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Monstering
Mike O'Neill
March 02, 2025
It may come across as being unsophisticated, but comic books have had a major influence on my worldview. It can be hard to say if art can shape our views or if it simply speaks to something we already believe and helps us to better articulate those views. I can’t help but think that my love for the X-Men motivated me to get involved and stand up for my LGBTQ+ friends when I was in highschool.
Another comic that informed the way I look at the world is a lesser known series titled “Transmetropolitan”, written by Warren Ellis. It is the story of gonzo journalist Spider Jerusalem living in a version of New York City so far in the future that nobody knows what year it is anymore. Plotwise, the story covers Spider going toe to toe with the newly elected president to hold him accountable and expose the truth, no matter what.
Issue 27 is a standalone issue titled “Monstering” which focuses on the fine journalistic tradition of harassing public figures with questions, holding them accountable and making them uncomfortable. In a world where it seems like there’s no accountability and that normal people are powerless it is worth remembering that so long as you can demand answers, and ask the uncomfortable questions, you still hold onto power. Or to hear it as described by Spider:
Monstering is, ultimately, about giving a shit. It's about giving something back to these bastards, these people whom we somehow let run our goddamn lives for us. Giving them a taste of what it means to be us. Every law that curbs my basic human freedoms; every lie about the things I care for; every crime committed against me by their politics - that's what makes me get up and hound these fuckers, and I'll do that until the day I die, or until my brain dries up or something. That's what we achieve. We show them they're accountable. We show them that just as they try to herd us back into cages of mediocrity, we can chase them back to fucking hell with the truth. It's the journalism of attachment. It's caring about the world you report on. Some people say that's bad journalism, that there should be a detached, cold, unbiased view of the world in our news media. And if that's what you want, there are security cameras everywhere that you could watch tapes of. I want to see humans talking about human life personally. I want to see people who give a shit about the world.
What does this mean for today’s political landscape?
It essentially means that as bad as things are, power ultimately rests with the people, and our elected leaders and representatives are ultimately responsible to us. In fact, over the past couple of weeks, we’ve seen plenty of reminders of this. People are flooding town halls and making their displeasure with elected officials difficult to ignore. We are witnessing the continuing onslaught of phone calls lighting up congressional switchboards. Regular people are frustrating DOGE’s attempt to gut our government by spamming email accounts they’ve set up to demand federal employees tell them what they’ve done in the past week. It’s a reminder that even the smallest actions, like asking questions, can lead to big results.
A broader concept that also comes to mind is that we don’t need to wait for the perfect time, or the perfect messenger to get this job done. Spider Jerusalem is a drug addicted asshole, who often hurts those who are around him. That mirrors his creator, Warren Ellis, a writer who has been revealed as someone who used his status in the comics world to exploit young women who looked to him for mentorship. Neither the creator or his creation are perfect messengers, but that shouldn’t diminish their messages.
The heroes this moment demands aren’t virtuous superheroes, but messy, regular people like all of us who rise up to meet the moment at hand. That isn’t to say that we shouldn’t all strive to be the best versions of ourselves, but instead pointing out that being our best selves isn’t a prerequisite to making a difference. Being our best selves isn’t a destination so much as it is a journey, and a big part of that journey is doing what good we can along the way.
Do Something
There will be another national protest on March 4th. Head to DC if you’re able or find a local event at the link.
