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Transmetropolitan (Collected Editions) #0
Transmetropolitan: Tales of Human Waste
TALES OF HUMAN WASTE completes the TRANSMETROPOLITAN library, collecting the two Prestige-format one-shots TRANSMETROPOLITAN: I HATE IT HERE and TRANSMETROPOLITAN: FILTH OF THE CITY, as well as the 8-page Christmas story from VERTIGO: WINTER'S EDGE 2. Written by Warren Ellis, this collection features a host of one and two-page pieces from comics' finest artists illustrating excerpts from the Word columns of crazed outlaw journalist Spider Jerusalem.
Paperback
First published October 1, 2004
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About the author
Warren Ellis
1,972 books5,772 followersWarren 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
July 31, 2017
I'm finally putting this series to bed upon reading Filth of the City about ten years after reading all other things Transmet. Since these days the only really sure way to find FotC is in this collection (which, I think, is also going the way of the dodo) or in the most recent edition of vol 10, One More Time, which annoyingly sandwiches both FotC and its precursor, I Hate It Here in as a postscript to the entire series, I felt an OCD-type need to explain to all the n00bs out there a little bit about the Transmet chronology.
If you decide to read this book before the rest of the series because it's called vol 0, you're doing it wrong.
If you end up saving it till last as a part of vol 10, that's also wrong.
The first half of this book, I Hate it Here (which also appears as a part of the revised edition of vol 10), should be read after vol 5 of the original series, Lonely City.
The second half of this book, Filth of the City (which, again, also appears in the revised vol 10) should be read after vol 7, Spider's Thrash.
There. Now you know. We can all sleep easier, you bastards.
If you decide to read this book before the rest of the series because it's called vol 0, you're doing it wrong.
If you end up saving it till last as a part of vol 10, that's also wrong.
The first half of this book, I Hate it Here (which also appears as a part of the revised edition of vol 10), should be read after vol 5 of the original series, Lonely City.
The second half of this book, Filth of the City (which, again, also appears in the revised vol 10) should be read after vol 7, Spider's Thrash.
There. Now you know. We can all sleep easier, you bastards.
May 17, 2017
For completists only...
July 18, 2012
During the entire Transmetropolitan series up to this point, Spider Jerusalem's status as someone with so much power and sway was a bit questionable. He's a psychotic, unlikeable lunatic who spends most of his time pissing people off and behaving very bizarrely. He's entertaining as can be, but seriously unhinged and not really hero material. Vol. 0: Tales of Human waste finally sheds some light on what captivates the denizens of The City - dozens of excerpts of Spider's column are presented and it's like light peeked out from behind a bunch of clouds and illuminated everything. I wish these had been included in each trade paperback, because it felt like a crucial missing piece of the story, a part that made everything else make sense.
July 29, 2018
Spider Jerusalem lives
October 21, 2008
This is not a prequel: this is basically a supplemental book to the Transmet series. It is a collection of bits of articles that Spider wrote for The Word, illustrated by numerous artists. The snippets are obviously from "I Hate It Here" and it really shows Spider in a light that one would expect: hating dogs, sexual frustration, bowel disruptors... But it also shows a bit of why Spider stayed in the City in the first place. It shows his bittersweet love affair with the seedy underbelly, his addiction to the sights and smells even as they repulse him.
Contrary to what I thought, there really isn't any new information in this collection. Oh, there is a tiny, itsy bitsy bit about his tattoos but everything that might be new is vague and tinged with sadness and a bit of nostalgia.
The whole thing seems a bit more literary than the main series, but that is a good thing. The series didn't have time to show that actual writings of Spider that made him so famous. I'd say this is a must for a fan but it will be very confusing to anyone who has not read the series.
Contrary to what I thought, there really isn't any new information in this collection. Oh, there is a tiny, itsy bitsy bit about his tattoos but everything that might be new is vague and tinged with sadness and a bit of nostalgia.
The whole thing seems a bit more literary than the main series, but that is a good thing. The series didn't have time to show that actual writings of Spider that made him so famous. I'd say this is a must for a fan but it will be very confusing to anyone who has not read the series.
September 23, 2016
I loved this comic. This is the first time I have read a Transmetroplitan comic and I can't wait to get my hands on the rest. The protagonist, Spider, is a lovable jerk who really does seem to care about the people of his city. His character is interesting and his comments are both funny and biting. Someone time art didn't quite line up with what was being said, but this was one of those comics where every artist did only one page, so that's rather easy to do and just leave in. Definitely want to read the rest and I highly recommend you check this out.
October 29, 2019
I was introduced to Transmetropolitan by all the hype that was around that time. Thank god, I picked up a first tpb to get introduced to the series and not this one. If it had been this one, I would've been put off and missed so much.
