the_mighty_monarch's Transmetropolitan #2 - Down the Dip review

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    Spider Jerusalem and the Alien Love Messiah

    Spider Jerusalem has returned to the city to write his books, gotten a job as a journalist writing a column. He needs eight thousand words by tomorrow, so now we get our first look at Spider at work. A lot of the first issue was spent getting to know Spider Jerusalem, the man; with the information about his work dripped in via legend. So now we get to see Spider Jerusalem, the journalist. This is a man who doesn't take no for an answer, and this helps him with his work A LOT. He knows exactly where to push to find the truth, and he's going to push as hard as he can without tainting the raw truth.
     
    The idea of the transients has a lot of depth to it on both current times and the distant future. It's a great choice for this first storyline because it doesn't completely overwhelm you, easing you into the City after being hit hard with all the insanity of the first issue.
     
    Spider's eyes are wide open, he can see the truth for whatever it is. He can see through Fred's false front with no effort, and knows exactly how to coax it onto the surface, even making Fred show it without Fred knowing he bled his entire hand.
     
    We're also introduced to the newest member of the cast, a two-faced cat with a cigarette and an attitude. Basically, an ideal kindred soul for the bitter unpredictable journalist. Spider's a great character as a loner, but when a loner is the star of a series, they need a supporting cast to bring their quirks to the front and display them in a manner the reader can fully appreciate. A cat isn't always fine, but its a damn good start.
     
    Spider Jerusalem came along at the right time, and after the various clues planted in this issue, the plot set up for the finale of Jerusalem's first column is going to be a big one. What started as an interview with a revolutionary fraud has become something much bigger. Is it up to Spider Jerusalem to save the day, or is he only an impartial seeker of the truth. Maybe he doesn't even know yet.
     
    Overall this issue has a few kinks compared to the first, but nothing anywhere near a deal breaker. Spider apparently used to be friends with the current leader of the 'Transient' rebellion, humans infused with alien DNA. My problem with this is that Fred is so obviously a weasel. A scene with a woman on the street hints at this, and the big kicker comes already within his first line of the issue. Fred Christ is a transparent sleezeball to anyone with eyes, and although Spider sees this very quickly, I wonder why he hadn't seen that before.
     
    Darick Robertson's artwork is generally good, I have no major qualms with it. He actually portrays the sprawling uninhibited menagerie of cultures and excess of everything this future represents perfectly. My only problem with it, at least in this issue, is some of his facial expressions. Some of the more intense ones are a little over the top, and come across as kind of cheesy. Often times they don't completely fit the scenes. I actually love the really subtle expressions a lot better. THEY are the ones that are actually really powerful. The ones trying too hard often feel like they're trying too hard.
     
    In Conclusion: 4/5
    Ok, it's got some minor hiccups, but nothing really taints the gloriously fantastic beginning of this series. Spider Jerusalem's journey is off to a great start, showing us how interesting it can be to have a formulaic status quo.

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