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Ex Machina #8
Ex Machina, Vol. 8: Dirty Tricks
Award-winning writer Brian K. Vaughan (PRIDE OF BAGHDAD, Y-THE LAST MAN) deftly combines big city politics and superheroes in this much lauded series.
In this latest EX MACHINA volume, a new masked adventurer is thrilling New York City but threatens to derail the upcoming Republican National Convention, and the political future of superhero-turned-mayor Mitchell Hundred hangs in the balance. Collects Ex Machina issue #35-39 and Ex Machina Special #3
In this latest EX MACHINA volume, a new masked adventurer is thrilling New York City but threatens to derail the upcoming Republican National Convention, and the political future of superhero-turned-mayor Mitchell Hundred hangs in the balance. Collects Ex Machina issue #35-39 and Ex Machina Special #3
160 pages, Paperback
First published November 10, 2009
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About the author
Brian K. Vaughan
1,058 books14.2k followersBrian K. Vaughan is the writer and co-creator of comic-book series including SAGA, PAPER GIRLS, Y THE LAST MAN, RUNAWAYS, and most recently, BARRIER, a digital comic with artist Marcos Martin about immigration, available from their pay-what-you-want site www.PanelSyndicate.com
BKV's work has been recognized at the Eisner, Harvey, Hugo, Shuster, Eagle, and British Fantasy Awards. He sometimes writes for film and television in Los Angeles, where he lives with his family and their dogs Hamburger and Milkshake.
BKV's work has been recognized at the Eisner, Harvey, Hugo, Shuster, Eagle, and British Fantasy Awards. He sometimes writes for film and television in Los Angeles, where he lives with his family and their dogs Hamburger and Milkshake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
April 18, 2010
Another great installment of the continuing adventures of Mitchell Hundred, retired super-hero and mayor of New York. Vaughan continues to deliver a unique mix of political intrigue and adventure in these tales, and he somehow manages to make the story realistic and relevant on many levels.
Mitchell has plenty of headaches in this collection. The Republican national convention to nominate Bush for the 2004 presidential election is coming to New York, and they’ve asked the independent Hundred to give a keynote speech to cash in on his status as a 9/11 hero. Mitchell isn’t a fan of Bush, but thinks it’s his duty as the mayor to be a good host. And since he’s secretly started thinking about a White House bid of his own in the near future, it’s a prime opportunity to get some national exposure for himself.
But a costumed former female fan of Mitchell’s hero persona has begun making dangerous and headline grabbing demonstrations against Bush, and the Republicans are threatening to move the venue if she isn’t arrested. Also, Mitchell has decided to write his own speech and the writer’s block he’s suffering from provides plenty of comedy over the course of the story. And if he doesn't have enough on his plate, the Ku Klux Klan wants to hold a demonstration in NYC, and Mitchell's plan to not allow it by invoking a little used ordinance against wearing masks is going to seem very hypocritical coming from a former masked vigilante.
Any fan of comics, super-heroes, politics or just great stories should check the Ex Machina series.
Mitchell has plenty of headaches in this collection. The Republican national convention to nominate Bush for the 2004 presidential election is coming to New York, and they’ve asked the independent Hundred to give a keynote speech to cash in on his status as a 9/11 hero. Mitchell isn’t a fan of Bush, but thinks it’s his duty as the mayor to be a good host. And since he’s secretly started thinking about a White House bid of his own in the near future, it’s a prime opportunity to get some national exposure for himself.
But a costumed former female fan of Mitchell’s hero persona has begun making dangerous and headline grabbing demonstrations against Bush, and the Republicans are threatening to move the venue if she isn’t arrested. Also, Mitchell has decided to write his own speech and the writer’s block he’s suffering from provides plenty of comedy over the course of the story. And if he doesn't have enough on his plate, the Ku Klux Klan wants to hold a demonstration in NYC, and Mitchell's plan to not allow it by invoking a little used ordinance against wearing masks is going to seem very hypocritical coming from a former masked vigilante.
