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Ex Machina #9
Ex Machina, Vol. 9: Ring Out the Old
In this volume, Mayor Hundred descends into the sewers of New York City to finally learn why he was given the strange powers that helped him become the super-heroic Great Machine. A powerful new archenemy reveals a terrifying plan that's been in the works since the very first issue of EX MACHINA! Collects Ex Machina issue #40-44 and Ex Machina Special #4
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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489 people want to read
About the author
Brian K. Vaughan
1,064 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 84 reviews
July 24, 2015
Vol. 9 of 10
The series is getting tiring. There's a villain in this one who can talk to plants, another one who can talk to animals (Pherson, from previous issues), and both are out to get Mitch. The reporter Mitch dated for about a minute is back and wants something that belongs to Mitch.
The series is getting tiring. There's a villain in this one who can talk to plants, another one who can talk to animals (Pherson, from previous issues), and both are out to get Mitch. The reporter Mitch dated for about a minute is back and wants something that belongs to Mitch.
September 19, 2011
"Ring Out The Old" features Mitchell Hundred's old enemies as they mass for the final book in this superb 60 issue series. Pherson (the guy who can talk to animals like Hundred talks to machines) brings New York to its knees using the animal that lives in their millions under the streets of Manhattan, a psychotic killer who claims the plants talk to him murders one of the city's newspaper publishers, and Kremlin and January are planning something to bring Hundred down.
There's also a big reveal at the end about how Hundred got his powers and where they came from, indicating a strong finale for this great series. Vaughan and Harris also get playful in a one-shot issue playing themselves as they go to an interview to write a comic series of Hundred's life. Very meta, very funny, especially as they don't get the job!
I was wondering how this series would end, thinking that there are a lot of unanswered questions but it seems Vaughan and Harris have got it under control and the finale looks to be a doozy. Strong writing from Vaughan as always, great dialogue, and tremendous art from Tony Harris, it's a great addition to "Ex Machina" and I can't wait for Volume 10!
There's also a big reveal at the end about how Hundred got his powers and where they came from, indicating a strong finale for this great series. Vaughan and Harris also get playful in a one-shot issue playing themselves as they go to an interview to write a comic series of Hundred's life. Very meta, very funny, especially as they don't get the job!
I was wondering how this series would end, thinking that there are a lot of unanswered questions but it seems Vaughan and Harris have got it under control and the finale looks to be a doozy. Strong writing from Vaughan as always, great dialogue, and tremendous art from Tony Harris, it's a great addition to "Ex Machina" and I can't wait for Volume 10!
February 16, 2016
My favorite, I think, of the nine so far. I liked a lot of this one, and maybe especially (spoiler alert!) the "meta" idea of Mayor Hundred hiring Brian Vaughn and Tony Harris to do his biography…. the comics refs throughout the series are fun, as the Mayor is a comics nerd…. But this second to last book is terrific and helps to set up the epic finish...
June 18, 2010
Mitchell Hundred was a nerdy civil engineer in New York. While inspecting the Brooklyn Bridge, a mysterious explosion injured him badly and left him with the ability to talk to machines and make them obey his commands. So Hundred did what any self-respecting nerd would do: he tried to be a super-hero. But Mitchell found out quickly that vigilante justice is a lot harder than it looks in the comics so he tried to use the fame he acquired to be elected mayor of New York. Thanks to his heroics during the 9/11 attack, he won the election, but politics is even tougher than fighting crime.
Brian K. Vaughan is treating this series like his other masterpiece, Y: The Last Man by having an overall story arc that will wrap up in the near future. This installment definitely feels like the beginning of the end. Hundred’s first term as mayor is almost up, but the flashback sequences to his time as The Great Machine (Yes, that’s really what he called himself in his hero persona. Told ya he was a nerd.) are shedding more and more light on his history, and current events are finally giving us the origin of his powers. It looks like things are about to get seriously strange, and Hundred’s political career probably won’t be the only casualty.
