Pick A Trade

[Mr. Palmer]

I'm currently plowing through PREACHER, but am also starting to consider which series I should start next...

I've narrowed my choices down to:

100 Bullets
Y The Last Man
Fables
Transmetropolitan

For what it's worth, I'm a fan of OTT violence, sex, and language.

Which would be best suited for my tastes?

[The Mirrorball Man]

100 Bullets
Y The Last Man
Fables
Transmetropolitan

For what it's worth, I'm a fan of OTT violence, sex, and language.

Which would be best suited for my tastes?
100 Bullets has the violence (lots and lots of it), some sexual situation and yeah "language" too. In my opinion, it starts really well, and the first couple of trades are almost perfect. After a while, the story gets much too complicated for its own good and I just dropped the book.

Y The Last Man is one of the most consistently excellent book of the last ten years, but there's not a lot of violence, sex and "language", so maybe that wouldn't be your cup of tea.

I've only read the first Fables trade, I thought it was very bland and pedestrian. Other people think it's the second coming, so maybe you shouldn't trust me.

Transmetropolitan has over the top EVERYTHING. It's almost a comic book study about being over the top. It's not for everyone, but I think it may be the best choice for you.

[LooksBetterDrawn]

Each of these titles is amazing in their own. If youre specifically looking for sex and violence try out 100 bullets, new gangster style feel and layers of storylines.
Ive got alot of my non-comic-reading friends (even my mom) to read and enjoy both Y The Last Man and Fables. Y probably has about 2 more trades until the series is over.
Of those Transmetropolitan is the only series that isnt still ongoing. If youre a superman fan youll enjoy it more.
If i could Id let you borrow all these titles.

[JERM]

TRANSMETROPOLITAIN.

I just read the first nine 100 BULLETS trades, can't wait for the next one. Though the next time through I'm going to be taking notes, building character connection maps and such; which I've never done before, but thought might help iron things out as I re-read them. The story does get complex, with paths crossing every which way times, but it's an excelent read every time.

I'm a bit behind in Y: THE LAST MAN, I've read the first four trades. It's a great book, but sometimes you're forced to cut for costs. Ultimatly I put this book on pause because I was just reading the trades, and didn't want to fall back on my monthly titles. But at the same time I want to say that it's an edge-of-your-seat-what's-gonna-happen-next book. That and if I wait and buy books 5 - whatevers out now, that's just more in a row I get to read for the first time.

I haven't picked up FABLES yet.

I've read through TRANSMET more times than any other book, and now I'm thinking about reading through it again. If I could be a bastard, I'd be Spider Jerusalem. It may not be for everyone, but I recomend that everyone reads it.


Word,
~Jerm

[snarkbunny]

I've only read the first Fables trade, I thought it was very bland and pedestrian. Other people think it's the second coming, so maybe you shouldn't trust me.


While I've liked Fables from the beginning, Legends in Exiles (Fables 1) is not its strongest arc. I loan out the first three trades as a set - if you aren't into it by the end of the third, it's not the series for you. But there is no series that suits everyone, so it may just not be your thing. Chacun a son gout.

Mr. Palmer - If you like OTT sex, violence and language, Transmet.

[Ryan K]

Going by your tatses, Transmetropolitan is the one for you.

Personally, I like Fables best from that list.

[Mr. Palmer]

I really appreciate the responses!

Looking at things, do believe I'm going to lay my money on Transmet and 100 Bullets (of which I read a single issue, today, and loved it).

[wolp]

Do you buy trades without knowing if the stories are decent?

[Mr. Palmer]

Pretty much.

I just wing it, and use board recommendations. Hasn't failed me, yet.

[wolp]

Pretty much.

I just wing it, and use board recommendations. Hasn't failed me, yet.

Do you ever buy the monthlies and when it's colllected in a TPB buy that 2?

[swinebread]

I'm currently plowing through PREACHER, but am also starting to consider which series I should start next...