This one has nothing except bunch of really good pin up pictures. If you want to have a complete run of Transmetropolitans, get this, othervice, don't bother.
This one has nothing except bunch of really good pin up pictures. If you want to have a complete run of Transmetropolitans, get this, othervice, don't bother.
December 5, 2018
This series is so amazing!!.
February 23, 2019
This was an experimental loan from the library, but I think the experiment did the work out for me. I'll still give the next one a shot, though.
March 13, 2020
This is a mini-collection with one short story and a lot of 'columns.' It's got some spoilers in it, so I wouldn't really consider it a Volume 0, but it stands on its own relatively well. The art is the core of it, with a whole bevy of artists doing full page/spreads for each column. Some of it is gorgeous, some of it is just weird. The columns are perfect Spider Jerusalem, capturing his hope, despair, humanity, and profanity. It makes for a good follow-up to the series, but I wouldn't recommend it as a starter for the series.
May 22, 2022
I actually read this a billion years ago. I don't know if it holds up, but I do remember enjoying it.
I mean, it's just some cool art with little snippets of Spider's writings (which also means, snippets of his thinking process), but I do remember... enjoying it, I guess.
Though I don't know how much it costs, and I doubt it's worth a purchase. Probably only go there if you're a huge fan? But I didn't hate it, idk. More Transmetropolitan, what more could you ask for?
I mean, it's just some cool art with little snippets of Spider's writings (which also means, snippets of his thinking process), but I do remember... enjoying it, I guess.
Though I don't know how much it costs, and I doubt it's worth a purchase. Probably only go there if you're a huge fan? But I didn't hate it, idk. More Transmetropolitan, what more could you ask for?
August 24, 2021
Years later re-read:
Probably shouldn’t have read this first because it’s just a collection of short paragraph mini stories barely connected to anything in some cases or referencing events from specific comics in
Others. Made it tough to get a sense of its necessity, but for a super fan who’s done the main issues this would probably be like DVD bonus features.
Probably shouldn’t have read this first because it’s just a collection of short paragraph mini stories barely connected to anything in some cases or referencing events from specific comics in
Others. Made it tough to get a sense of its necessity, but for a super fan who’s done the main issues this would probably be like DVD bonus features.
February 26, 2024
3.5⭐️
I was thinking of maybe rereading Transmetropolitan sometime soon as it has been on my mind lately and I found out that this book existed. This book filled with snippets from the book/articles within the book that Spider Jerusalem wrote. I mean how could I pass up on reading those. Plus the artwork was amazing.
I was thinking of maybe rereading Transmetropolitan sometime soon as it has been on my mind lately and I found out that this book existed. This book filled with snippets from the book/articles within the book that Spider Jerusalem wrote. I mean how could I pass up on reading those. Plus the artwork was amazing.
February 28, 2018
In all honesty the majority of this was in the end of the copy of Transmetropolitan # 10. So I re-read it. Loved the stories. It would be cool to read this as you read the whole series as Spider was supposedly writing it.
August 3, 2017
6.5/10
December 7, 2018
this article is very fantastic
May 26, 2020
It is beautiful.
Read
July 3, 2020Who knew a comic series from the late 90s could be so prescient of the current times? Heavy and reflective but also vulgar and at times hilarious. I enjoyed reading this series.
January 7, 2022
This amazing one of the best that I have read
January 9, 2022
Fucking brilliant series!
September 2, 2023
Absolutely brilliant!
Give Jesus back to the Martians plz!
Give Jesus back to the Martians plz!
September 28, 2018
It is just the book I was looking for.
February 25, 2019
the book is fantastic.
Read
October 21, 2007http://nhw.livejournal.com/1011032.html[return][return]I got this because I had picked up recommendations for Ellis' Transmetropolitan series from various sources, and this fairly slim volume was numbered #0 in the shop, so I guessed it might be important introductory or prefatory material. Well, if it is, I'm not sure I can be bothered to follow up with the rest of the series. The book starts with a short story about how much protagonist Spider Jerusalem hates Christmas and other people, and it's then a series of several dozen single-shot images by different leading comics artists, each ostensibly illustrating a different instalment of Jerusalem's misanthropic newspaper column. Some of the illustrations, as you would hope, are indeed striking, but the combined effort is neither thought-provoking nor funny, and I began wondering pretty soon why I was supposed to care about this unpleasant character or his unpleasant opinions. Perhaps if I'd read the rest of Transmetropolitan I'd know the answer, but based on this I am not going to rush to do so.
