A review by joeschlotzhauer
Transmetropolitan, Vol. 1: Back on the Street by Warren Ellis

3.0

Personally, I just need something a bit deeper. I thought graphic novels were supposed to be "grown up" comic books. If that's the case, this is not a graphic novel. Spider is not a sophisticated or deep protagonist. Sure, he's moody, he's violent, and he's outspoken. But while the author attempts to portray him as a revolutionary intellectual and a brilliant journalist, there is nothing profound about his thoughts, words, or actions. He speaks in cliches and platitudes. His words would only be groundbreaking to teenagers and adults in the pre 1960's United States. He is rebellious, but it seems like a forced cool. Not only does the author not have the creativity or the genius to make Spider as brilliant as he needs to be, but Spider also behaves in a way that is counterproductive to this goal. He uses unnecessary violence and crude insult. Spider should be witty, but the author is not clever enough to make him witty.

Sure the antihero is a popular meme, and warren Ellis did it 15 before it was popular. But I'll stick with Walter White and Batman Begins. My search for visionary, complex, and intelligent sci fi continues...