220:(a French child assassin from the Anglo/Franco war) and the Prague telephone incident (in which Spider caused six politicians to commit suicide using just a phone). There are also hints at his childhood, which seems to have been extremely turbulent—somewhere between a victim of urban blight and a child soldier—and his early ambitions—"I wanted to be a sniper when I grew up. Didn't everyone?"—as well as his parents' growing madness.
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public who give the authority its power. Likewise, he struggles to convince the public to listen to The Truth, but is disgusted by those who blindly accept what he reports. In addition, Spider's talents earn him unwanted fame and adoration, which clouds his ability to "get at The Truth", often resulting in him experiencing writer's block and depression. His editor,
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1980s milieu, of which the Carter character is positioned as the apotheosis. Having faked his own death, Carter reappears in a dramatically altered form with a shaved head and long black coat which he later opens to reveal a bare chest featuring identical tattoos to Spider
Jerusalem. Lacking only the
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K: I read that your friends sometimes appear as the models for characters in
Transmetropolitan. For instance, your friend André Ricciardi was the model for Spider... R: André is still a close friend. When it came time to do Spider, he was so much like Spider in his own right... Spider ended up being
332:
gunfighter, having learned his skills in "places you never want to go". It is also revealed in issue #38 that he has killed sixteen people, all but one in self-defence; he never specifies how or why (although it could be inferred that he means Vita Severn, as Spider feels responsible for her death).
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Despite his absolute disdain for those around him, Spider is quite loyal to those few who he considers friends and is equally quick to hurt those who would betray him. Indeed, much of Spider's motivation in the second half of the series was dedicated to bringing the
President to justice for ordering
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Initially, Spider is shown with a huge amount of muddy brown, shaggy hair and a long unkempt beard, claiming he has hair in places that his once and future editor/friend
Mitchell Royce doesn't even know he owns. On his return to the City, nearly all his hair is removed by a malfunctioning cleaning
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forced to return to the City after having exhausted a substantial advance from a publisher without completing the books required by contract. After five years of effective retirement as a long-haired hermit at a compound in the mountains, he returns to the City to complete his books, takes up work
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The primary focus of conflict within Spider's psyche, over the course of the series, is a combination of concern for his delivery of 'The Truth' and misanthropy towards his public. Spider hates and struggles against authority figures who oppress others, but he is also bitter toward the uninvolved
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to cocaine, heroin and rare, exotic, futuristic drugs. As is common in his society, Spider is resistant or immune to many forms of drug addiction, as well as lung cancer. Spider is well known for his foul language, especially when combining the word "fuck" with other words to make new and amusing
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Although he prefers not to wear clothes much of the time, when in public his primary mode of dress is typically a "black linen suit, urban weight, generous cut" (jacket and pants, no shirt under the jacket) with a pair of heavy black leather boots, although during the winter he is sometimes seen
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He claims to have worked as a prostitute at some point in the past, and as a stripper at 8 years old. He grew up on the City's docks with drunken parents as an only child. His father drove a city bus and his mother was a housewife who cooked lizards for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. He
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On a few occasions, he has been known to carry lethal firearms, though according to Spider, he only carries such weapons in emergency cases. He has, in at least one case, used a handgun to kill two would-be assassins (a third was beaten to death). In issue #38, he is revealed to be a competent
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Regardless of whether or not he is armed, Spider is shown to be a surprisingly capable, though not invincible, fighter. He frequently lashes out violently at those who threaten or aggravate him, and his ferocity often allows him to defeat opponents who are well-trained or much more imposing
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unit in his first apartment's bathroom. For the rest of the series, he is portrayed as virtually hairless, the exception being his eyebrows and a small amount of pubic hair. Spider is a small, slight figure with a long nose and slightly crooked teeth. His body is covered with black
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He proudly claims to be "always armed", and is shown with several firearms, at least one of which, called "The Upper Hand", can blow up a vehicle. He has also possessed a rocket launcher, which he used to blow up a bar at the base of his mountain home. He was accidentally given a
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and delivering it to his readers in the most direct and blunt manner possible, often capitalising it as "The Truth" in his writing for emphasis. This is most notable in one story, when Spider's editor recounts the tale of how Spider submitted an article on the election of the
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insults. Spider is easily angered, his displays of temper ranging from mild verbal outbursts to violent physical assault. However, despite his temper and contempt for the City as a whole, Spider is often seen to treat innocents (particularly children) with kindness and care.
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also ranked Spider
Jerusalem as the 45th-greatest comic book hero of all time stating that Spider Jerusalem isn't quite a role model for the kids but over the course of the series' long life, readers came to know the true Spider Jerusalem and revel in his ultimate victory.
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their own arms—to prevent the teachers having an unfair advantage. He often uses improvised weapons to gain the upper hand—for example, putting his cigarette out in the eye of a guard or beating Fred Christ with a broken chair leg, which he dubbed "The Chair Leg of Truth".