Vaughan and artist Tony Harris also engage in some fun meta-fiction by incorporating themselves into the story by having them pitch the idea of doing Hundred’s autobiography as a comic book to the mayor and his staff.
I can’t wait to see how the series ends, but I’ll hate to see it go.
Brian K. Vaughan is treating this series like his other masterpiece, Y: The Last Man by having an overall story arc that will wrap up in the near future. This installment definitely feels like the beginning of the end. Hundred’s first term as mayor is almost up, but the flashback sequences to his time as The Great Machine (Yes, that’s really what he called himself in his hero persona. Told ya he was a nerd.) are shedding more and more light on his history, and current events are finally giving us the origin of his powers. It looks like things are about to get seriously strange, and Hundred’s political career probably won’t be the only casualty.
Vaughan and artist Tony Harris also engage in some fun meta-fiction by incorporating themselves into the story by having them pitch the idea of doing Hundred’s autobiography as a comic book to the mayor and his staff.
I can’t wait to see how the series ends, but I’ll hate to see it go.
August 19, 2010
This started getting a little more interesting towards the end, but I realized something: I am really far more interested in a comic book about a mayor who happens to be a former superhero than I am in a comic book about former superhero who happens to be mayor, if that makes any sense. I just find myself far more interested in how Mitchell Hundred is going to handle various volatile political situations than I am in how he's going to handle whatever obnoxious wannabe superhero or supervillain is currently rising up to annoy the city of New York. I don't know...I just find myself growing a little bored with those guys. And when the hell is that January going to actually DO SOMETHING? Stop your bitter moaning and get to work already, J!
May 19, 2017
God it feels good to resume this series. I'm glad I didn't forget too much of it over the space of, what, a year? I never would have thought that I would be reading it during such tumultuous political times. It makes me yearn all the more for a leader like Mitch Hundred.
September 12, 2010
Everything this series does well was well-done in this book. The main story, at the end of the book, advanced the plot in a "oh, I guess Brian K. Vaughan really does have an ending planned" way. There's a nice mix of idealistic politics, botched superheroism, plus nice development on the nature of Mayor Hundred's powers.
The extra issues, at the beginning of the book, are fun side stories, including an issue featuring Vaughan and Tony Harris on the page. (I have a feeling the bald Vaughan just wanted to copy the bald Morrison, who did so in a much more deus ex machina way in Animal Man.)
The extra issues, at the beginning of the book, are fun side stories, including an issue featuring Vaughan and Tony Harris on the page. (I have a feeling the bald Vaughan just wanted to copy the bald Morrison, who did so in a much more deus ex machina way in Animal Man.)
August 12, 2016
AHHHH Thank you an excellent volume, much better than the last. So before we say goodbye to our hero, lets have the explanation of WHY he go his powers and from whom.
OK, so it is fantastical, but not out of the expected for a super hero. Throw in the idea of some parallel universes and an alien takeover, FUN.
This volume feels more superhero comic book-ish than the series has in awhile, and although that is not really my favorite type of story, it totally fit in the timeline of the series at this point.
Get prepared for the batshit ending, what a great setup.
OK, so it is fantastical, but not out of the expected for a super hero. Throw in the idea of some parallel universes and an alien takeover, FUN.
This volume feels more superhero comic book-ish than the series has in awhile, and although that is not really my favorite type of story, it totally fit in the timeline of the series at this point.
Get prepared for the batshit ending, what a great setup.
October 22, 2016
This volume had a slow start with a sort of standalone issue involving a lot of meta-writing. The actual author and illustrator of the series, Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris, are visiting Mayor Hundred to be interviewed for the job of crafting a graphic novel biography. It would have been a clever cameo if it had stayed as such but after several pages I just found it to be a little self-serving as it didn't really further the plot or expand any of the series characters.
