The Transmetropolitan post-cyberpunk comic book series has been around for over twenty years. Some of you may have heard about it, but for some reason you haven’t had the opportunity to read it yet. Maybe it was recommended by friends or you have seen it on countless lists of adult comic books that you must know before you die . There is also a chance that it has been lying in an ever-growing pile of catch-up items for some time. I will try to convince you to reach for this truly unique series.
Jerusalem spider
The Jerusalem Spider, the main character of the Transmetropolitan , is a rebellious journalist who (having gained fame thanks to his column “I Hate It”) decides to flee the city, but is forced to return by the contact hanging above him for a book. Spider goes back to writing about all sorts of injustices, quirks and terrifying situations taking place in the City. He rediscovers the old anger that motivated him all these years, which, combined with a huge number of various aids, gives us the image of a crazy and unpredictable man striving to learn the truth at all costs.
The world presented
The city we see in the comics is full of details, peculiar (and sometimes even absurd) situations and heroes. It is not hard to imagine the existence of such a world in 100-200 years. In a sense, they can be considered a separate hero, torn by internal conflicts due to the highly complicated socio-political situation. Due to the upcoming presidential election, in which the current president is faced with an always smiling, seemingly artificial candidate, Pająk will discover a new conspiracy for which even such a journalist cannot be prepared.
References to the real world
Reading Transmetropolitan and following information from the world on an ongoing basis, it is hard not to notice some relationships between them. We often see unclear situations in political life, and the Internet is flooded with a mass of comparisons of current events with works of culture. It is no different in this case. For a small example, let me use the strong presence of the current president of the United States on social media. Such references may not be anything new and we have already seen a whole lot of them, but when in such a rich fictional world I see references to the world around us, it is another element that influences its authenticity.
Written by Warren Ellis
Warren Ellis created a multi-layered story with tons of memorable characters. The reader witnesses practically every aspect of the main character’s life and observes how his return to the city affects his psyche. Extensive plots also apply to his assistants – Yelena and Channon, and even … the cat with two faces, belonging to the Spider, lives his life in comic books. The new presidential candidate – a man nicknamed The Smiler – is one of the scariest villains I have ever encountered in comic books. This explosive mixture also includes a lot of black humor in the form of extremely colorful inhabitants of the City and the situations in which they participate.
Drawings by Darick Robertson
Robertson’s drawings that fill all sides of the comics are full of life and detail, varied – from urban landscapes to slightly more intimate frames, e.g. a room full of computer screens lit up. Humor also manifests itself in the graphic layer, for example through the signs of various places and very colorful characters (e.g. Nazi dwarfs!). The cooperation of both men was perfect here.
Cyberpunk boom
It is impossible to hide, looking at the announcements of upcoming books and games (not only Cyberpunk 2077 ), that 2020 will be dominated by this trend. In the flood of all these publications, you have to be careful when choosing the next work of culture in this climate. In my opinion, Transmetropolitan is a great position to arouse the appetite and feel the amazing atmosphere of cyberpunk. It is a must-read not only for fans of this trend. Of course, if you are under 18, I recommend that you retire to other comics.
Cyberpunkowy must-read
I hope that I managed to encourage you to reach for Transmetropolitan , and for those who have already read it, to refresh this captivating story, full of crazy ideas.
Jerusalem spider
The Jerusalem Spider, the main character of the Transmetropolitan , is a rebellious journalist who (having gained fame thanks to his column “I Hate It”) decides to flee the city, but is forced to return by the contact hanging above him for a book. Spider goes back to writing about all sorts of injustices, quirks and terrifying situations taking place in the City. He rediscovers the old anger that motivated him all these years, which, combined with a huge number of various aids, gives us the image of a crazy and unpredictable man striving to learn the truth at all costs.
The world presented
The city we see in the comics is full of details, peculiar (and sometimes even absurd) situations and heroes. It is not hard to imagine the existence of such a world in 100-200 years. In a sense, they can be considered a separate hero, torn by internal conflicts due to the highly complicated socio-political situation. Due to the upcoming presidential election, in which the current president is faced with an always smiling, seemingly artificial candidate, Pająk will discover a new conspiracy for which even such a journalist cannot be prepared.
References to the real world
Reading Transmetropolitan and following information from the world on an ongoing basis, it is hard not to notice some relationships between them. We often see unclear situations in political life, and the Internet is flooded with a mass of comparisons of current events with works of culture. It is no different in this case. For a small example, let me use the strong presence of the current president of the United States on social media. Such references may not be anything new and we have already seen a whole lot of them, but when in such a rich fictional world I see references to the world around us, it is another element that influences its authenticity.