I've narrowed my choices down to:

100 Bullets
Y The Last Man
Fables
Transmetropolitan

For what it's worth, I'm a fan of OTT violence, sex, and language.

Which would be best suited for my tastes?

The best comic of your list is Y: Last Man. The comic that has OTT violence, sex, and language is Transmetropolitan hands down. It's the only comic that's got the bowel disrupter for F@*K's sake.

[carabas]

Outside of Vertigo, I can recommend Sleeper (Wildstorm, 4 trades) and Sin City. Lots of sex, violence and swearing, as well as good stories.

[Mr. Palmer]

Do you ever buy the monthlies and when it's colllected in a TPB buy that 2?

Sometimes. There's occasions where I've done that, yes.

[sgt pepper]

For what it's worth, I'm a fan of OTT violence, sex, and language.


Well, Transmetropolitan has all of those in spades.

The down side is that there's no plot whatsoever. If you're into wordy comic-length essays and verbal masturbation that is very funny but doesn't really go anywhere or serve a purpose in the story, then this is definitely the book for you.

If you love comics, you should read all of those on your list, anyway. They're all great and they all have weaknesses, but I don't think you'll be disappointed by any of em.

[carabas]

Well, once you get past the first 12 issues in which the entire world is set up and seeds for later subplots are sown and such, there's tons of plot.

[Agentum]

I would chose Transmetropolitan, but the first trade is thin so buy the second too.

Y - The Last man was intresting the first 20 issues or so, but i'm tired of the whiny and weak lead character.

Fables is good now and then but not for the toplist.

100 bullets is the second best i think.

[Winter]

I guess for something completely OTT on the vertigo label you should check out The Invisibles. Don't get much more OTT than that. But out of those books listed, Transmet and 100 Bullets are well worth your time.

[Cash Lone]

Get The Filth. Best Vertigo Book Evahhhhhh!

[will_butler]

100 Bullets has the violence (lots and lots of it), some sexual situation and yeah "language" too. In my opinion, it starts really well, and the first couple of trades are almost perfect. After a while, the story gets much too complicated for its own good and I just dropped the book.

Y The Last Man is one of the most consistently excellent book of the last ten years, but there's not a lot of violence, sex and "language", so maybe that wouldn't be your cup of tea.

I've only read the first Fables trade, I thought it was very bland and pedestrian. Other people think it's the second coming, so maybe you shouldn't trust me.

Transmetropolitan has over the top EVERYTHING. It's almost a comic book study about being over the top. It's not for everyone, but I think it may be the best choice for you.

Quoted for truth. And for the record, Transmetropolitan is, I believe, the greatest comic book of all time.

Will

[madthinker]

another vote for transmet...i got the single issues and also really dig the letters pages (and some of the recommendations from ellis), are they reprinted in the trades???

[DWEarhart]

I too say Transmetropolitan because the story is finished. Enjoy a new beginning and an ending all the while.

The rest are at leat a year or more away from finishing their respective runs.

[The Xenos]

As for what you said in the original post, Transmet. Definately 'over the top' is a good phrase for it. I still need to buy and read more Transmet trades myself. I guess I'm too busy keeping up on other Ellis books.

I personally like Y and Fables better, maybe. They're a bit more subdued and 'less over the top'. They are damn good dramas. Y is almost like a horror tale, but with nothing too fantastic, just a plauge and a realistic post apocalypse. Fables may be a bit soap opera-ish, but it is in quite a fantastic way.



I also need to buy all of Preacher. I read all of it when a roomate loaned them to me. As religious as I am, I thought Preacher was fantastic. I liked what it said overall even if stuff like the mythology of the book and the portrayal of God was a bit too screwy to me. Then again, I pride myself in not being easily offended and I actually enjoy questioning myself and my faith. What kind of weak faith is easily offended and harmed by a book or movie, right?

I acutlaly bought the first trade of 100 Bullets and didn't quite get into it for some reason. Might try picking up Vol 2 and rereading Vol 1 sometime.

