Comic book gives students break from work
By Josh Ray

Diversions Editor

"I hate it here."

As the school year marches slowly (and even more and more slowly as it reaches the end), those words are probably on many hard-studying students' lips. You want to get out, you want to leave. You're tired of classes, teachers, papers and everything else pertaining to school. But hey, don't let it all get you down. Take a break, give those typing (or writing, whichever you prefer) fingers a rest, and read about another guy whose hate for society is much greater than you could ever image.

His name is Spider Jerusalem. Yes, he is a made-up character, just another figment of Warren Ellis' imagination. He resides in the comic book Transmetropolitan.

Transmet, as it is called among its fans, takes place some time in the future of America. It is a future completely unlike our own world and time, but yet so vaguely similar it is often scary. The whole series of the comic book is based upon this one man, Spider, who works for the main newspaper in "The City" (the largest metro area in the country). Each edition follows him as he goes through his city searching for one thing and one thing only, the truth.

While the first issues might seem like they re pointless in themselves except for amusement, they're not. Read all of them straight through from beginning to end, and at the very end, everything will come together. You might even understand it.

The 60 issues in this comic book's run can be read and found interesting by almost anyone. While it is a science fiction type atmosphere, it also helps incorporate the genres of action and comedy. Whether you're grabbing greedily for the next issue to see what happens next, laughing your ass off because of something he said, pissed off at what he did, or sitting slack-jawed at what just took place, you will most definitely like this book. Throughout the whole thing, you will see his stand on everything from religion, politics, love and even television. It is a completely captivating set.

The book does have its drawbacks, though. Well, actually it doesn't. I was just kidding. But, it is from Vertigo comics (a byproduct of DC Comics), and each issue comes with a sweet little rating on it that says, "For Mature Audiences Only." So, if you can't stand a little profanity (OK, almost every other word), are a hard-core Christian Bible thumper (he dresses in a Jesus costume and proclaims that he killed God), or can't handle graphic drawings of violence (they go into special detail in the drawings of people getting their heads blown off), don't pick up this comic book. Basically, if you're a pussy and don't ever actually go out in the real world, this comic is definitely not for you. But hey, why listen to me, right? Pick it up for yourself. But you have been warned.

Anyway, the comic book's last issue was released this week. If you want to buy any of the back issues, you'll either have to go online (or look really really hard in the whole one or two comic bookstores we have around here) or just buy the trade paperback. The Book Barn and Books-A-Million both carry the books. But you really should read it. What else are you going to do with your time? Homework? Yeah, that's pretty funny. Pick up the comic book. It's awesome and will captivate your mind for hours.