Transmetropolitan #25

Marking its third year in print with a cover by Jim Lee, this milestone issue of Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson's Vertigo series puts gonzo journalist Spider Jerusalem front and center — shaven-headed, red-lensed and contemplative, clutching his camera as the city's dense, fractured architecture radiates outward behind him like a wound in the world. The bold "Year Three" banner and the oversized "25" at his back give the whole image a deliberate, anniversary-announcement energy that feels earned. If you've been riding along with Spider's war on civilization, this September 1999 issue is a satisfying landmark to hold in your hands.