Transit - Ted McKeever

Ted McKeever’s first graphic novel from 1986 looks a little primitive at the start, but very quickly develops into the scratchy, smeary, bold and angular style that we have become accustomed to seeing in his work. Even character types are familiar from Eddy Current and Metropol, as a group of oddball types in Union City band together to try and face down a dangerous menace to the city, and perhaps civilisation as a whole.

Here in Transit, it’s City Commissioner Boss Traun who has designs not so much on controlling the city as using it for his own obscure and ultimately destructive aims. He attempts to gain this power and establish a new order through Reverend Grisn, who is standing as a candidate for mayor of Union City. The only means of stopping this threat could be through the unlikely form of Spud, an underground graffiti artist who has unwittingly witnessed the darker side of Grisn, along with a blind beggar and an ex-wrestler who give him shelter when he goes into hiding. There is another wildcard element however. Joe Bone has been released from prison after 6 years to find his life still under the control of Rex Interior and his organisation, and Rex wants to involve him in the power struggle.

Image’s new hardcover edition for the Ted McKeever Library presents the original 6-part black-and-white series in its complete form for the first time – the final apocalyptic chapter appears to be newly created by McKeever.  It’s a nice, solid, compact edition, but rather on the expensive side. For McKeever completists only maybe then, but the writer/artist’s work can be seen to better effect in Eddy Current, Plastic Forks and Metropol.