There is an interesting introduction to the ultimate urban farmer/tree hugger and we get more Pherson. This volume finally gets back to filling in the blanks of Hundred's past but also delve further into why he has these powers. At the same time, we start to see a change in the "independent" for-the-people Mayor as his integrity is called into question.
The volume adds with a bang as we see the origin of a brand new and final super villain.
There is an interesting introduction to the ultimate urban farmer/tree hugger and we get more Pherson. This volume finally gets back to filling in the blanks of Hundred's past but also delve further into why he has these powers. At the same time, we start to see a change in the "independent" for-the-people Mayor as his integrity is called into question.
The volume adds with a bang as we see the origin of a brand new and final super villain.
January 22, 2022
Mayor Hundred announces he is not going to run for Mayor again and has to deal with an invasion of rats just before New Year's.
Now we're back to the good stuff! I enjoyed the issue where the Mayor 'hires' Brian Vaughan and Tony Harris to write a graphic novel about his life. The following stories, where things get dark fast, and we find out more about who gave Hundred his powers and the startling use they were intended for, means I want to dive into the next volume now! (please, library gods - get me that interlibrary loan fast!)
Now we're back to the good stuff! I enjoyed the issue where the Mayor 'hires' Brian Vaughan and Tony Harris to write a graphic novel about his life. The following stories, where things get dark fast, and we find out more about who gave Hundred his powers and the startling use they were intended for, means I want to dive into the next volume now! (please, library gods - get me that interlibrary loan fast!)
April 18, 2022
This was awesome as usual, but I'm definitely ready for some answers at this point. Usually you would expect that the hero finds out the "problem" and then spends a large part of the book "fixing" it. But I'm expecting this to all happen at once, with the "problem" being "find out what's going on.".
January 21, 2018
Mixed feelings about issue 40 in which writer BKV and artist Tony Harris appear as central characters. Stunt comic-ing, but fun.
Aside from that, I'm in love with these characters and their world. Feeling disappointed that it's nearing the end.
Aside from that, I'm in love with these characters and their world. Feeling disappointed that it's nearing the end.
August 30, 2019
I'm giving this 4 stars just because of the first issue where Brian Vaughan and Tony Harris insert themselves into the comic. I like when things are slightly different and especially meta.
The rest of it was ok.
The rest of it was ok.
May 29, 2022
Okay, now we’re getting somewhere - bonus points for a lovely postmodern issue that takes the piss out of postmodern issues (and has an actively very funny punchline) and another issue that exists mainly as a tribute/ loveletter to print as a medium
June 23, 2024
Possibly one of my favorite political entries in the series. This was not dealing with a hot button topic of the week, but rather a Bulworth-Like announcement that sparked immediate action. You also finally get the backstory on his powers. this was a very satisfying penultimate entry.
March 13, 2017
3.5/5
One volume left. A significant portion of this book is devoted to Mitchell Hundred meeting with Brian K. Vaughn and artist Tony Harris to potentially hire them to write his autobiography. I've never been a fan of fiction where the author inserts themselves into the narrative (I'm looking at you, Stephen King). At best it's a diversion from the main story and at its worse it can be seen as awfully vain. I think what's frustrating me most is that the main story of Kremlin and January's betrayal was introduced and immediately put on the back burner in favor of less interesting, one-off bits.
It's almost as if BKV introduced the betrayal storyline and immediately realized there wasn't enough intrigue to fill out multiple issues. The saving grace of this volume is that there are (yet again) more story beats introduced to--what feels like--set up the climax of the series. But as in past issues, it's only hinted at and doesn't feel like the legwork was done to warrant an expansion into alternate timelines, automatons, and mystery boxes. When these details are all dumped in the span of a few pages, the material isn't given time to breathe.
