Transmetropolitan: Warren Ellis' nightmarish political future.

I'm not sure how many of you are big comic book fans, but this book seems more current today than ever before.

One of my favorite comic book series is Transmetropolitan. It was a maxi-series (like the Preacher) that ran around 50-60 issues. It was written by Warren Ellis, and was about the exploits of Spider Jerusalem, a veteran political reporter who returns to The City (the unspecified future's amalgamation of everything on the east coast; imagine Max Headroom skullfucking Judge Dredd) to cover politics and the presidential election.

The presidential election pits the incumbent Beast against the newbie Smiler. The Beast is a craven, apathetic politician who thinks with his dick and his gut and could give two shits about the American people. The Smiler is a psychopath who, while charming on the outside, is guided by his own sick hatred of the people and a realpolitik puppetmaster named Alan Schact. His image is carefully crafted by Schact, and he uses both his blank-slate, play-dough personality and some carefully timed deaths to keep political viability.

The Smiler gets elected. People die because of him. Martial law is declared. All while the media (except Spider, of course) sits, too scared to call the Smiler on his shit.

Sound familiar?

If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it. You can get TPBs of it at any Borders or Barnes and Noble (or Amazon, of course). It's an amazing story, it's funny, dark, and endlessly clever. Warren Ellis is absolutely great.

I can picture John Cleese in the role, as some kind of boxer with a head injury.

Just trust me on this one ^_^

My boyfriend has a habit of shouting "Television! INFORM ME!" in the morning.

What can I say. I'm a filthy assistant.

He's a bit old and a bit British, but from what I hear he's a huge Warren Ellis fan.

That and I'd absolutely love to hear Stewart screaming, "FUCK YOU FUCKING FUCKS! THIS IS TRUE JOURNALISM, YOU SPINELESS LITTLE SHITS!"

...maybe he could get a spot in the White House press corps?

It was a great intro.

Who for the filthy assistants? Jeanine Garafolo (sp?) for the short one....

http://lastmidnight.blogspot.com/2005/05/life-imitates-art.html has my brief analysis (mostly comparing the Smiler to Frist/Delay)

There's also this analysis:
http://www.moviepoopshoot.com/movie/43.html

Spider Jerusalem is my hero.

He's the psychotic bully's kingmaker. Vaguely defined advisor who pretty much defines everything the little shit does an dsays.

:thumbsup: