Welcome to The Word From Tomorrow, a reread podcast diving into Transmetropolitan one volume at a time. Case and Keith are joined by Pat Edwards to begin at the beginning with Back on the Street, reintroducing Spider Jerusalem and laying the groundwork for a world that only gets wilder—and more relevant—from here. Support us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/CertainPOVMedia Edited by Case Aiken Scored by Bret Eagleston Certain Point Of View is a podcast network brining you all sorts of nerdy goodness! From Star Wars role playing, to Disney day dreaming, to video game love, we've got the show for you! Learn more on our website: https://www.certainpov.com Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/wcHHer4 FOLLOW US: ▶ Instagram: @certainpovmedia Series Legacy: Trans Metropolitan is a 1997 cyberpunk series addressing political and social themes, highlighting artistic value despite creator controversies. Character Complexity: Protagonist Spider Jerusalem is a morally ambiguous antihero combining fame and violence to critique corruption and media influence. Worldbuilding Details: The series is rich with elements like advertisements and posthuman factions, showcasing immersive cyberpunk storytelling. Thematic Depth: Key arcs explore social unrest and identity through the lens of questionable leadership and media culture critiques. Cultural Impact: Spider Jerusalem is significant in comics, ranked #38 on Wizard Magazine's list, reflecting anti-establishment sentiments of the era. Engagement Discussion: The podcast encourages community conversations about art versus artist, ethical engagement with problematic works. Notes Series Context and Creator Background The discussion framed Trans Metropolitan as a cyberpunk series with strong political and social themes, created by Warren Ellis and Derek Robertson starting in 1997 (00:00). Patrick Edwards highlighted Ellis's controversial history involving coercion of women, impacting how audiences might engage with his work despite recognizing the series' artistic value. The hosts emphasized the collaborative nature of comics, underscoring that many contributors beyond Ellis deserve recognition, enabling critical appreciation without ignoring problematic aspects (00:10). Derek Robertson's role was noted as important, with a legacy including the Marvel Max line and co-creating The Boys, framing the series within the "British Invasion" of comics with edgy, provocative content (00:07). The series was contextualized as a pre-9/11 dystopian vision of a hyper-capitalist future, showing prescient political themes that still resonate today (00:31). Character and Worldbuilding Strategy The podcast detailed how the protagonist, Spider Jerusalem, embodies a complex antihero inspired by Hunter S. Thompson and early visual references to Alan Moore (00:02, 00:22). Spider is portrayed as a violent, abrasive journalist who leverages his fame to expose corruption but uses excessive force, creating a morally ambiguous figure that the creators seem to idolize despite his flaws (00:49, 01:33). The story's world is richly layered with background details, such as advertisements, cloned humans, and posthuman factions like the Revived and Downloaded, exemplifying dense, immersive cyberpunk worldbuilding by Robertson (00:32, 00:34). This setting includes a mix of cartoonish and serious violence, with Spider's actions swinging between comical and brutal, reflecting the chaotic tone of the series (00:27). Technological elements, such as the Maker device that can create almost anything and camera glasses, were noted as imaginative but sometimes quickly outdated by real-world tech advances, illustrating challenges in futuristic storytelling (00:30, 00:40). Narrative and Thematic Developments The first major story arc focused on Spider's return to the city, his investigation of the Transient movement, and the subsequent riot, underscoring themes of social unrest and media influence (00:47). Spider's exposure of police brutality during the Angel's 8 riot successfully curtails violent suppression, demonstrating journalism's power but also highlighting Spider's violent contradictions, as he both assaults people and defends the oppressed (00:49, 01:01). The Transients, a genetically modified dissident group led by the morally dubious Fred Christ, are portrayed as a cult-like faction rather than a direct allegory for real-world transgender issues, avoiding overt social commentary while exploring themes of identity and belonging (00:44). The narrative balances critique of authority figures, including a corrupt, Nixon-like President "The Beast" who is broke and desperate, with Spider's own anarchic, often crude methods (01:13). The series incorporates pervasive religious satire, mocking organized religion's exploitation through scenes depicting multiple new cults and Spider's irreverent "Jesus-like" rampages against charlatans (01:22). Reality TV and media culture are heavily lampooned through extended sequences, reflecting discomfort with modern entertainment's rise and its impact on public discourse (01:14). Character Dynamics and Supporting Cast Spider's growing fame leads to improved living conditions and the introduction of Shannon, his assistant and former stripper, who grounds the story by providing a foil to Spider's chaotic personality (01:06). Shannon is depicted as highly capable and skeptical, quickly earning Spider's reluctant respect and serving as a narrative device to explain and humanize complex situations (01:08). Spider's mentorship of Shannon reflects his journalistic expertise but also his flaws, as their interactions mix professional insight with problematic behaviors like Spider greeting her naked (01:11, 01:25). Secondary characters like Shannon's boyfriend Zhang, who undergoes increasing cybernetic augmentation, add to the cyberpunk atmosphere and foreshadow deeper plotlines about identity and transformation (01:15). Tone, Style, and Cultural Impact The series blends edgy, Gen X "edgelord" sensibilities with sharp social critique, resulting in a protagonist who is "right but an a*****e," embodying the era's anti-establishment mood (00:50, 01:33). The hosts noted the tonal whiplash between Spider's often cartoonish violence and moments of genuine brutality, reflecting a deliberate balance between entertainment and political commentary (00:27). The series was identified as part of a Vertigo/Helix-era trend of comics that embraced dark, cynical views of society with flawed, antihero leads, situating it within a significant historical publishing moment (00:51). Spider Jerusalem's cultural standing was confirmed by his inclusion at #38 on Wizard Magazine's Top 200 Comic Book Characters list, underscoring his lasting influence on the comic medium despite being less mainstream than icons like Batman or Wolverine (01:31). The hosts debated the creator-intent versus audience reception dynamic, recognizing that while Ellis and Robertson likely saw Spider as cool, modern readers might find him difficult to root for (01:33). Media and Community Engagement The podcast itself serves as a platform for deep, issue-by-issue analysis, filling a gap in coverage of the series and inviting listeners into a nuanced discussion of its artistic merits and ethical complexities (00:20). Guests and hosts promote their ongoing projects and social channels, fostering community interaction around comics and related media (01:38). The discussion reflects broader cultural conversations about separating art from artist, accountability, and how to engage with beloved but problematic works in a contemporary context (00:10). Action items Case Aiken Continue podcast series discussing subsequent six-issue arcs of Trans Metropolitan (00:00) Publicize and engage listeners to join Certain POV Discord for community discussion (01:40) Share collaboration and episodes of Men of Steel and other podcast/video content on social media (01:40) Keith Latinen Manage Certain POV Discord for fan engagement and facilitate conversations on discussed content (01:40) Promote Certain POV comic book podcast and social channels (01:39) Patrick Edwards Promote Storytellers Forge publishing projects and podcast (Stforge Podcast) via social platforms (01:39) Share forthcoming episodes featuring Tolkien expert interviews to wider audience (01:39) Meeting Outline ️ Introduction and Setup (00:00 - 10:09) Introduction of podcast hosts Case Aiken and Keith Latinen, guest Pat Edwards, and overview of Trans Metropolitan comic series by Warren Ellis and Derek Robertson. Scope of the podcast: Re-reading and discussing the 60-issue series in chunks of six issues each episode. ️ Creators Background and Context (10:09 - 20:41) Discussion of artist Derek Robertson and his collaborations including The Boys and Marvel MAX work. Deep discussion on Warren Ellis's misconduct allegations and how that impacts appreciation of his art. Beginning of the First Story Arc (20:41 - 29:54) Detailed examination of the opening issues: Spider Jerusalem leaving his mountain hideaway, his introduction as a heavily tattooed, violent but justified anti-hero. Insight on tone swings between cartoonish and brutal violence. Futuristic Technology and Worldbuilding (29:55 - 39:32) Exploration of the comic's technology predictions versus real-world advancements (e.g., 2GB digital storage being a futuristic concept in 1997). Deep dive into futuristic culture items like 'makers' (3D printers), 'revivals' (cloned humans), and 'downloaded' consciousness. ️ Narrative Tension and Violence in the Angel's 8 Riot (39:33 - 49:22) Discussion of Spider's violent but complex actions during the Angel's 8 riot and the police crackdown. Exploration of the portrayal of police brutality and manipulati
