Some people convert to 'foglets,' clouds of nanomachines that make anything from particles in the air and can spread thin enough to be invisible. Cultural 'Reservations' are established for the sole purpose of preserving past civilizations. 'Revivals' from cryogenic stasis are largely ignored and left to fend for themselves on the streets. However, this futuristic culture is highly liberal, self-centered, and focused almost exclusively on present-day matters. While never named, the City retains several distinguishing monuments (one resembling the Statue of Liberty) and neighborhoods (the West Egg neighborhood) which lead some to theorize that it was originally New York) and has grown to become the largest city in the world and the center of the political and social culture. Following a call from his irate publisher demanding the last two books per his publishing deal, Jerusalem packs his belongings and descends the mountains before traveling back into The City, a twisted amalgam of pervasive consumerism, sex, violence, and drugs. Spider Jerusalem, retired writer and bearded hermit, lives an isolated existence in a fortified mountain hideaway, retired from City life for the last five years. These were later collected as part of the book's trade paperback program. The series also featured two 'specials' ( I Hate It Here and Filth of the City) with text pieces written by the Spider Jerusalem character and illustrated by a wide range of comic artists. The series was later reprinted in a series of ten trade paperback volumes. The monthly series began in 1997 and came to its conclusion in 2002. Spider Jerusalem dedicates himself to fighting the corruption and abuse of power of two successive United States presidents he and his ('filthy') assistants strive to keep their world from turning more dystopian than it already is while dealing with the struggles of fame and power, brought about due to the popularity of Spider via his articles.

It chronicles the battles of Spider Jerusalem, infamous renegade gonzo journalist of the future, a homage to gonzo journalism founder Hunter S. The series was originally part of the short-lived DC Comics imprint Helix Comics, but upon the end of the book's first year the series was moved to the Vertigo imprint as DC Comics cancelled the Helix Comics imprint.

Transmetropolitan is a postcyberpunk comic book series written by Warren Ellis with art by Darick Robertson and published by DC Comics.

Transmetropolitan absolute vol 2