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capabilities; the right lens is green and rectangular, whilst the left one is red and circular (the AI that created them was on drugs at the time). The first pair he owns have gold rims around the lenses, while the ones he obtains during the second part of the
434:#13, page 5, a book by Thompson is clearly visible amongst the objects strewn across the table in Spider's apartment. A book entitled "FEAR AND LOATHING" is also visible in Issue #1, Page 1, Panel 3, in the lower left-hand corner of the panel.
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spider tattoo on the head and the trademark shades, this former
Constantine-cipher has become the spitting image of Jerusalem and departs with the words: "The Eighties are long over. Time to Move on. Time to be someone else".
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One of Spider's most apparent character traits is his heavy drug use, which he makes no attempt to conceal. In addition to being a chain smoker and heavy drinker, Spider uses an extensive variety of drugs ranging from mild
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457:, being essentially identical in appearance, role, abilities and diction. The issue is essentially a retrospective commentary on the genre of grim, British-penned comics of the anti-
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magazine ranked Spider
Jerusalem as the 38th-greatest comic book character of all time. Spider Jerusalem was also ranked as the 12th-greatest comic book character of all time by
613:"Wizard's top 200 characters. External link consists of a forum site summing up the top 200 characters of Wizard Magazine since the real site that contains the list is broken"
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images (his right buttock is marked "kiss here"), including a small spider on his upper forehead. He is also said to have a tattoo on his penis, though this is never shown.
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Hunter S. Thompson is perhaps the most obvious inspiration for the character of Spider
Jerusalem, and the fictional reporter's fondness for weaponry and spectacular
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249:#1). His approach to journalism has been encapsulated by Spider as "The truth...no matter what" and his appraisal of others rises if they feel the same way.
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returned to the docks as an adult to see that everyone was gone and the docks were abandoned, before vowing to never forget his childhood there.
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Spider's past is not well known, though characters like
Mitchell Royce and Spider himself have referred to past memorable incidents such as the
589:"Spider Jerusalem was NEVER based on Alan Moore. He was based on my friend Andre Ricciardi, who shaved himself down.pic.twitter.com/2DsINP2AOp"
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arc have no rims. This appearance, and the comic's futuristic setting, has made Spider
Jerusalem a cult (albeit fictional) character among
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316:'. Spider prefers this weapon because, despite being illegal, it is (usually) non-lethal and its effects are untraceable. His assistants,
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physically. He is also not averse to brutalizing people in order to get crucial information (as is shown in his Year Five assault on
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who opposes all organized religion, which he sees as little more than unworthy authority figures that exploit their members.
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with a deep-seated hatred of authority, political corruption, and dogs. Spider is almost always drawn wearing a set of
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Although he opposed The Beast, Spider is not loyal to any political party or organization, and his initial support of
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for an urban newspaper to support his writing, and finds himself battling political corruption at the highest level.
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Spider's weapon of choice for most of the series is a "bowel disruptor", which causes instant and painful loss of
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magazine quoting that "Spider is a true one-off, a character so fearless and vibrant and nonchalantly cool that
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516:"Jerusalem is something of a homage to Hunter S. Thompson, but also a portrait of his creator Warren Ellis".
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Reverend Colonel Jacob Capone, West Chapter Chairman of the Armed Corporate Hirelings for Jehovah (issue #4)
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sunglasses with one lens red and the other green, and he is most often compared to the real-life figure
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under his jacket; also, on the rare occasions when modesty is required of him he will wear knee-length
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older and kind of growing into his own character by himself, but André is definitely the basis for it.
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312:. At least three times it is revealed through dialogue that the gun can be set to 'Fatal Intestinal
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Visually, Spider Jerusalem is based on Darick Robertson's friend Andre Ricciardi.
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is his biggest fan. And if that's not a recommendation, we don't know what is".
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He is a sarcastic, drug-addicted, foul-mouthed, troubled, bitter, but brilliant
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of drugs both indicate a resemblance toward the American gonzo journalist. In
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War-hardened journalist knowledgeable in many information-gathering techniques
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245:", which consisted of the word "fuck" repeated eight thousand times (from
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of grenades at a party, which he took as a sign that "There is a God".
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Did you know Hunter S. Thompson is immortalized in comic form?
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was tinged with contempt at his cynical attitude and false
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Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride: Hunter S. Thompson on Film
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Armed with many forms of lethal and non-lethal weaponry
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Fictional character in the comic book Transmetropolitan
362:, combining geometric tribal designs and other more
324:, have also been armed with bowel disruptors during
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550:. Spider Jerusalem is, "loosely based on Thompson".
183:named him 45th of the 'Top 100 Comic Book Heroes'.
