Transmetropolitan #10: One More Time

And so it ends.  I love Spider - look at that smiling face up above, what's not to love!  This series has been a joy - it had a weird start, but then again it's quite a different world and required some serious set-up, but I think it all played in and came full circle in the end.  I still think that it might have been nice to have seen The Smiler the way that the world that believed in him saw him, just so that we could know what Spider was up against in taking him down, but I'm happy with this version all the same.
I loved the way that it ended, on Spider's terms.  I won't actually go into detail on it, but I have to say that the last page put a big-ass smile on my face.
Thank you Warren Ellis for entertaining me to no end over these last ten volumes, and thanks to Ben for the loaning and recommendation.  May I extend that recommendation to all of you!
Transmetropolitan Vol. 10: One More Time

Transmetropolitan #9: The Cure

Nine down, one to go.  This series just continues to get more exciting.  There's a decent amount of future-shock commentary, but I think it's grounded in something real and relateable.  Like I've been saying for the last few reviews of these, if you want a more generic review head back to my comments on the first book, in here we're going to talk about what's going on here (the near end of the run). 
So Spider has a new home base and he's on route to starting fresh in compiling his information on The Smiler (the President who is trying to have him killed).  Here's a wonderful description of Spider from one of the other characters:

It's like working for a four-year-old with a massive caffeine high and a permanent and yet very small erection.  And you know what the worst thing about it is?  He's the good guy.

If I have to criticize the series at all it's that the problem is we only see this world through Spider's eyes, and from there it's very clear the the President is an evil bastard, but I think what would be interesting is to get a glimpse of him through the point-of-view of the parts of the country who believe him to be their savior, if only to show how amazing he is at deception. 

One more book left, which I'll get to tonight.  My bet isn't on a super happy ending, but I can't imagine it being nihilistic and grim either.  We shall see...
Transmetropolitan Vol. 9: The Cure

Transmetropolitan #8: Dirge

 I'm very glad that I didn't give up on this series.  Looking back it's so bizarre that Ellis started it the way he did.  Although I can see how he might have just gotten really excited about the character and world and needed some time to set that up before launching into a big story.  The way everything has transgressed to this point is really quite interesting.  It feels like a big epic story (I probably said this in a previous posting, but I think this could make an excellent television series).  Take the anger of Fight Club and give it to a character that actually loves the world so much that he's willing to kill himself to get at the Truth.  But he's also an asshole :) 
This particular volume really let us know that there's a ticking clock in the narrative, and it came with some really nice poignancy amongst our heroes.  I love the dynamic amongst Spider and his filthy assistants and the care they have for each other - even if they'll never admit it.  Excited to see how this series wraps up in the next two volumes, bittersweet as it will be.
Transmetropolitan Vol. 8: Dirge (New Edition) (Transmetropolitan - Revised)

Transmetropolitan #7: Spider's Trash

It's late.  I'm tired.  This will be brief.  I wanted to write about this because I'm going to get into the next one first thing in the morning and I know if I don't write now they'll just blend into one another.  This series continues to impress and improve, and daresay it's getting far more touching as it goes along.  Spider has become a character whom I genuinely care about and want to see succeed.  Not difficult when he's a guy who's soul purpose is to let the world know 'the truth'.
This book really ratchets up the story for him, the stakes, what he's up against.
Three books left to go.  My goal is to finish the series in the next twenty-four hours.
Transmetropolitan Vol. 7: Spiders Thrash (New Edition) (Transmetropolitan - Revised)

Transmetropolitan #6: Gouge Away

Like I said, I'm blasting through these and will continue to do so - planning to finish this series off by the week's end if I can.  Really really loving how it's building and they're right deep into the 'shit getting real' phase of the story.  This would make a really excellent television series - although I'm not sure how well this would translate to any other medium, it might just be best as is all be told. 
So if you're reading this it's safe to assume that you've hopefully read those that preceded it, and if not, then be spoiler ready.
The format of these trades has been three stand-alone issues and then a three part series, although the stand alones link nicely, and in a lot of ways set up what's to come.  It's a nice story-style design.  When we start off Spider is at the height of popularity and as such the public is starting to take the piss out of him.  He's become a cartoon, a live-action series, and a porno character.  What did he expect?  In the aftermath of reading the last volume I started to have issues thinking - how the hell could the gov't actually block news from getting out, especially in this future society, but I think that this volume went a long way in making that okay with me since, as expected, Spider found a way around it.  This series has hit a really strong storyline and I'm excited to see what it's going.  The nice thing about coming in to a series after it's completion is the speed at which you can catch up and go through it.  Check it out, peoples!
Transmetropolitan Vol. 6: Gouge Away (New Edition)

Transmetropolitan #5: Lonely City

And I'm back!  I have to say that what I wanted to start happening in this series has happened, so I'm back in at full steam.  Again, we're deep enough into the series now that if you're reading this not expecting spoilers then you're just being silly.  Proceed with caution.
So the last book left off with Callahan being elected President and more or less telling Spider that he was coming for him, and the whole time in this book I'm just waiting for the axe to fall, and I won't ruin anything, but when it does it's one of those wonderful "Shit just got real" moments that makes you clamor for more.  And when shit gets real we see Spider as a real person, scared, out to protect the ones he cares about.  I love the little glimpses we see like this of Spider, seeing that he doesn't hate everyone, quite the opposite, Spider LOVES people, he just hates what they're becoming.  There is a wonderful moment in the previous book involving a little girl and a stuffed animal that is particularly revealing of his character.  So onward I go, with pleasure!
Transmetropolitan Vol. 5: Lonely City (New Edition) (Transmetropolitan - Revised)

