Transhuman #1 Spoilers

[dtjunkie]

After loving every minute of Pax Romana, I went into this book expecting to be blown away.

And I was.

Transhuman is written in a documentary format, where the narrator is explaining the history of genetic engineering in the not so distant future. It is the tale of two companies trying to create the perfect human, one taking the path of genetic engineering and the other taking the path of cybernetics.

Highlights of the issue include a 2 page spread of analysts' reports on the early experiments on monkeys with this type of research. Pages like this are the reason why I love Hickman. The layout is completely different from your run of the mill funny book and the information conveyed is both essential to the story and very entertaining. Monkey Wolverine and the Escaped Monkey were hilarious.

I also enjoyed the two pages of folks applying for enhancements and their reasons for wanting them. I hope we get to revisit these folks as the series progresses.

This book is chockful of the typical warfare you'll find in the business world set in a great science fiction sandbox where there is plenty of room to play. I honestly didn't think I'd enjoy this book as much as I did Pax Romana, but ... I kinda did.

Oh and I should also give a nod to JM Ringuet for the art. I think he did a great job (specifically on the monkey page).

[sbcomics]

Hickman kept not quite "clicking" for me - I wanted to like Nightly News more than I did, and I couldn't quite get into Pax Romana, either, but I kept feeling like Hickman was an up-and-coming guy who was eventually going to knock one out of the park. I think with "Transhuman," he did. The issue is mostly talking heads and they're mostly talking about medicine and science, and still -- interesting and engaging the whole way through.

[SensorBoy]

"I see you, Manmeat. Monkey hungry!"

The Rape-Monkey was hilarious, too.

This is one to watch.

[BrikHed21]

Loved everything Hickman has turned out to this point ---- and Transhuman is no different. I was really curious how it would work since he is not providing the art on this one but it was incredible. JM you rock man... those colors and tones - everything just felt right for this book. I am eagerly looking forward to the next issues.

...only hoping that we will see more monkeys - wolverine and cyclops or not

[riley rossmo]

I think this is my favorite Hickman book yet, He's really pushing what a comic is or can be, so far His work on Pax Romana and the nightly news reminded me more of story books than anything, the text had these great big info dumps
juxtaposed with wonderful illustrations. It was designed well, type set well, illustratrated fantastically, but lacked some story telling oomph to me. Transhumance though takes those Ideas and spits em out in a more accessible way I think. Images relate more to the words. Plus the Idea of a comic-book documentary is fantastic.

R.

[schmevil]

This book is chockful of the typical warfare you'll find in the business world set in a great science fiction sandbox where there is plenty of room to play.

That was definitely a highlight for me. I love workplace politicking, especially when it's got the kind of stakes it does in Transhuman - as much as the characters understand the implications of their research, they kind of don't really see the implications. I love how petty, and human, and downright narrow-minded they are.

Also, the test monkeys were hilarious.

I'll definitely be picking up the next issue. I'm eager to see where he takes this, and how he uses the documentary frame.

[AndyinColor]

I am definitely a Hickman fan after Nightly News and Pax. I have his name on my pull list at the local comic shop and I was so excited when this issue arrived. I read all the others and finally sat down to read it. Every single page was entertaining and the illustrations really made it feel like a documentary.

Who knew that we could all be entertained by a pure-dialogue-based comic? Wow. Hickman, writers like you are what make comics fun again.

-Stone6

[jmringuet]

Thanks guys!

Issue #2 is out now, with a lot more madness (even some bikinis), more monkeys (at least a 2 pages spread of them ;) ) and more company politics and shenanigans.

Go get it and tell me what you think!