Transmetropolitan Vol. 09: The Cure

Volumes 8 and 9 really cemented my love for Spider Jerusalem as a character. While cynical and crude, there's a sort of boyish innocence to him that I really love. His passion is his passion and there was a certain page in volume 9 that, as an aspiring writer, actually got me a little choked up.

The comic is soon coming to a close and I'm going to be sad to see it end. But that just means I'll have to move on to more of Ellis' work. i.e. The Authority.

The pace picks up as Spider Jerusalem goes in hot pursuit of the evidence that will destroy the President’s career. He fights for the Truth, and battles his own degenerating brain, while the President ratchets up the tensions in the City. As ever, the series continues to be a cautionary tale against getting complacent about your elected representatives.

As Spider looses more control over his body he begins to gain more control over the situation, as the rest of the world (especially it's journalists) begin to become more and more aware of just what the president is doing to them.
It's been fascinating to watch how focused Spider gets and how the other journalists start to wake up and come around, even if it's only so they don't miss out on the ratings. And even as the President tightens his grip things slide out of his control faster and faster. As they often say, it's not the crime, it's the coverup.

As much as I thoroughly enjoyed this installment and only found a few little nitpicks at the start... there's only so much time you can spend waiting for that bell to ring. And this entire installment is the moment, not even the second but the split-second, before it does - that sort of drawn-out tension is spectacular but let's just say I'm quite glad I have the final installment on hand. You wouldn't want to let this cliffhanger sit any longer than absolutely necessary.
But ooooh it is a good one.

Review TK at RB: http://wp.me/pGVzJ-NY

There's not a lot to say about a series that is just simply, consistently excellent.

Very 'All the Presidents Men' and all that, which is fine but not much fun left in the series.

Spider Jerusalem är en bitter, högteknologisk journalist som ställer sig upp mot en obegripligt ond president. Warren Ellis magnum opus. Välberättat och vältecknat. Bitter, sorgsen, våldsam, brittisk.