I think most will agree that the pinncale of Warren Ellis's work in the comic-book field was Transmetropolitan. The vision of the future allowed Ellis to exaggerate the flaws, foibles and failures of Western culture of the present, and there was a manic quality that was both entertaining and disturbing. Two-Step is not Transmetropolitan, but it does bear the most similarity to Transmet than any other of Ellis's subsequent projects. While Spider Jerusalem's adventures were often funny, his story was not a comedy, but Two-Step is. And when it comes to over-the-top comedy, one can't do better for an art team than Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti.
Rosi Blades is a camgirl, an online media/entertainment journalist who wanders the streets of London looking for something new to bring to her 20,000 subscribers. Unfortunately, she's seen it all and done it all, and she fears there's nothing left to show the world. That's when a rather unusual gangster rushes past her, chasing down a thug carrying a rather valuable and fleshy bounty. Bullets fly and hit-rates rise as a new media whore and a zen criminal enter each other's lives and revel in their hatred for one another.
Anyone who read The Pro from Image Comics know of the incredible talent that Conner and Palmiotti bring to this new project. Given the tech-laden elements and pop-culture distortions to be found in the setting, one can't help but compare the visuals on Two-Step to those from Transmet. In fact, I was specifically reminded of Darick Robertson's work from that book as I made my way through this one. Conner brings a debaucherous vivacity to this twisted vision of London, and Paul Mounts's bright colors add even more energy without coming off as distracting or garish.
I remember in the early days of Usenet, one of the more prominent members of that online community -- I think it was Tom "Tyg" Galloway -- included a vast array of hilarious quotes from Kyle Baker's The Cowboy Wally Show (which every fan of comics should check out). Similarly, Two-Step is full of delicious and demented quips, sure to bring a smile to the reader's face.
The real strength of this book is the interplay between Rosi and Tony Ling. There's a love-hate thing developing here that's ridiculously entertaining to watch. Two-Step is Moonlighting on crack and Issac Asimov. What draws them to one another -- and annoys them -- is the other's bold and unconventional nature. Whether or not Ellis proceeds down a predictable path when it comes to this relationship remains to be seen. To be honest, given the writer's skill, I have little doubt whatever path he chooses, it'll make for great reading.
