World Famous Comics: Ex Machina, Vol. 1: The First Hundred Days
Ex Machina, Vol. 1: The First Hundred Days
By: Brian K. Vaughan Publisher: Wildstorm Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Wildstorm Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 136 Publication Date: February 01, 2005 Release Date: February 01, 2005
Product Description: The first volume of the Eisner Award-winning series featuring Eisner Award-winners author Brian K. Vaughanand artist Tony Harris. Set in our modern-day world, EX MACHINA tells the story of civil engineer Mitchell Hundred, who becomes America's first living, breathing super-hero after a strange accident gives him amazing powers. Eventually Mitchell tires of risking his life merely to maintain the status quo, retires from masked crimefighting and runs for mayor of New York City, winning by a landslide. But Mayor Hundred has to worry about more than just budget problems and an antagonistic governor, especially when a mysterious hooded figure begins assassinating plow drivers during the worst snowstorm in the city's history!
Series starts with a bang. Brian K. Vaughan, Ex Machina: The First Hundred Days (Wildstorm, 2005)
With Y: The Last Man winding down, I figured it was time to start Vaughan's more recent series, Ex Machina. I have to say that initially, when I read the premise, I was unimpressed; this odd (and usually moronic) "post-9/11" subgenre of media has produced more brain-dead landfill-fodder than I care to think about most of the time. So, yeah, I started out quite biased against the whole idea. I should have known better, however; as always, Vaughan won me over within the first few pages.
After an encounter with something possibly extreterrestrial in 1999, civil engineer Mitchell Hundred gains a superpower-- he is able to communicate with machines. Thus, since he does have a superpower, he does what anyone would do-- becomes a superhero, "The Great Machine". However, Hundred proves to be singularly inept as a superhero, and it doesn't help that the cops and the feds aren't fond of his hijinks, either. So he decides to try and help people in a different way-- by exposing his identity and running for office. Helped by his actions on September 11th (in Vaughan's universe, Hundred managed to stop the second tower from falling), he's elected in a landslide, and thus begins the singularly weird tale that is Ex Machina.
When a writer writes well, he can write anything. Vaughan seamlessly integrates superheroes, politics, and an almost superfluous mystery subplot into an amusing and highly readable tale. Can't wait to see where he's going with this. ****
Have to keep reading It is impossible to judge series by the first arc. But it is clear that you have to read more - if Spiderman and others feel "cartoonish" this one is more mature, movie-like. This TPB contains an origin story and shows some tasks the lead character has to tackle - those not typical to your average superhero.
A brilliant beginning While everything Brian Vaughan writes is genius, Ex Machina is something really special: the first actual "reinvention" of the superheroic fictional archetype since Moore and Gibbons's Watchmen set the industry abuzz with notions like, well, revinventing the superheroic archetype! If you're at all interested in the nature of heroism and moden politics, Ex Machina is for you.
Interesting It was a little bit hard to follow at times, but Ex Machina was still really cool. It was a really creative premise, and I thought it was executed very well. The artwork was quite good. I'm definately going to have to read the rest of the series.
Graphic SF Reader Mitchell Hundred used to be a superhero. That is, until he failed to stop the destruction of both Twin Towers in New York, by terrorists, only leaving one.
He decides to become a politician, and because of hassles and disagreements, gives the party system the arse and runs as an independent.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