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1063:Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
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407:Spider Jerusalem is reminiscent of previous "
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899:The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved
847:Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72
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717:
703:
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21:
1156:Fictional characters based on real people
378:. He also wears a pair of 'live-shades',
564:(Interview). Interviewed by Jaime Kiffel
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276:. He is also an avowed, often virulent
1176:Fictional reporters and correspondents
7:
1171:Fictional Pencak Silat practitioners
1141:Comics characters introduced in 1997
892:The Temptations of Jean-Claude Killy
562:"An Interview with Darick Robertson"
1072:Freak Power: The Ballot or the Bomb
150:, introduced under the now-defunct
1136:Characters created by Warren Ellis
875:Fear and Loathing at Rolling Stone
100:Spider Django Heraclitus Jerusalem
14:
510:collected news and commentary at
232:Spider is a firm believer in the
129:is a fictional character and the
1038:Fear and Loathing in Gonzovision
587:Robertson, Darick (2015-07-23).
30:
1166:Fictional gunfighters in comics
672:"Spider Jerusalem is number 45"
645:"Spider-Jerusalem is number 12"
1191:Works about Hunter S. Thompson
1011:Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
754:Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
265:, whom Spider had befriended.
1:
447:One of Ellis's other titles,
960:Fear and Loathing in America
854:Fear and Loathing in America
913:Strange Rumblings in Aztlan
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384:built-in still-photography
158:before being moved to the
116:Skilled fighter and writer
1186:Vertigo Comics characters
1151:DC Comics martial artists
1146:DC Comics male characters
732:
395:, in a similar manner to
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771:Short story collections
542:H&I Staff (2017). "
527:Warren Ellis: Questions
506:Walter, Damien (2016).
45:Publication information
1161:Fictional drug addicts
1003:Where the Buffalo Roam
415:" journalists such as
1046:Breakfast with Hunter
191:Spider is a renegade
811:The Great Shark Hunt
142:, created by writer
92:In-story information
906:The Battle of Aspen
825:Songs of the Doomed
818:Generation of Swine
560:Robertson, Darick.
210:mood-altering drugs
206:intellect enhancers
726:Hunter S. Thompson
421:Hunter S. Thompson
175:Hunter S. Thompson
1181:Transmetropolitan
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1110:Oscar Zeta Acosta
970:Unpublished works
954:The Proud Highway
937:The Curse of Lono
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508:Transmetropolitan
432:Transmetropolitan
247:Transmetropolitan
139:Transmetropolitan
124:
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70:Transmetropolitan
58:, Vertigo imprint
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1105:Gonzo journalism
1100:Spider Jerusalem
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995:Film adaptations
978:Prince Jellyfish
801:The Gonzo Papers
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621:. Archived from
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455:John Constantine
370:wearing a black
193:gonzo journalist
167:gonzo journalist
148:Darick Robertson
127:Spider Jerusalem
86:Darick Robertson
64:First appearance
38:Darick Robertson
34:
25:Spider Jerusalem
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19:Comics character
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861:Kingdom of Fear
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832:Better Than Sex
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625:on June 8, 2011
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310:unconsciousness
306:rectal prolapse
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105:Notable aliases
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531:GoodReads.com
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782:(collection)
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737:Bibliography
681:. Retrieved
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654:. Retrieved
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627:. Retrieved
623:the original
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513:The Guardian
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304:to complete
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171:stereoscopic
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144:Warren Ellis
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82:Warren Ellis
68:
922:Non-fiction
792:collections
548:HandiTV.com
459:Thatcherite
428:consumption
409:muck-raking
393:rivet heads
338:Fred Christ
263:Vita Severn
241:-analogue "
154:imprint of
146:and artist
131:protagonist
1130:Categories
1095:Uncle Duke
1090:Raoul Duke
779:Screw-Jack
598:2019-06-19
494:References
403:Influences
380:sunglasses
353:Appearance
270:The Smiler
228:Philosophy
202:stimulants
187:Background
135:comic book
78:Created by
525:(2014). "
466:Reception
450:Planetary
442:Planetary
397:Tank Girl
314:Maelstrom
291:bandolier
243:The Beast
162:imprint.
156:DC Comics
113:Abilities
97:Full name
56:DC Comics
51:Publisher
885:Articles
868:Hey Rube
593:@darickr
340:). Like
326:The Cure
302:diarrhea
274:altruism
1083:Related
947:Letters
683:May 19,
656:May 19,
629:May 19,
364:Western
360:tattoos
342:Channon
318:Channon
284:Weapons
278:atheist
160:Vertigo
133:of the
36:Art by
1075:(2020)
1067:(2008)
1057:(2006)
1049:(2003)
1041:(1978)
1022:(2011)
1014:(1998)
1006:(1980)
746:Novels
650:Empire
618:Wizard
568:8 July
478:Empire
472:Wizard
411:" or "
372:jumper
322:Yelena
208:, and
790:Essay
413:Gonzo
389:Dirge
382:with
328:arc.
234:truth
152:Helix
685:2011
658:2011
631:2011
570:2015
419:and
346:make
320:and
677:IGN
546:",
529:",
487:IGN
181:IGN
1132::
674:.
647:.
615:.
591:.
572:.
423:.
399:.
204:,
177:.
73:#1
915:"
911:"
908:"
904:"
901:"
897:"
894:"
890:"
718:e
711:t
704:v
687:.
660:.
633:.
601:.
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