In 2002, writer Brian K Vaughan (Lost, Saga, Runaways), alongside artist Pia Guerra (2008 Eisner Award Winner) brought to life a story about a man ‘Yorick Brown’ and his monkey ‘Ampersand’. On July 17th 2002 a virus simultaneously kills every living mammal possessing a Y Chromosome; except for the main character Yorick and his faithful companion Ampersand.
The brainchild of Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson, “Transmetropolitan” throws a lot of people with its name. Several people apparently believe it has something to do with metro-sexuality and present day New York. This could not be further from the truth, and if you have not heard or indeed read this graphic novel, do it. I cannot give it higher praise, being a huge fan of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.
Considering the number of graphic novel reviews I’m doing that are under the ‘Vertigo’ label, I feel that I should be on their pay roll (I swear I’m not). It’s just that all the series they produce, I really like. Whether it’s “100 bullets”, “Y: The Last Man”, “DMZ” or “Transmetropolitan”, they have one thing in common, they are exceedingly well written and drawn.