Ex Machina #50
Reviewed by David O' Leary
EX MACHINA #50
Cover Date: September 2010
Story by: Brian K. Vaughan
Art by: Tony Harris
Colours by: JD Mettler
Letters by: Jared K. Fletcher
Cover by: Tony Harris
Publisher: WildStorm
Cover Price: $4.99
Reviewed By: David O' Leary
Book Summery: WildStorm's groundbreaking, critically acclaimed political thriller reaches its conclusion with an epic, double-sized series finale six years in the making. Former superhero - and current mayor of New York City - Mitchell Hundred finally catches up with the unspeakable tragedy foretold in the very first page of EX MACHINA #1...but countless new surprises still await! Join award-winning creators Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris and J.D. Mettler for what promises to be the most shocking and talked-about ending since the final issue of Y: THE LAST MAN!
"Vice"
We have waited patiently since the end of Amy for the final chapter of this long running series. Six years ago this book burst onto the scene with a blaze of controversy with the 9/11 disaster still very raw in peoples minds. With this final hurrah we come full circle for a satisfying ending.
It is widely recognised that Vaughan is Mr. No. 1 and a master of the final issue. It is with a tinge of sadness while reading this issue that it dawns on me that this issue represents the only and now last issue from Vaughan on the shelves. Between Y:The Last Man, Ex Machina, Pride of Baghdad and Logan there has been no writer hands down as fresh as him and now with his voice missing off the shelves there is a sudden uncomfortable silence.
I had always expected throughout this series that Hundred would run for office and become the next President. The final story arc with all the answers revealed made that seem unlikely but I did not see what actually happened coming. John McCain becomes the next President of the US and Mitchell as his running mate, the new VP.
There were another few things I never saw coming in this series and actually may have been better served with more probing and background rather than rushing them over the course of a scene. If there were any indications that Bradbury was gay and hot for Hundred in this series then I was totally blind to it. The scene where he hits on Hundred was completely out of left field really hit me for six. Not for the fact that there was a gay character but for the fact that we have to wait for the last fifteen pages for it to be revealed and we see Hundred act like a complete homophobe and completely push Bradbury away. We also see him use his powers to order Kremlin's gun to go off near his temple and kill him over a threat, however hollow, from Kremlin to out some truths about Mitchell. I find it kind of a pity that Mitchell is backed into the corner he is to carry out the things he has to do and burn the bridges he had to just to keep on top of a possible grave coming situation.
Harris had months to do this issue but unfortunately some pages seemed rushed and out of focus. Characters faces seemed to change from page to page in some places. But I feel that I have given Harris a bit of a hard time. This book stands out as one of the great political book of the last decade in both story and memorable visuals. The shot of the racist Abe Lincoln in the opening arc. The final page of issue one with the one remaining tower. These are some of the most memorable images in comics in recent times and their impact cannot be overstated.
One minor gripe though. This book is months in the making and someone messed up in the timeline. The opening time line is Tuesday April 12 th 2005. A few pages later it is Thursday the 15th 2005. One of the dates is wrong. This is just a minor thing but you would have thought that this would be something caught by the editor with so much time to get the book out.
Finally this issue at just under five bucks has no adds. So you get your money's worth no question.
On a final note, RIP Ex Machina, you'll be missed.
Rating the Issue
| Story Story: Overall 8 Concept - 8 out of 10 Plot - 8 out of 10 Dialogue - 8 out of 10 |
Art |
Importance |
Reviewer Bio
David has been with CR since June 2008 and started out as a reviewer and has expanded to do a couple of columns for the site also; starting with 28 Words Later with artist Declan Shalvey and later 5 Minutes With... where he talks with the industries best and brightest from Kubert to Moore.
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