Anyone knowing who WE is probably knows of him because of his work in comics, but I wonder how many people (other than me) are followers of his work outside of comics. Sure, Transmet was cool, but I’ve frankly cooled on comics. I read books now, lots of them, and comics are too expensive and too short to keep my attention for very long. Mainly, if I’m reading comics these days, I’m reading them in graphic novel format, so I usually wait until the run is done and the compendium is released. This is how I read Transmetropolitan. I tried to follow Fell and Desolation Jones, but the having to wait for a month for the next installment is painful to me, so I stopped buying them, hoping to see them in GN format soon (if they’re not already out…). But what I really admire about the man is all the Other Stuff. His website, warrenellis.com, features interesting, macabre tidbits almost daily, and his badsignal feed is often very read-worthy.
Two noteworthy developments in the world of WE are the imminent publication of his first novel, Crooked Little Vein, due out July 24 in the States, and his new Sunday article, the “Sunday Hangover,” published on Suicide Girls. This isn’t the first regular article he’s written, but this one appeals to me more than his previous journalistic work. Crooked Little Vein marks an important milestone for the creator, and he’s noted before from time to time that he’s weary of comics and the fanboy society in general. Personally, I hope to see more of Mr. Ellis in the non-comic book world and look hope to see more fiction, even though I’ve not had the chance yet to read CLV — (my copy is pre-ordered).
For a brief introduction to the fiction writing of WE, look to his livejournal blog, which he no longer updates regularly, but in which he’s posted quite a few short shorts that are grungy, funny and worth reading. Check out The Days of Cathcart Zen, for an entertaining few.
So it is that a man who has found renown for writing comics has appealed to me in an altogether different manner, by his blogging, journalism, email feed and now as a writer of fiction novels. And, as overworked as he admits he is, I’m afraid I’m going to have to join in with the comic-book fanboy crowd with their incessant chant of “More!”
Warren Ellis
Anyone knowing who WE is probably knows of him because of his work in comics, but I wonder how many people (other than me) are followers of his work outside of comics. Sure, Transmet was cool, but I’ve frankly cooled on comics. I read books now, lots of them, and comics are too expensive and too short to keep my attention for very long. Mainly, if I’m reading comics these days, I’m reading them in graphic novel format, so I usually wait until the run is done and the compendium is released. This is how I read Transmetropolitan. I tried to follow Fell and Desolation Jones, but the having to wait for a month for the next installment is painful to me, so I stopped buying them, hoping to see them in GN format soon (if they’re not already out…). But what I really admire about the man is all the Other Stuff. His website, warrenellis.com, features interesting, macabre tidbits almost daily, and his badsignal feed is often very read-worthy.
For a brief introduction to the fiction writing of WE, look to his livejournal blog, which he no longer updates regularly, but in which he’s posted quite a few short shorts that are grungy, funny and worth reading. Check out The Days of Cathcart Zen, for an entertaining few.
So it is that a man who has found renown for writing comics has appealed to me in an altogether different manner, by his blogging, journalism, email feed and now as a writer of fiction novels. And, as overworked as he admits he is, I’m afraid I’m going to have to join in with the comic-book fanboy crowd with their incessant chant of “More!”