[I was fairly certain no one read my comic book reviews, and
this one convinced me of it. All this talk about backup vaginal orifices to
joints in a penis flew right by everyone. This review is actually kind of good.
I stand by it today. I also find it funny that I considered Warren Ellis as “Hellblazer’s
Warrn Ellis.” From the Elmhurst College Leader, October 2, 1999.]
Transmetropolitan, the world’s dirtiest, most viciously
crass comic, has once more stepped over the boundaries of good taste. That’s
not a bad thing—in fact, while the humor is pretty low, it’s also very
intelligently written by Hellblazer’s Warren Ellis.
Journalist Spider Jerusalem is the most unique hero in the
history of comics. There are no superpowers here, just an unwavering dedication
to the Truth. He doesn’t care about journalistic ethics. As he says, “The truth
. . . that’s all I need.”
The latest installment of Transmet introduces an undoubtedly
illegal form of journalism called monstering, or “the art of ambushing people .
. . with questions . . . driving them to their graves.” Spider and his filthy assistants
decide to try this out on a senator who has been accused of funding porno
movies under the table, hounding him with typical Spider questions like, “Do
you have a joint in your penis, Mr. Sweeney?” At one point, he even demands
Senator Sweeney to “show us your penis!”
Spider despises traditional forms of journalism, just as Dr.
Hunter S. Thompson did when he invented Gonzo Journalism. The news shouldn’t be
written with a cold, almost robotic voice. Spider says that journalism is truly
“caring about the world you report on.” There should be emotion in journalism,
and even bias. Journalists should be pissed off and should make that clear to
his/her audience. Of course, Spider brings this even further, and he starts
babbling about “possessed journalists with fiery eyes and steaming genitalia.”
The world of Trasmet is the future, and thus Spider has a
legion of toys to get to the Truth with. At one point, a hologram of Spider’s
head appears in Sweeney’s toilet and starts asking questions when Sweeney is
trying to take care of business. At another point, Spider is able to get
information from a small floating globe that is apparently a bug that overhears
Sweeney talking to his transient (people who alter their genes to look like
aliens) daughter about how she “grew a backup vaginal orifice.”
This futuristic world is brought to reality with the superb
artwork of Darick Robertson. Someone once described it as “brain candy,” and
it’s true. Each time you look at the artwork, there’s something new to find,
whether it be crazy soda products like Ebola Cola, or references to Preacher, a
comic written by Ellis’s friend, Garth Ennis. No one can draw as demented as
Robertson.
Yes. Transmet is extremely offensive, but it’s also
extremely entertaining. One way or the other, it’s definitely something that
can’t be forgotten—Spider Jerusalem constantly makes sure of that.
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