Any fan of comics, super-heroes, politics or just great stories should check the Ex Machina series.
September 20, 2011
In the latest volume of the excellent Ex Machina series, Mayor Hundred is haunted by the ghost of a slave, tries to convince Deputy Mayor Wylie to succeed him when he retires and become NY's first black mayor, prepares to be keynot speaker for the Republicans' National Convention, tries to catch a female "terrorist" who threatens to humiliate President Bush when he comes to town, and ponders whether to allow the KKK a permit to stage a rally in New York.
"Dirty Tricks" is a return to form for the series after a relatively poor couple of volumes previous to this. It shows the story progressing with Hundred acknowledging that his stint as mayor will end one day, as well as hinting that he may take a shot at running for president. The book also throws in it's usual thought provoking storylines of freedom of speech and the limits thereof. There's also a fair amount of superhero scenes with flashbacks to the days when Hundred was "the Great Machine".
Vaughan's script is as engaging as ever, his dialogue seeming to get better with each volume while Tony Harris maintains his usual high level of artistry. John Paul Leon takes over art duties in the one shot "Masquerade" episode also included in this volume and shows his own awesome skills.
A great volume that does credit for this brilliant series. Can't wait for volume 9!
"Dirty Tricks" is a return to form for the series after a relatively poor couple of volumes previous to this. It shows the story progressing with Hundred acknowledging that his stint as mayor will end one day, as well as hinting that he may take a shot at running for president. The book also throws in it's usual thought provoking storylines of freedom of speech and the limits thereof. There's also a fair amount of superhero scenes with flashbacks to the days when Hundred was "the Great Machine".
Vaughan's script is as engaging as ever, his dialogue seeming to get better with each volume while Tony Harris maintains his usual high level of artistry. John Paul Leon takes over art duties in the one shot "Masquerade" episode also included in this volume and shows his own awesome skills.
A great volume that does credit for this brilliant series. Can't wait for volume 9!
February 16, 2016
Better than average and that means really good in this very good series...
August 24, 2017
Would'v been cool if the fangirl could have brought back great machine. I guess we wait a bit longer for the massive build up 😉
July 22, 2015
Vol. 8 of 10
This issue started off dealing with race where we see Mayor Hundred having visions of a slave in chains and dealing with a KKK protest. It never concludes either arc satisfactorily. The other major arc deals with a wanna-be super heroine/villain/stuntwoman who was annoying as heck and should have been kept out of the series altogether. This issue was pretty bad and the whole series is beginning to feel tired and like it’s outgrown its welcome. I feel like I cannot get to the end fast enough.
This wanna-be apparently has some kind of vendetta against Mitch Hundred. Back in the day when she was a disgruntled tour guide Mitch landed atop her tour bus when he was in costume as The Great Machine. Instant love at first sight. When TGM decided to throw his costume to the side in favor of becoming a mayor, this wanna-be felt like a jilted lover. Ever since, she’s been planning her revenge on Mitch. Lame. She starts going around the city doing all kinds of stunts accompanied by acts of vandalism. Mayor Hundred is in a frenzy because President Bush is coming into town for some speeches and he’s afraid that this wanna-be is going to do one of her shenanigans. The wanna-be finally sequesters Mitch inside his office and it turns out she’s just a girl with a fan-crush who’s been dreaming of the day that Mitch can give her a kiss, and not just any old kiss, but a kiss like TGM would have given her. I found the whole thing quite stupid and unnecessary.
I am almost at the end of this series and it feels like it’s going to be the longest last mile. Many of the previous story arcs have still not been tied up. I’m hoping that the last volume will redeem how all the volumes have been all over the place in terms of arcs and flashbacks being presented in snippets.
