Britton · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." - Hunter S. Thompson

I find that the best pieces of science fiction are often worried. As Charlie Brooker pointed out, science fiction is often a good way to illustrate the worrying trends that we've accumulated. This is becoming more and more apparent since the future seems to be becoming more of a reality as the years move along. I should also add that science fiction often works best when it's angry.

Transmetropolitan is a very angry, contentious book. It's a good comic to read when you're feeling angry about the world that we find ourselves living in and feeling like there's nothing, you can do. Transmetropolitan is Ellis at his most angry, and most politically opinionated and while I don't agree with everything Ellis has to say in here, I do find myself in enthusiastic agreement with his main thesis with this series: this system is broken, and it needs to change immediately.

Ellis isn't subtle in this series, and there's plenty of targets that he takes shots at with this series. Much of the humor in this is often uproarious and madcap, and the characters and situations that our main cynical bastard Spider Jerusalem finds himself in often proves to be a romp. But unlike his friend Garth Ennis, Ellis doesn't get lost in the crude humor of his series, it is merely a means to an end.

Unlike DeConnick or Andrews, who are content to blame the issues of society on an overarching evil bogeyman. Ellis is more interested in what creates a society that allows corruption to fester and infect the system that's supposed to be looking out for us. Much of his concern revolves around the complacency and disillusionment of average people, who are often led to believe that their votes and opinions don't matter, so why even try to engage. But Ellis seeks to beat the complacency and disillusionment out of his readers and get them to act to make true changes to our society.

We share Spider's frustration and hatred of the city, and his rage at the carelessness of the people around him. Spider isn't easily likable and in fact is a huge pain in the ass for anyone who is unfortunate to come across his path, for better or for worse. But the points that he makes are often right, and Ellis does just enough to make us sympathize with him, even as much of an ass he is to his 'filthy assistants' and everyone around him.

Much of the science fictional aspects of this series are often light, not focusing too much on how this stuff would work in the world but exploring how these technologies affect the people who live in the world. Like all great science fiction, it often questions how the future will affect the people who live in it and how it changes the world around us. I was reminded a lot of Philip K. Dick's work in how Ellis manages to combine the surreal and the mundane, where all these wacky sci-fi inventions are just another part of life, and Ellis never stoops to ogling over how cool everything is.

While being an entertaining, science fiction romp, it is also a great piece of journalism through fiction. Much like David Simon's The Wire, Transmetropolitan is a series that exposes the dark truths of the world we live in through a fictional lens, though unlike The Wire, it is much more of a madcap romp. Ellis isn't as committed to realism as Simon is, as Ellis takes more notes from Hunter S. Thompson's gonzo journalism. He sees that truth doesn't always have to be real to attain the intended effect.

Transmet has proven to be more poignant as we move into the post-Trump era of United States politics, particularly with his depiction of The Beast, who almost seems like a carbon copy of our previous president, though somehow, he's less sleazy. Transmet is one of those series that gives me fire as a journalist, I don't know if I want to be as confrontational or as bitter as Spider, but I would like to make a similar impact in my own work as a journalist.

But within its anger, I was surprised to find how compassionate and emotional this series proved to be. I often find that anger is a perversion of sadness, and Transmet is a prime example of that. Ellis' anger is masking the sadness that he has over the degradation of our society and the ideas of compassion and decency...and as this series has aged, I find that the message of Transmet to still ring true...and it shouldn't. The anger in Transmetropolitan often hides the vulnerability that is shown in its characters, and even reveals part of Ellis himself...even if he doesn't entirely mean to. For all the angry, puerile shit that Warren throws at us, there's an undeniable sense of humanity within Transmetropolitan, and that's what gives it charm after all.

At the end of the day, Ellis is a lot like Thompson. He surrounds himself with the ugliest parts of humanity to expose the ugly truth that surrounds us in our daily lives. Transmetropoltian is Warren Ellis off the leash, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Gabriell Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Že by prezident byl ještě větší svině než Spider čekal a neštítil se vůbec ničeho? To si pište. Pořádná destrukce přichází.

Mohlo by se vám (ne)líbit viz první book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

[Jeraviz · Rating 4 out of 5]

La cosa se va acabando y las piezas se van situando en el tablero para el final, que promete ser apoteósico.

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spider faces his mortality and intends to take down the smiling president...the end seems to have begun...

[Wade Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sickness catches up and the diagnosis hits. Spider has a deadline and has to start over. 2 more volumes of pure climax to come.