Transmetropolitan #4: The New Scum

So here we are, it would seem that this series is now on a pretty on-going story line.  This volume saw the race between two evil men vying for the presidency and Spider being able to do pretty much nothing about it but sick back and watch.
I can see the extreme nihilism sneaking in and it's starting to bug me just a little bit.  I might get into spoiler territory a bit here, so if you don't want to know what happens, stop reading....
So Spider's old assistant is back, now as his personal body guard, he lives in this heavily secured apartment, and yet he walks around by himself wherever he goes... what the hell is the point of the security?  Am I missing something?!  Over-all I'm just not quite sure what Ellis is trying to say here - that politics are useless because all you're really doing is voting in the lesser of two evils?  I think the next book is going to dictate whether or  not I'm excited about reading the rest of the series...  I'm still liking it, but I'm getting a tad wary...
Transmetropolitan Vol. 4: The New Scum (Transmetropolitan - Revised)

Transmetropolitan #3: Year of the Bastard

Finally we're treated to Transmet's first full story arc, and it's a really really interesting one.  If you want to know more about the series in general click the label below and check out a review of the first book.  This story arc is Spider following politics, and it's nasty and fun at the same time.  And we also get our first glimpse of vulnerability by the man, and it comes right at a time that it's needed and it's really quite refreshing.  I was talking to another friend about this series, and they said that they tuned out after a few books because:

I read the first couple. Like the idea, but was turned off by what I take as superficial fashionable nihilism present in Ellis' work. And writer's writing writers as future-gasm heroes... Don't care about the characters and the shock was wearing off. 

And that's a fair review, although I'm still interested.  I can see why this person has come to this conclusion, and I must admit that I was getting there in this installment until the "breath of fresh air" moment that I mentioned above.  I'm going on vacation (yipee!!!) in two weeks time so I'm hoping to get through the rest of the series by then, but we'll see.  So far, so good with this series!
Transmetropolitan Vol. 3: Year of the Bastard (Transmetropolitan - Revised)

Transmetropolitan #2: Lust for Life

This second collection in the series continues the episodic nature present in the first book.  However I've been assured that very soon there will be a more story-focused narrative starting and so I'm treating these two volumes as an introduction into a very complicated and interesting world.  Cancer has been cured.  Death, in a way, as well - in that you can decapitate yourself and decide to be rejuvenated at a future date - and there are reservations dedicated to past societies and cultures that are there, more or less, to ensure that we never relive the mistakes made in them.  That and more awaits inside of these pages.  It's a fast, fun, ride and I look forward to staying on it.  Can't recommend it more.
Transmetropolitan Vol. 2: Lust For Life (Transmetropolitan - Revised)

Transmetropolitan #1: Back on the Street

I had never heard of this series, and before reading Nextwave had never really thought to look into the work of Warren Ellis.  That's changed now.  Spin Magazine describes this series as follows:

...a comic book series that follows the smart-mouthed, heavily-armed, perpetually smoking journalist Spider Jerusalem, who lives in a future so grimy and chaotic it could be the present - except for the aliens.  Outfitted with water-waling Air Jesus sneakers and snacking on caribou eyes from the local Eskimo fast-food place, Spider tries to make sense of a city where a new religion starts every hour and "buy-bombs" upload advertisements into people's dreams.  Transmetropolitan is brilliant future-shock commentary.

In a world like the one that Ellis has created words are weapons - literally, as Spider is able to diffuse a riot and save lives by, essentially, live-blogging the truth about it to the population, forcing the police to retreat.  Smartly, this first book is essentially designed to merely be an introduction to Spider and the world of the book - it doesn't try to tackle a major storyline, but finds clever ways of introducing how this world works to us, and more importantly, why it needs someone as messed up as Spider.  My new comic-hook-up has saddled me with the entire run of this series so I imagine that I'll be burning through them rather quickly.  Although I may take a break in the middle to read a book I just picked up from the library (I FINALLY got a library card - how 1980 of me!). 
So for anyone who likes to question the establishment, religion, politics, television, or just pop culture and modern life in general, this book is probably for you. 
Transmetropolitan Vol. 01: Back on the Street

Nextwave: Ultimate Collection

First off, the tagline to this book is "Healing America by beating people up."  This is the kind of book that takes pride in just being balls to the wall crazy.  It's not about character growth or arcs, it's about explosions and awesome.  Warren Ellis has taken a bunch obscure characters from the Marvel catalogue and teamed them up to fight against a terrorism unit that's actually masquerading as an anti-terrorist group. 
The writing in this book is just balls-out-funny.  The characters are a lot of fun and the action is glorious.  The worst thing about this book is that they only even did one twelve-issue run (which is all collected here).  So while it's a short story, it's pure awesome.  I really don't want to ruin any of the bits or give anything away so all I'm going to say is that if you're a comic nerd and you especially like stuff with the heroes I just can't imagine you loving this book.  It's a must read for anyone with a skewed sense of humour.  What are you doing reading this blog?!  Go!  Find yourself a copy!
Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. Ultimate Collection