This issue started off dealing with race where we see Mayor Hundred having visions of a slave in chains and dealing with a KKK protest. It never concludes either arc satisfactorily. The other major arc deals with a wanna-be super heroine/villain/stuntwoman who was annoying as heck and should have been kept out of the series altogether. This issue was pretty bad and the whole series is beginning to feel tired and like it’s outgrown its welcome. I feel like I cannot get to the end fast enough.
This wanna-be apparently has some kind of vendetta against Mitch Hundred. Back in the day when she was a disgruntled tour guide Mitch landed atop her tour bus when he was in costume as The Great Machine. Instant love at first sight. When TGM decided to throw his costume to the side in favor of becoming a mayor, this wanna-be felt like a jilted lover. Ever since, she’s been planning her revenge on Mitch. Lame. She starts going around the city doing all kinds of stunts accompanied by acts of vandalism. Mayor Hundred is in a frenzy because President Bush is coming into town for some speeches and he’s afraid that this wanna-be is going to do one of her shenanigans. The wanna-be finally sequesters Mitch inside his office and it turns out she’s just a girl with a fan-crush who’s been dreaming of the day that Mitch can give her a kiss, and not just any old kiss, but a kiss like TGM would have given her. I found the whole thing quite stupid and unnecessary.
I am almost at the end of this series and it feels like it’s going to be the longest last mile. Many of the previous story arcs have still not been tied up. I’m hoping that the last volume will redeem how all the volumes have been all over the place in terms of arcs and flashbacks being presented in snippets.
January 20, 2018
The central arc of this volume is driven by a 'villain' who looks like Harley Quinn crossed with The Great Machine. It explores the question of whether masked heroes inspire and attract criminals. She is a fun and attractive character, but a bit shallow in her motivations. I'm still really liking this book. The art, story, and dialog are all quite good.
June 18, 2024
Meh, a boring concept that is executed well.
March 13, 2017
3.5 stars rounded up.
January 12, 2010
The last two collections have underwhelmed me. They're not awful, just not anything special. I liked the idea of the Great Machine's female foil, but she didn't quite ring true.
July 9, 2013
Giving this one a lower rating due to the fact that's not a single arc but three shorter stories.
Still pretty good though...
Still pretty good though...
January 17, 2020
Two-and-a-half stars.
January 14, 2022
Mayor Hundred deals with a pissed off woman who may be a terrorist.
This is the first volume that I didn't really like, most due to "Trouble" the mentally ill woman who fixates on Hundred and wants him to be the Great Machine again. Her outfit and poses seem like excuses to draw a lot of T&A and I want more from this comic. Give me more about the Mayor dealing with the Klan wanting to hold a rally and less 'little heart neckline with pink hearts as basically pasties' for Trouble.
This is the first volume that I didn't really like, most due to "Trouble" the mentally ill woman who fixates on Hundred and wants him to be the Great Machine again. Her outfit and poses seem like excuses to draw a lot of T&A and I want more from this comic. Give me more about the Mayor dealing with the Klan wanting to hold a rally and less 'little heart neckline with pink hearts as basically pasties' for Trouble.
August 15, 2019
Feels mostly like it's just biding it's time.
It was nice to see a bit of the deputy's background in the first issue but otherwise it was just a lot of talking.
The bad girl in the next 4 part arc was ok but nothing too exciting.
And the last issue was ok and had an interesting thing to say about people hiding behind masks.
It was nice to see a bit of the deputy's background in the first issue but otherwise it was just a lot of talking.
The bad girl in the next 4 part arc was ok but nothing too exciting.
And the last issue was ok and had an interesting thing to say about people hiding behind masks.
September 25, 2018
The political super hero has to deal with a crazed fan-girl, while some ex-friends conspire to try to make him be a super hero again. A little interesting, but mostly feels like a giant setup for the end of the series.
June 3, 2017
A little bit more involved with the politics of the time and has an interesting cameo by the creators, continues the story with humour, action and some sexuality.
June 8, 2017
More political than not. Interesting quote about anonymity.
October 28, 2017
I really like Mitchell Hundred and all his weirdnesses.
August 3, 2018
This one was a little weird and I didn’t like it as much as the other ones. But, it was still enjoyable enough and I am looking forward to the final two in the series.
August 17, 2018
Where is Brian taking me? Breathtaking! I want to know but at the same time I am afraid. I want to savor every last page of the last two volumes.
December 4, 2018
there's a TOUR GUIDE named MONICA who goes off the rails. i'm ded.
May 19, 2019
3.5. A good enough read, but nothing really happens.
April 1, 2022
Needlessly bratty
May 29, 2022
We’re still slightly in a holding pattern but it’s definitely getting closer to finally kicking off
September 9, 2024
Continues to impress. This volume sets up some bigger ideas that I’m assuming will payoff in a future trade.
January 6, 2026
3.5 stars
March 13, 2017
*sigh*
It's becoming increasing clear that no matter what BKV has up his sleeve, I don't think he'll be able to adequately close out Ex Machina on a high note. Only two volumes left and we're getting new characters being introduced and story threads from three volumes ago that are still left dangling with no resolution in sight. For some of the highs this story has reached, Ex Machina can really spin its wheels at times.
It's becoming increasing clear that no matter what BKV has up his sleeve, I don't think he'll be able to adequately close out Ex Machina on a high note. Only two volumes left and we're getting new characters being introduced and story threads from three volumes ago that are still left dangling with no resolution in sight. For some of the highs this story has reached, Ex Machina can really spin its wheels at times.
July 16, 2013
"The Race"
A stand-alone story which focuses on Mitchell and Wylie. It explores the background, even the origin of their relationship. It also involves an apparition with a spiral design on his chest. Said apparition might be related to an African burial ground that had been disturbed "a few years back".
"Dirty Tricks"
Monica, a former New York City tour guide, was crushing hard on the Great Machine after seeing him in action up-close. Fast forward to Mitchell revealing his identity, announcing his candidacy for Mayor, and "resigning" as the Great Machine. Monica gets MAD!, and becomes a masked character herself as she tries to get Mitchell to "get back in the costume". She pulls a number of daredevil stunts, while at the same time sending clear anti-Bush (Jr.) messages, messages captured by news camera crews, among others.
The best part of this arc comes in the last three pages of it. Vaughan starts moving the pieces for his endgame and this one's a doozy: Kremlin visits Suzanne Padilla and gives her a folder marked "Classified", containing presumably the file that January Moore stole from Mitchell's safe in Ex Machina, Vol. 6: Power Down.
When Suzanne asks Kremlin "What is this?" He replies, "Where the end begins."
Ominous!
"Masquerade"
This stand-alone is notable if only for the fact that the art is NOT supplied by Tony Harris, but rather by John Paul Leon. Sort of breaks Harris' perfect streak, know what I mean? Anyway, the art's not terrible, but definitely stylistically different than what we're used to getting from Harris.
The flashbacks are taking place on Halloween 1999, which, judging from Mitchell's bandaged head, is right after the bomb incident under Brooklyn bridge. Not a bad story, I just wish Tony Harris had had the time to draw it.
Don't miss the next volume: Ex Machina, Vol. 9: Ring Out the Old
A stand-alone story which focuses on Mitchell and Wylie. It explores the background, even the origin of their relationship. It also involves an apparition with a spiral design on his chest. Said apparition might be related to an African burial ground that had been disturbed "a few years back".
"Dirty Tricks"
Monica, a former New York City tour guide, was crushing hard on the Great Machine after seeing him in action up-close. Fast forward to Mitchell revealing his identity, announcing his candidacy for Mayor, and "resigning" as the Great Machine. Monica gets MAD!, and becomes a masked character herself as she tries to get Mitchell to "get back in the costume". She pulls a number of daredevil stunts, while at the same time sending clear anti-Bush (Jr.) messages, messages captured by news camera crews, among others.