[José Muñoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spyder Jerusalem. Comic americano muy ameno. Describe un futuro disruptivo en el que critica los comportamientos en nuestra sociedad con ejemplos de ese futuro. La carga a los políticos también cuenta y empapa toda la trama.

[Doc. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong addition to the series, Volume 8 is as tight as Transmetropolitan has ever been:

A focused arc that takes the plot forward, dials up the tension to about a hundred, quickens the pace and the reader's heart beat, all while being a good story in itself... For the past few years, I know we've all felt powerless in the face of recent events; 'Dirge' is about the startling amount of power one can amass and wield through politics, with cops mysteriously absent from work, allowing crimes to take place and journalistic halls being desecrated.

But as we hurtle towards the finish line and our characters suffer personal setbacks, Ellis still fills the reader with hope, through Spider's sheer drive, and, despite instances of objectification of women, we see Yelena's transformation into our next lord and saviour. Aided by the brilliant art of Darick Robertson, whose stunning images of the flash floods and haunting chiaroscuro pages of Spider I won't soon forget, this is the most I've enjoyed this series since the early volumes.

My reviews of the Transmetropolitan series:
1. ‘Back on the Street’
2. ‘Lust for Life’
3. ‘Year of the Bastard’
4. ‘The New Scum’
5. ‘Lonely City’
6. ‘Gouge Away’
7. ‘Spider’s Thrash’
9. ‘The Cure’
10. ‘One More Time’

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warren Ellis’ Transmetropolitan, Vol 8: Dirge continues the story of Spider’s attempt to take down the Smiler, and the Smiler’s attempt to thwart Spider at every turn and probably kill him.

Because this book was written 16 years ago but is still depressingly relevant to everything about modern life, the big incident chronicled in this volume is something called a ruinstorm, a gigantic, destructive bomb of wind and water that apparently used to be much more common before they figured out how to stabilize the climate and weather a little. The Smiler uses this ruinstorm as cover to basically get all the press and cops off the streets so he can hack into newspaper archives and delete a bunch of stuff. Spider, of course, is having none of this and is more determined than ever, but he is suddenly on a deadline—he gets diagnosed with a degenerative brain disease and has one year, maybe two, until he loses all his cognitive faculties.

Most of this book serves largely to set the scene for the big showdown against the Smiler that’s coming later, but that doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of this volume.

Originally posted at Of blue flu and brain disease.

[Poonam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I missed reading Volume 7. However, this book begins with a 'ruinstorm' in city. Spider figures something is happening in city alongside, premediated under 'blue flu' operation - where cops don't show up. A blur suit sniper is firing away in the city. In the end,he collapses unable to write his column based on what he found - his assistant Yelena steps in and writes a column under his name just so that his commitment is not delayed. That's as sentimental as you can get from Warren Ellis. ;) Turns out Spider has a brain degenerative disease with only a year to live and meanwhile Callahan seems to have moved to get all his evidence wiped from Word's archives. Yet Spider must get the truth out in the little time he has.

There are black nice panels when Spider is stirring to consciousness and he wakes up yelling, 'Drugs is good for me'. The street signs are funny and antagonist as ever 'Sweet Corpse toffee', advertisement of home cloned 'piglet', kid wearing T-shirt saying 'little shit', woman with tattoo 'fuck me', Message in cab 'Do not maim or kill driver', popcorn bucket that reads as 'pup bucket' (QI is eating from it) and so on.

[Dann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warren Ellis' graphic novel series is unmistakeably well written. The 90's art style perfectly suits the story, and even suits the cyberpunk genre. It is a gritty, ultra-violent series, with a nice, different take on hacker altruism, inspired by the sci-fi novels of the 80's.

Having said that, it is a very difficult series to read. Pure nuggets of creativity are often dimmed by schizophrenic breaks--often by the protagonist--which, I understand, makes this series unique, and to some endearing, but I felt as if it worked against my enjoyment of the series.

Overall, a lovely read for those interested in cyberpunk, or those gritty/edgy anti-heroes everybody loves.

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this while I was on my NYC trip. It's not bad but felt like a segue into the bigger story. This is probably the first time ever you get to see a "soft side" to Spider. Not a lot happens but it is a fun read. I don't think I would have enjoyed reading it over a 6 months waiting for the next episode to come out - just not enough happening.

[Mohamed Metwally · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book focuses more on Spider, with the strange symptoms that has been developing with him, turning out to be a terminal thing, that would leave him in a vegetetative state within a year, thus putting a tight deadline to his grand investigation of the President.
Time is tight for Spider to expose the president, and the president is leaving no prisoners behind, to cover his tacks...

MiM

[J.G. Keely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series review here.

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