March 17, 2014
Spider Jerusalem is a difficult protagonist to like but his narcissism isn't the problem. His observations about his world are supposed to be incisive, but really, they're aren't. His brand of dark humor adds little and frequently, this graphic novel is a jumble of ramblings.
The art in a few instances is quite beautiful, but most of it is not appropriate for the world that Ellis has created. It would be better to just use a single illustrator to maintain a consistent tone, though it must be said, that just like the character, the mix of visual styles is schizophrenic.
I had hoped to be introduced to a number of characters with speaking roles, which in part, is why I found this to be a disappointment. Notwithstanding how interesting this future America looks like, even though it is a wasteland, full of debauchery and all sorts of perversion.
Spider's disillusionment isn't well-expressed, and the novel suffers greatly from ambiguity, which could be used to its benefit but instead only serves to confuse.
The art in a few instances is quite beautiful, but most of it is not appropriate for the world that Ellis has created. It would be better to just use a single illustrator to maintain a consistent tone, though it must be said, that just like the character, the mix of visual styles is schizophrenic.
I had hoped to be introduced to a number of characters with speaking roles, which in part, is why I found this to be a disappointment. Notwithstanding how interesting this future America looks like, even though it is a wasteland, full of debauchery and all sorts of perversion.
Spider's disillusionment isn't well-expressed, and the novel suffers greatly from ambiguity, which could be used to its benefit but instead only serves to confuse.
April 10, 2011
I'll keep it brief, because this is a jeu d'esprit rather than a book requiring weighty analysis. In Transmetropolitan proper, Spider Jerusalem writes a column called 'I hate it here'. This book is a selection from those columns, each illustrated with artwork by one of a multitude of artists. The pieces themselves range from quite moving to frankly silly (I particularly like the one where Spider's assistant tries to explain his 'Pharaoh for a day' exploits, and the fitting fate of his editor).
So, it's loads of fun. It provides a bit of context around the main thrust of Transmetropolitan by showing just how well-rounded a character Spider really is (i.e. he has no life at all) and proves once again that when it comes to chemically induced ultraviolence, Spider Jerusalem leaves Hunter S Thompson nowhere.
So, it's loads of fun. It provides a bit of context around the main thrust of Transmetropolitan by showing just how well-rounded a character Spider really is (i.e. he has no life at all) and proves once again that when it comes to chemically induced ultraviolence, Spider Jerusalem leaves Hunter S Thompson nowhere.
November 27, 2015
This is a collection of the columns written by the character Spider Jerusalem over the course of the Transmetropolitan series, each illustrated by a different comic-book artist. There are some big names, some less well known. Both the columns and the art are hit-and-miss, and this certainly isn’t a good starting point for anyone who hasn’t read any of the series, but it’s a nice addition for those who have. As such it comes with all the same caveats about extreme and graphic swearing, violence, sex and drugs – all of which are made with humour and are making clearly thought through points about society, but don’t come off as well without the backup of a storyline. This volume doesn’t give away the series ending but some other major plot points are revealed, so it’s probably best saved for last.
February 20, 2018
Ugh. Why did this series have to end? Sadly, Transmet #0 isn't a long-lost collection of one-shots (as I hoped), but a series of short passages written by Spider. Each vignette is accompanied by original artwork of Spider's mad cyberpunk (post-cyberpunk?) world. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, not because the content wasn't fun but because this is a light offering that whet but didn't satisfy my appetite for more adventures. I'd recommend this to people who've read the series and want just a little bit more, but not to first-time readers. There's not enough content to really dig into, and a lot of the hints and small details we get about the world just made me nostalgic for the days when I had more volumes to look forward to.
June 6, 2011
Despite loving the Transmetropolian series proper, I thought Tales of Human Waste was just okay. It features a selection of Spider Jerusalem's newspaper columns with visuals provided by a number of different graphic artists. It's nowhere near as powerful as the columns in the series, though his antagonistic attitude toward the culture of the City and ranting & raving style is captured in these columns. The art provides some interesting visual interpretations of Jerusalem and company, but I would not consider this essential to the series, just a neat extra.
Still, if I were so inclined I would totally write fan-fiction about The City of Transmetropolitan.
Still, if I were so inclined I would totally write fan-fiction about The City of Transmetropolitan.
June 7, 2015
Hunter S. Thompson figure as hard-boiled reporter protagonist of sort-of dystopic future political thriller. A big theme is challenging what ethical changes might be provoked by scientific advances (cloning, drugs, downloading your soul into a computer, etc) from a standpoint of gross out / shock. (Makes Niven's wireheads seem tame.) A Sci Fi comics series for lovers of smart-ass science fiction like Zelazny or Niven crossed with a sort of Alan Moore sensibility (but without the graphic adventurousness of Moore's best work).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews