Warren Ellis, the prolific British comic book writer behind Transmetropolitan and Planetary, teamed up with Italian artist Gianluca Pagliarani to deliver Ignition City—a gritty, five-issue sci-fi comic first published in 2009 by Avatar Press. With its unique dieselpunk aesthetic, Ignition City by Warren Ellis transports readers to a gritty, alternate history where space travel has been grounded, and former astronauts now rot in rusting outposts.
The World of Ignition City: Grit, Rockets, and Ruin
The story is set in Ignition City, the last spaceport on Earth. Once a symbol of humanity’s reach for the stars, it now lies in ruin, filled with grounded rockets and jaded space veterans. Mary Raven, daughter of a legendary spaceman, arrives at the island spaceport after her father’s mysterious death. What begins as a trip to collect his belongings turns into a deeper investigation into what really happened.
Ellis pulls readers into a retro-futuristic world filled with mystery, decay, and a deep sense of loss. In Ignition City by Warren Ellis, the line between past glory and present despair is drawn in oil, ash, and broken memories.
Visuals That Ground the Story in Diesel and Dust
If you’re a fan of steampunk or dieselpunk, the art in Ignition City will immediately catch your eye. While Pagliarani’s characters can sometimes lack facial detail, his intricate illustrations of machinery, launchpads, and ruined infrastructure more than make up for it. The world looks aged, worn, and fully lived-in.
Each structure and machine tells a story of its own. It feels like a place that once held greatness, now reduced to rusted silence. The detail in every panel strengthens the tone and helps elevate the book beyond its short run.
Narrative Pacing and Style
The pacing of Ignition City by Warren Ellis is fast, perhaps too fast at times. Some early scenes feel disconnected, but as the story unfolds, earlier moments snap into place. I did find one section vague—it could’ve used more explanation to clarify what actually happened.
Still, the comic delivers strong flashback transitions, switching between memory and present in a way that builds tension. It also avoids predictable plotlines. That unpredictability kept me engaged, even in moments where the dialogue felt sparse.
Characters in a Grey Zone
What I loved most about Ignition City by Warren Ellis was the character work. The people Mary meets aren’t clean-cut heroes or obvious villains. They’re layered, flawed, and unpredictable. Some play both sides, and others simply exist in survival mode.
This blurring of morality gives the story depth. Everyone has a past. Everyone has something to lose. And that tension creates the book’s strongest emotional moments.
Final Thoughts on Ignition City by Warren Ellis
Ignition City by Warren Ellis is a gritty, atmospheric sci-fi tale wrapped in dieselpunk aesthetic. It’s not a perfect comic—some areas lack clarity, and the brevity of the series leaves you wishing for more. But it still delivers a unique story, especially for readers who appreciate non-traditional sci-fi worlds.
It’s a short but memorable read, with incredible worldbuilding, mysterious character arcs, and a satisfying noir tone. I’d gladly return to this grounded spaceport if Ellis ever revisits it.
About Me
I’m JP B. Bantigue, CLSSBB—a designer, storyteller, and lifelong comic book fan. I enjoy dissecting narratives that go beyond capes and costumes, especially those that blend worldbuilding, genre experimentation, and emotional grit. Whether it’s dieselpunk, steampunk, or indie graphic novels, I look for the stories that linger long after the last panel.