The best part of this arc comes in the last three pages of it. Vaughan starts moving the pieces for his endgame and this one's a doozy: Kremlin visits Suzanne Padilla and gives her a folder marked "Classified", containing presumably the file that January Moore stole from Mitchell's safe in Ex Machina, Vol. 6: Power Down.
When Suzanne asks Kremlin "What is this?" He replies, "Where the end begins."
Ominous!
"Masquerade"
This stand-alone is notable if only for the fact that the art is NOT supplied by Tony Harris, but rather by John Paul Leon. Sort of breaks Harris' perfect streak, know what I mean? Anyway, the art's not terrible, but definitely stylistically different than what we're used to getting from Harris.
The flashbacks are taking place on Halloween 1999, which, judging from Mitchell's bandaged head, is right after the bomb incident under Brooklyn bridge. Not a bad story, I just wish Tony Harris had had the time to draw it.
Don't miss the next volume: Ex Machina, Vol. 9: Ring Out the Old
August 30, 2012
Graphic Novel. Jesus! Tits left and right. Now, I enjoy breasts as much as the next person who enjoys breasts, but I don't remember this many naked breasts in previous trades, and I really don't remember this title being inclined towards those spine-bending lady superhero poses, but this book's got both and it's a losing combination.
It starts with The Race, a one-off where Mayor Hundred is briefly haunted by the ghost of a black slave. Mostly harmless if you excuse the What-This-Dead-Black-Guy-Needs-Is-A-Superpowered-Honky element. Dave, on the other hand, declines the role of magical negro, and says so. Also has a flashback to when he and Hundred met.
Dirty Tricks is a multi-chaptered story that features a woman wearing something so atrocious I felt embarrassed to have this in my possession. Total cheesecake.
Masquerade is short and nicely fills in a little corner of Hundred's origin story. The art by John Paul Leon is a lot more cartoony than what I'm used to with this title, but the faces actually have more nuance, and I especially like the way Leon drew Candy.
The rest of the art is the standard look for the series, slick and colorful, a simplified photorealism, which I like, though I occasionally found myself staring at a panel and wondering what exactly I was looking at. The dialogue is natural and never over-explainy, but also uses the words rape and autistic as metaphors.
This was not the triumphant return to Ex Machina I had hoped for. I stopped reading this title years ago because it was steadily becoming less awesome, and this is what I get when I pick it up again? Gratuitous tits and an obsessive fangirl -- their words -- whose sole motivation seems to be getting Hundred's attention while providing plenty of crotch shots? There are only two trades left, so I'm going to finish this series, but yuck.
It starts with The Race, a one-off where Mayor Hundred is briefly haunted by the ghost of a black slave. Mostly harmless if you excuse the What-This-Dead-Black-Guy-Needs-Is-A-Superpowered-Honky element. Dave, on the other hand, declines the role of magical negro, and says so. Also has a flashback to when he and Hundred met.
Dirty Tricks is a multi-chaptered story that features a woman wearing something so atrocious I felt embarrassed to have this in my possession. Total cheesecake.
Masquerade is short and nicely fills in a little corner of Hundred's origin story. The art by John Paul Leon is a lot more cartoony than what I'm used to with this title, but the faces actually have more nuance, and I especially like the way Leon drew Candy.
The rest of the art is the standard look for the series, slick and colorful, a simplified photorealism, which I like, though I occasionally found myself staring at a panel and wondering what exactly I was looking at. The dialogue is natural and never over-explainy, but also uses the words rape and autistic as metaphors.
This was not the triumphant return to Ex Machina I had hoped for. I stopped reading this title years ago because it was steadily becoming less awesome, and this is what I get when I pick it up again? Gratuitous tits and an obsessive fangirl -- their words -- whose sole motivation seems to be getting Hundred's attention while providing plenty of crotch shots? There are only two trades left, so I'm going to finish this series, but yuck.