One volume left. A significant portion of this book is devoted to Mitchell Hundred meeting with Brian K. Vaughn and artist Tony Harris to potentially hire them to write his autobiography. I've never been a fan of fiction where the author inserts themselves into the narrative (I'm looking at you, Stephen King). At best it's a diversion from the main story and at its worse it can be seen as awfully vain. I think what's frustrating me most is that the main story of Kremlin and January's betrayal was introduced and immediately put on the back burner in favor of less interesting, one-off bits.
It's almost as if BKV introduced the betrayal storyline and immediately realized there wasn't enough intrigue to fill out multiple issues. The saving grace of this volume is that there are (yet again) more story beats introduced to--what feels like--set up the climax of the series. But as in past issues, it's only hinted at and doesn't feel like the legwork was done to warrant an expansion into alternate timelines, automatons, and mystery boxes. When these details are all dumped in the span of a few pages, the material isn't given time to breathe.
June 16, 2017
Rat swarms are scary things. The plot has definitely taken quite a turn for the better with a twist that was well introduced.
August 19, 2018
100/Hundred!
October 4, 2018
A super hero starts to set up his next step in his political career. This volume gets back to the overarching storyline of where these super powers came from and why, which makes it more interesting.
August 27, 2020
Good art; good writing. But one of these is all I'm going to read.
November 5, 2022
I liked how Vaughan added himself and artist Tony Harris into the story as Mayor Hundred commissions his biography in graphic novel format - very meta.
September 30, 2024
Continues to be great. The fill in by John Paul Leon is a highlight of the whole series.
June 8, 2017
Not bad at all. Finally get confirmation of the origins of his powers and the evil will behind them. On the last one now, looking forward to seeing how it turns out.
August 28, 2013
At the end of the previous volume (Ex Machina, Vol. 8: Dirty Tricks), 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."
"But what's in the file?" you ask. Well, here is where we find out...
"Ring Out The Old"
On the election day which saw Mitchell become the new mayor of NYC, Bradbury visited a number of polling stations while carrying a mysterious White Box. Mitchell had built this White Box and explained (not convincingly) to Bradbury that it was "to save lives".
Fast forward to the present. Suzanne Padilla asks Bradbury about the White Box. He denies knowing anything about such a thing, and goes to meet Mitchell to let him know about Suzanne's inquiry. Nobody is supposed to know about the White Box, so Mitchell orders Bradbury to retrieve it from storage and destroy it. Suzanne tails Bradbury to the storage facility and, just as he retrieves the item, confronts him about it. After a heated discussion, Bradbury strikes Suzanne with the White Box, which breaks and leaves fragments inside her head. Suzanne thereby acquires the ability of the White Box, which is essentially Mind Control.
MEANWHILE
A mysterious rat infestation leads Mitchell to suspect that Pherson is back from the dead, so he suits up (in a different outfit - no jetpack!) and makes his way to the sewers. There he meets a being dressed very much like Zeller (from Ex Machina, Vol. 6: Power Down). This being is The Probe, a robot with a Violet Box for a head (which explains its ability to control the rats). As it reveals to Mitchell, The Probe was sent (from another "Brane in the Bulk" - a parallel dimension) to determine why Mitchell has not yet completed the mission that came with his abilities. Mitchell was supposed to make way for an inter-dimensional invasion! The Probe reveals the four frequencies' (read: colours') meanings:
Violet: To corral the "beasts of burden"
Red: To destroy the crops
Green: To cripple the weaponry
White: To subjugate the soldiers
The Probe eventually detects that "a new opener has been created" (Suzanne having acquired the abilities of the White Box) and promptly self-destructs.
Mitchell now knows his intended purpose and is aware there is a new - albeit unknown to him - player on the field. What will he do? What's Brian K. Vaughan got in store for the final story arc of this series?
"Green"
This stand-alone is the second one for which the art is NOT supplied by Tony Harris, but rather by John Paul Leon. In light of the "rushed" feel of issues 41 & 42, maybe Tony Harris did need a fill-in artist for this "special" issue. Anyway, the art's not terrible, but definitely stylistically different than what we're used to getting from Harris.
Chronologically taking place before the events of "Ring Out The Old", here we learn that on one of his first sorties as The Great Machine, Mitchell was injured and bled on some vegetables, which were eaten by a man (now calling himself The Gardener) who subsequently acquired the ability to hear (& understand) plants & other vegetation. An interesting story that fits in well with The Probe's reveals from "Ring Out The Old".
The series concludes in the next volume: Ex Machina, Vol. 10: Term Limits Don't miss it!
When Suzanne asks Kremlin "What is this?" He replies, "Where the end begins."
"But what's in the file?" you ask. Well, here is where we find out...
"Ring Out The Old"
On the election day which saw Mitchell become the new mayor of NYC, Bradbury visited a number of polling stations while carrying a mysterious White Box. Mitchell had built this White Box and explained (not convincingly) to Bradbury that it was "to save lives".
Fast forward to the present. Suzanne Padilla asks Bradbury about the White Box. He denies knowing anything about such a thing, and goes to meet Mitchell to let him know about Suzanne's inquiry. Nobody is supposed to know about the White Box, so Mitchell orders Bradbury to retrieve it from storage and destroy it. Suzanne tails Bradbury to the storage facility and, just as he retrieves the item, confronts him about it. After a heated discussion, Bradbury strikes Suzanne with the White Box, which breaks and leaves fragments inside her head. Suzanne thereby acquires the ability of the White Box, which is essentially Mind Control.
MEANWHILE
A mysterious rat infestation leads Mitchell to suspect that Pherson is back from the dead, so he suits up (in a different outfit - no jetpack!) and makes his way to the sewers. There he meets a being dressed very much like Zeller (from Ex Machina, Vol. 6: Power Down). This being is The Probe, a robot with a Violet Box for a head (which explains its ability to control the rats). As it reveals to Mitchell, The Probe was sent (from another "Brane in the Bulk" - a parallel dimension) to determine why Mitchell has not yet completed the mission that came with his abilities. Mitchell was supposed to make way for an inter-dimensional invasion! The Probe reveals the four frequencies' (read: colours') meanings:
Violet: To corral the "beasts of burden"
Red: To destroy the crops
Green: To cripple the weaponry
White: To subjugate the soldiers
The Probe eventually detects that "a new opener has been created" (Suzanne having acquired the abilities of the White Box) and promptly self-destructs.
Mitchell now knows his intended purpose and is aware there is a new - albeit unknown to him - player on the field. What will he do? What's Brian K. Vaughan got in store for the final story arc of this series?
"Green"
This stand-alone is the second one for which the art is NOT supplied by Tony Harris, but rather by John Paul Leon. In light of the "rushed" feel of issues 41 & 42, maybe Tony Harris did need a fill-in artist for this "special" issue. Anyway, the art's not terrible, but definitely stylistically different than what we're used to getting from Harris.
Chronologically taking place before the events of "Ring Out The Old", here we learn that on one of his first sorties as The Great Machine, Mitchell was injured and bled on some vegetables, which were eaten by a man (now calling himself The Gardener) who subsequently acquired the ability to hear (& understand) plants & other vegetation. An interesting story that fits in well with The Probe's reveals from "Ring Out The Old".
The series concludes in the next volume: Ex Machina, Vol. 10: Term Limits Don't miss it!
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February 9, 2011Brian K. Vaughan, Ex Machina vol. 9: Ring Out the Old (Wildstorm, 2010)
One of the blurbs on the cover of this book says, essentially (I don't have it to hand, sorry), “I can't believe this series is coming to an end.” I am totally down with that sentiment. Vaughan has shown repeatedly over the years that he can take the most ludicrous, sappy crap and turn it into absolute gold (witness Pride of Baghdad, which in the hands of hundreds of lesser authors would have been a sappy new-age mess). To date, earlier volumes in this series have comprised the only 9/11-based fiction I've been able to stomach. I am at this point willing to believe Brian K. Vaughn (whom, I should mention, I had no idea was from Cleveland) can do damn near anything. And he tested that hypothesis twice in this volume...and came up a winner both times.
First off, there's a mini-story arc where the powers that be have decided that Hundred needs a biographer. Hundred holds out for a comic version. Guess who we get to see a lot of in that arc. (Which is where I found out Vaughan is from Cleveland.) It's just as friggin' ludicrous as Stephen King writing himself into the Dark Tower books. But here... it works a lot better. Maybe because Vaughan's vision of New York cleaves so much closer to the original than King's Maine? I don't know, but it does. And then comes the main story, where we find out, basically, everything about everything. Why Hundred got his powers in the first place, what it's all supposed to mean, why an old nemesis seems to be back from the dead, the works. And it's so, so cheesy, and yet just as he did with some of the touchier subjects in Runaways and Y: The Last Man, he makes it all work like gangbusters. I have no idea how, but I've seen other authors try to do this sort of thing before and have it come off just as cheesy as it sounds (or would sound were I to spoil, you know, the entire series for you). You explain it, I can't. There's more than just raw talent at work here. An awesome series, highly recommended from first page to last... or at least the end of book 9, and I'll tell you about the final one as soon as I get my grubby little paws on it. ****
One of the blurbs on the cover of this book says, essentially (I don't have it to hand, sorry), “I can't believe this series is coming to an end.” I am totally down with that sentiment. Vaughan has shown repeatedly over the years that he can take the most ludicrous, sappy crap and turn it into absolute gold (witness Pride of Baghdad, which in the hands of hundreds of lesser authors would have been a sappy new-age mess). To date, earlier volumes in this series have comprised the only 9/11-based fiction I've been able to stomach. I am at this point willing to believe Brian K. Vaughn (whom, I should mention, I had no idea was from Cleveland) can do damn near anything. And he tested that hypothesis twice in this volume...and came up a winner both times.
First off, there's a mini-story arc where the powers that be have decided that Hundred needs a biographer. Hundred holds out for a comic version. Guess who we get to see a lot of in that arc. (Which is where I found out Vaughan is from Cleveland.) It's just as friggin' ludicrous as Stephen King writing himself into the Dark Tower books. But here... it works a lot better. Maybe because Vaughan's vision of New York cleaves so much closer to the original than King's Maine? I don't know, but it does. And then comes the main story, where we find out, basically, everything about everything. Why Hundred got his powers in the first place, what it's all supposed to mean, why an old nemesis seems to be back from the dead, the works. And it's so, so cheesy, and yet just as he did with some of the touchier subjects in Runaways and Y: The Last Man, he makes it all work like gangbusters. I have no idea how, but I've seen other authors try to do this sort of thing before and have it come off just as cheesy as it sounds (or would sound were I to spoil, you know, the entire series for you). You explain it, I can't. There's more than just raw talent at work here. An awesome series, highly recommended from first page to last... or at least the end of book 9, and I'll tell you about the final one as soon as I get my grubby little paws on it. ****
September 1, 2012
Graphic Novel. AH ha! This is more like the Ex Machina of old. A return to conspiracies, the mysterious origin of Hundred's powers, and politics balanced with the supernatural, in this case a series of gruesome rat attacks. Of course, there's still some dicking around first.
Ruthless stars Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. They wrote themselves into their own story and then hung a lantern on it by complaining about other artists who do the same thing. BKV is gorgeous as drawn by Harris, but why is he in my comic book? Seems like he was trying to work though his feelings about 9/11; not sure this was the place for them. Self-indulgent, but interesting to see the creators interacting with their creation.
Green has art by John Paul Leon and Hundred fighting to make NYC more environmentally responsible. At one point Hundred complains about people who use the word "rape" for things other than rape, which makes me love him even more, but wonder about BKV who did that exact thing in the previous trade. Is it possible this was a kind of apology?
Ring Out the Old is a longer arc where things finally get back to the mythology of this series, like BKV looked at his calendar and thought, "Shit, we gotta wrap this up!" Hundred starts making plans for his last year in office and we learn more about where his powers came from...and where they're going. Also, "SET TO ZIG ZAG STITCH" made me grin so hard. Hundred. <3
Two stars? Three stars? I can't tell if that last star is out of pity or relief. This is so much better than the previous trade, but still not quite all there. Let's call it two and a half stars.
Ruthless stars Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. They wrote themselves into their own story and then hung a lantern on it by complaining about other artists who do the same thing. BKV is gorgeous as drawn by Harris, but why is he in my comic book? Seems like he was trying to work though his feelings about 9/11; not sure this was the place for them. Self-indulgent, but interesting to see the creators interacting with their creation.
Green has art by John Paul Leon and Hundred fighting to make NYC more environmentally responsible. At one point Hundred complains about people who use the word "rape" for things other than rape, which makes me love him even more, but wonder about BKV who did that exact thing in the previous trade. Is it possible this was a kind of apology?
Ring Out the Old is a longer arc where things finally get back to the mythology of this series, like BKV looked at his calendar and thought, "Shit, we gotta wrap this up!" Hundred starts making plans for his last year in office and we learn more about where his powers came from...and where they're going. Also, "SET TO ZIG ZAG STITCH" made me grin so hard. Hundred. <3
Two stars? Three stars? I can't tell if that last star is out of pity or relief. This is so much better than the previous trade, but still not quite all there. Let's call it two and a half stars.
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 9 has Hundred taking controversial measures to balance the budget. This is the volume which also amazing because Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris find a way to make themselves characters in the 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 9 has Hundred taking controversial measures to balance the budget. This is the volume which also amazing because Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris find a way to make themselves characters in the 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
September 26, 2015
We're almost at the end and this series seems to have landed at a consistent level, not as high as the opening arcs but still reasonably solid.
The initial self referential one shot was pretty amusing, jokes about Brian Bendis, comic writers and artists and some awesome art. That final two pager by Ennis and Lee is stunning and a pretty funny finale to boot.
The 'Green' issue with plant powers fits the mythos but feels slight and it's not until the end of this volume that the significance is revealed. In fact, this is an issue here. Vaughan seems to have suddenly realised he's supposed to tie all this up in the next 6 issues and while there have been hints at a deeper plot, we've effectively been given nothing other than flimsy hints to date. Well, not now as following a 'rats attack' plot line, this has a powerful ending which almost (though not entirely) shows his hand. Exposition overload but it has left me excited for the final volume.
Come on then, lets get on with it...
The initial self referential one shot was pretty amusing, jokes about Brian Bendis, comic writers and artists and some awesome art. That final two pager by Ennis and Lee is stunning and a pretty funny finale to boot.
The 'Green' issue with plant powers fits the mythos but feels slight and it's not until the end of this volume that the significance is revealed. In fact, this is an issue here. Vaughan seems to have suddenly realised he's supposed to tie all this up in the next 6 issues and while there have been hints at a deeper plot, we've effectively been given nothing other than flimsy hints to date. Well, not now as following a 'rats attack' plot line, this has a powerful ending which almost (though not entirely) shows his hand. Exposition overload but it has left me excited for the final volume.
Come on then, lets get on with it...
January 7, 2011
The last few Ex Machina volumes haven't really done much for me, but this one had a couple of neat touches. I liked the first chapter a lot, in which fictionalized versions of Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris audition for the role of the mayor's comic-biographers. There's some meta-commentary as Vaughan dismisses author appearances in comics, but it's a neat device for revealing themes. The rest of the book was a decent second-to-last chapter, with a lot of action and plot development. I'm looking forward to reading the conclusion.
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