Reviews

Transmetropolitan, Vol. 4: The New Scum, by Rodney Ramos, Warren Ellis, Darick Robertson, Keith Akin

bothwell's review

adventurous challenging dark funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

otherwyrld's review against another edition

3.0

I think I would have enjoyed this volume a lot more if I had read it before 2016. These days though, what happens here is not only depressingly familiar, but we now longer have the energy to rail against the injustices in the system that this book highlights.

secondhusk's review against another edition

4.0

My low-key Transmetropolitan reread continues. The Smiler and the Beast don't really track onto this year's election; if anything, Trump possesses both the Smiler's nihilism and narcissism AND the Beast's contempt for the working class, while not being as smart as either. I think if Warren Ellis had written Trump, he would have read as too outlandish of a character. And this is in a world where people reconstitute themselves into nanobots and eat baby seal eyes for a snack.

valhecka's review against another edition

5.0

YES GOOD. I am probably going to finish this series by, uh, tomorrow

inthelunaseas's review against another edition

3.0

I'm glad the plot has finally settled into place. I do want to like this series, and now that the plot is starting to roll out and the worldbuilding and exposition has been done, I think I can get into the groove with this comic series. And Ellis does have a knack for creating characters you love to hate. I don't particularly favour any of the characters yet, but I know I find Spider to be a touch annoying. But I think that's most likely the point.

There's not much to say here other than I think I might actually start enjoying the series now.

molokov's review against another edition

3.0

The election campaign heats up and Spider's up to it in his neck. He's now discovered that both the incumbent Beast and challenger Smiler are both full of shit and there's no other choice the people can make. And both of these men - whichever will be the next President - now have it out for him, personally. This volume is the start of the 'middle bridge' of the overall story - not too much in the way of actions or revelations, but the quiet between the earlier rising action and the upcoming complication and climax.

indeedithappens's review

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

chwaters's review against another edition

4.0

The election looms closer, Channon is back and Spider continues to be, well, Spider. This one feels more transitory than some of the other stories, but I do enjoy the world-building. The level of detail in this series is truly astonishing.

joeh's review against another edition

4.0

Became a little bored with the series after this one. Will likely need to revisit in the future.

beyadob's review against another edition

5.0

This was amazing. It also takes the story towards a new, more interesting direction.