August 2, 2010
There's nothing really wrong with this volume of Ex Machina -- okay, there are a couple things wrong, starting with the idea that a particularly daring graffiti artist would even be on the radar of the GOP national convention -- but it doesn't feel like volume 8 of 10. The series enters its final year of publication with these issues, but there seems to be no hurry towards a conclusion, and the action only rises by inches. Trouble is a fun character, if not particularly deep, but I feel like we've been stuck in "low-stakes plotlines to introduce the cast" mode since the beginning.
I can't help but compare Ex Machina to Vaughan's other series, which isn't entirely fair, but that's the consequence of making a name for yourself. The major difference between Ex Machina and Runaways or Y is that Ex Machina has a stable status quo that it is forced to return to at the end of each storyline, making the narrative inevitably episodic. (Journal's death was probably an attempt to shake this up, but it wasn't very effective.) The other difference is the characters, which just aren't as compelling or likeable in Ex Machina.
Once again, this isn't a bad book, just a forgettable one. Vaughan has writing kung-fu even when he's not at his best, and the art remains solid. If you liked past Ex Machina volumes, this one should please you too, but I don't think I'll be able to give the series that strong a reccomendation.
I can't help but compare Ex Machina to Vaughan's other series, which isn't entirely fair, but that's the consequence of making a name for yourself. The major difference between Ex Machina and Runaways or Y is that Ex Machina has a stable status quo that it is forced to return to at the end of each storyline, making the narrative inevitably episodic. (Journal's death was probably an attempt to shake this up, but it wasn't very effective.) The other difference is the characters, which just aren't as compelling or likeable in Ex Machina.
Once again, this isn't a bad book, just a forgettable one. Vaughan has writing kung-fu even when he's not at his best, and the art remains solid. If you liked past Ex Machina volumes, this one should please you too, but I don't think I'll be able to give the series that strong a reccomendation.
July 27, 2014
Grown man topics is something you gotta deal with, No matter how many super powers you love it ain’t gonna equal up to this real shit....
Let me just start by saying this is the best “Graphic Novel” I have ever read. I wouldn’t even call this a comic. I know that there is a difference between a comic and a graphic novel but I’ve also seen the terms use interchangeably but this piece of work is too great to be called anything else. I read “Y The Last Man” so I was a fan of Brian K Vaughn (Although Under The Dome is terrible). Ex Machina exceeded my expectations.
I love reading about super powers and the fight between good and evil and all that good shit but I also love seeing real issues discussed. Ex Machina does this perfectly. The parallel NYC was amazing and Mitchell Hundred is one of the most interesting characters I’ve seen.
Vol 8 has The Republican National Convention at play as well as Wylie having visions of a slave from the 1600’s. I know it sounds crazy but it makes perfect sense in this amazing story. I don’t want to give anything away so I’ll just say that I highly recommend Ex Machina
FYI: I’ll leave a review for all ten volumes but only change the last paragraph because the first three paragraphs were so powerful that they are relevant to all ten volumes.. LOL
Let me just start by saying this is the best “Graphic Novel” I have ever read. I wouldn’t even call this a comic. I know that there is a difference between a comic and a graphic novel but I’ve also seen the terms use interchangeably but this piece of work is too great to be called anything else. I read “Y The Last Man” so I was a fan of Brian K Vaughn (Although Under The Dome is terrible). Ex Machina exceeded my expectations.
I love reading about super powers and the fight between good and evil and all that good shit but I also love seeing real issues discussed. Ex Machina does this perfectly. The parallel NYC was amazing and Mitchell Hundred is one of the most interesting characters I’ve seen.
Vol 8 has The Republican National Convention at play as well as Wylie having visions of a slave from the 1600’s. I know it sounds crazy but it makes perfect sense in this amazing story. I don’t want to give anything away so I’ll just say that I highly recommend Ex Machina
FYI: I’ll leave a review for all ten volumes but only change the last paragraph because the first three paragraphs were so powerful that they are relevant to all ten volumes.. LOL
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews