Transmetropolitan Vol. 07: Spider's Thrash

I know Ellis is blacklisted now for his own crimes, but there's no escaping the man always had something to say.

I was reading these volumes for quite a while, then just couldn't find a few of the latter ones. I've completed the collection now, so I'm working my way through Spider Jerusalem's later adventures. And, as my first foray back into this world, this volume kind of slapped me around.

There were far less shenanigans in this one, and far more serious thought thrown down. We're introduced to the dirty underside of both Spider's world and, in reflection, our own. And it's ugly.

Darick Robertson's art is simply perfect, yet again.

The funny thing is, in the intervening years between the first six volumes and this one, I've come to be show more good friends with a real-life Spider Jerusalem. It just makes me appreciate these pages even more. show less

Spider Jerusalem has walked away from his legitimate job and taken up guerrilla journalism, publishing through an outlaw webzine. This volume weaves in a couple of long-term themes— Spider’s desire for vengeance on the President and his declining health— with some looks at social issues that, sadly, aren’t much exaggerated from the modern day. The latter I can get from Mother Jones, backed up with facts to cite when discussing policy, so seeing painful problems translated into the Transmetropolitan world wasn’t really a thrill. On the other hand, if putting these things in a comic book wakes some people up to the messed-up world we live in, then Ellis is doing a good thing. I still want to read the next volume.

Five stars for the story about the children alone.

Seriously, I'm going to be thinking about that one for some time. The things we are most reluctant to discuss and acknowledge are often the very things we need to discuss and acknowledge.

This is starting to get repetitive but really, the story overall story just keeps getting stronger and stronger. It's been a while since I've read something that has me so engaged and on the edge of my seat that I want to cheat and peek at the end just to relieve some of the tension but this series is doing that. This particular edition felt a bit more like a set up for the next arc more than a strong stand alone episode but it worked well for me and actually ratchet up the tension instead of easing it. And the last couple of pages...they pretty much say it all without any dialog at all.

The social justice aspects of this volume make it somewhat different from any that has come before - this is not to say that the previous volumes haven't done similar things, haven't shown Spider's kind heart, but this was different no matter how you dice it. There was anger here, an anger that comes from frustration - and it's not just Spider's, but (I think) Ellis' too. We know the showdown with the President is coming, but hopefully there remain moments like this, where Spider does good for society in more subtle ways as well.

Review forthcoming at RB: http://wp.me/pGVzJ-Mt

The volume was excellent, but it was "Business" and "There is a Reason" that stole the show. Those stories broke my heart and opened my eyes to the problems in society.

Found the missing link in series fortunately.

Spider Jerusalem who in last book lost his job at Word and sneaked away with all the money and his two assistants. He is visited by President's lackey killers and he investigates Vita Severn's assassination uncovering more dirty truths. Toward the end, also realises something is really wrong with him and he is not as mortal as he would like to be. Strangely Spider is less of a filthy man in this issue, he is now even likeable. :|