[Tobias March]

Second a vote for the Filth. It's pretty sick and yet somehow sweet too.

Transmetropolitan is cyberpunk Hunter S. Thompson, if that's not too obvious a comparison. Great fun, it's the second book I give to non-comic readers after I introduce them to Preacher. It's also quite funny. Thumbs - THUMBS!!! :D

But if I could recommend a non-Vertigo title, you might like Metabarons by Joderowsky. It's wacked out sf by the man who should have been let direct Dune. Beautiful art, some bizarre violence, space battles with life-sucking space parasites...it's got everything

[Bazooka Tooth]

Hmmm..what is Filth like?

I read about the characters, they seem pretty weird but cool.

[stealthwise]

Transmetropolitan is great. I would recommend buying the first two trades at the same time. The second volume is PACKED with ideas (Ellis and Robertson thought that the title would be cancelled by then), and then the rest of the series stretches out the plot. They were also trying to hit deadlines later on, so the art is stretched out a little bit, and the issues read lighter, but it's still great, even through to the conclusion.

[dancj]

Hmmm..what is Filth like?

I read about the characters, they seem pretty weird but cool.

The Filth is great. I've only read it once (so far), and only understood half of it, but that was still enough to really enjoy it. It's closer in style to The Invisibles than anything else Morrison's written, but unlike The Invisibles it doesn't become completely incomprehensible for the final stretch

[Socrates1971]

100 Bullets. I find the story line much more engaging, than the other titles listed. The first two trades, as was previously said, are almost perfect, and really get the story going good.

I think Transmet is crap. I wouldn't start this as your first (of the list), if you are looking at 100 Bullets and the others, as there is more going for them than Transmet. IMHO, Transmet is an adolescent freak show. Nothing there but gratuitous junk... (BUT, you did say you were looking for OTT stuff, so it might go over well with you...)

Sorry guys, but I just don't get why you all like Transmet so much.

Hell, if your looking at Vert titles, start looking into some of the single trades, like: Orbiter or Gangland and the like...

As for another good Vert title, you could look into: Sandman Mystery Theater. Not the OTT your quite looking for, but damn good, IMHO.

[dancj]

I think Transmet is crap. I wouldn't start this as your first (of the list), if you are looking at 100 Bullets and the others, as there is more going for them than Transmet. IMHO, Transmet is an adolescent freak show. Nothing there but gratuitous junk...

How much Transmetropolitan did you actually read? The freakshow was just the backdrop to the story

[Socrates1971]

Hey D. I just couldn't get into it... I read 0, 1, and 2. It just wasn't doing it for me, and the way it was being done struck me as odd and stupid. It was just more OTT than I guess I wanted, but in a way that it should have been better, IMHO.

The reason I said it was crap, was b/c I was expecting more from it. I was expecting to like it, after all the reviews on here I'd read at the time, and it pissed me off when it didn't live up to expectations.

[dancj]

Hey D. I just couldn't get into it... I read 0, 1, and 2. It just wasn't doing it for me, and the way it was being done struck me as odd and stupid. It was just more OTT than I guess I wanted, but in a way that it should have been better, IMHO.

The reason I said it was crap, was b/c I was expecting more from it. I was expecting to like it, after all the reviews on here I'd read at the time, and it pissed me off when it didn't live up to expectations.

I assume you mean the TPB numebr 0, 1 and 2.

If you weren't enjoying it after the first 2 tpbs it probably never will grab you, but IIRC, the main storyline doesn't really get going until around the 3rd TPB

Dan

[smoothjokes]

For the love of god you have to get these books...

The Invisibles - An out of this world story, that is one of Grant Morrison's best.

Doom Patrol - Again, Morrison just does really good incredible work.

Y: The Last Man - I love this series, it's a mystery and it does have it does get violent but not too much.

Transmetropoltian - I started this series over the summer in trades and this is by far one of my favorite Warren Ellis books. It's hilarious, it's satire and it's just really good story-telling, the book doesn't miss a beat I think. You're best to go with Trans.