Transient Man

September 3, 2011 12:57 PM

Transient Man. "Transient is a black comedy about a homeless man who's visions lead him to believe he is an inter-dimensional savior of humanity, on a mission to save the universe. Is he indeed the 'one', chosen by mystical divine forces to embark on a crusade against ultimate evil, or a hopeless lunatic, aimlessly wandering the streets of San Francisco? Transient is a spoof on the hero's journey that's part Men in Black, part Raising Arizona, flavored with liberal portions of Ghostbusters and John Steinbeck. It is a ballad to the city by the bay, and a heartfelt tale of the sacrifices one man will take for his love for his family, his friends, and all of humankind." [Via]
posted by homunculus (20 comments total)

Potentially NSFW.
posted by homunculus at 1:03 PM on September 3, 2011

kickass concept art...
posted by Jibuzaemon at 1:18 PM on September 3, 2011

This website is why I can only read long form comics on paper. I really want to read this, but everything about the site design and lettering makes that impossible.
posted by cmoj at 1:20 PM on September 3, 2011

This website is why I can only read long form comics on paper. I really want to read this, but everything about the site design and lettering makes that impossible.

It's possible although I certainly would never come out and say so that I might have worked on a comic much like this one w/r/t its presence on a website, and we did...oh! so many things, like provide the content in CBR form, and in PDF form, and as images you could click through and read without having to scroll back up to the top of the page and hit a next button, and...well, golly, who needs any of that?

(But seriously, if you're going to put in as much obvious work as these guys have into their comic and its accompanying site, ancillary matters of actual readability? Worth it to pursue.)

(PS: This looks fucking good, and I wish it were easier to read)
posted by kittens for breakfast at 1:37 PM on September 3, 2011 [1 favorite]

Looks really promising. Thanks.

Clicking on the right-hand side of the image takes you forward one page. Took me a while to figure that out. I think it might be designed for fondlepads. If I could find a permissive copyright notice I'd wrap it up as a cbr myself, but unfortunately there's nothing.
posted by Leon at 2:04 PM on September 3, 2011

If you want to read the comic:

1) click on novel.

2) click on 1 on the screen with all the numbers.

3) to advance a page press 'n'


god that's a terrible... i wish i could say that it's just broken and not designed that way.
posted by ennui.bz at 2:10 PM on September 3, 2011

Neat. The concept kinda reminds me of that bit that Mitchell & Webb used to do, "The Adventures of Sir Digby Chicken Caesar." [1 2 3 4 5 6 7]
posted by koeselitz at 2:12 PM on September 3, 2011 [2 favorites]

When reading the description I thought it would be about frank. But this is good too.
posted by Jibuzaemon at 2:24 PM on September 3, 2011

Hah, that's a great idea for a story concept, and one that I'm probably not alone in pondering.
posted by loquacious at 2:32 PM on September 3, 2011

I assumed this was about Emperor Norton.
posted by SPrintF at 2:45 PM on September 3, 2011 [2 favorites]

Great post.

Also: whose not "who's".
sorry.
posted by hal_c_on at 2:51 PM on September 3, 2011

This was brilliant. The style reminds me of Rick Veitch's work in part. I read it start to finish in one go and want to read more.
posted by panboi at 3:20 PM on September 3, 2011

Somebody's been reading a whole lot of China Miéville!
posted by tumid dahlia at 5:33 PM on September 3, 2011

Great story - but there's one line that pulled me up: "Bob, if this Sacramento thing is as dangerous as you say, it can't hurt to have a 7 foot tall black man in our posse."

Yes, a large black man would be especially intimidating. But they should also find a Jew, to help them with bargaining and stuff.
posted by Joe in Australia at 7:00 PM on September 3, 2011

Megan Lindholm had this plot about 20 years ago with Wizard of the Pigeons. Good book.
posted by cjorgensen at 9:42 PM on September 3, 2011

I have a similar idea for a comic book. Nothing nearly as cool or polished as this. It does involve a homeless man, but less scary magic and more science and superheroes.
Also, when it said "black comedy" I was thinking it was a film with an all black cast.
posted by runcibleshaw at 12:09 AM on September 4, 2011

Also, is it just me or is the concept art wayyy better than the comic itself? Maybe it's just that I'm not a fan of this digitally painted style.
posted by runcibleshaw at 12:20 AM on September 4, 2011

I really liked this story; I do not like the fact it ends on a cliffhanger. Is it still being updated?
posted by HostBryan at 4:21 PM on September 4, 2011

Thanks for posting this. Awesome!
posted by mistersquid at 4:53 PM on September 4, 2011

The Maxx?
posted by Splunge at 5:43 PM on September 4, 2011