Imagine Alan Moore voluntarily hiding as a hermit in his own private commune, not washing his ass and letting his hair grow into a stream of weeds baby birds nest in twice a year. That's who we have here - Spider Frigging Jerusalem!

In the last saga of the story, Transmetropolitian underwent management changes (Helix got bought out by Vertigo) and in true Vertigo form, the quality of the writing went from crisp and exciting to more predictable than an Apartment 3G All My Children crossover later that same day. This volume goes from tight and lively to boring (under Vertigo's leadership) and even the end can't save it.

Spider's still trying to expose Callahan. He bullies his paper to fire him, they do a backdoor deal with Spider to publish all his stuff in "The Hole". Meanwhile, playing tyrant, Callahan leaves the city vulnerable to a acid rain hurricane to kill off people and buildings just to slow down Spider and destroy anything he's compiled on him, including a martial law order after it passes. While Spider outfoxes him, his health problems take precedent, and pretty much it's curtains for him within a year, so he gallantly takes what's left of his time to destroy what has now become his archnemesis.

I saw the SAME storyline on All My Children with Adam Chandler and Palmer Courtland.

His filthy assistants kind of wade in the background with a happy ending for them. Once Spider is done with his work on Callahan and his publisher has mercy on him and his illness, he goes back to being a hermit at home, with a "Twist" ending that of course you see coming that is neither smart nor witty for him to have a peaceful retirement.

Thanks for making a mess of this Vertigo.

If you read the other two volumes, read this just to say you finished it. Be prepared it's cliched in true Vertigo fashion, and true to their form they ruin ANYTHING that has a great start with lukewarm milktoast and soap opera dialogue.
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