Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Dr. Gym'll's Cultural Rarities Ex Machina (#12 out 4/20)

Monkey Eater Lad: (God I love that name) It was our Editor, Ben Abernathy you met. Brian K. was in Japan getting married.

Tom

Tom, congrats on issue 1 selling out! Please pass along the congrats to Ol' Man H and BKV. 37K for an adult-themed, non-bat, non-Spider, non-X title is very impressive. I should be getting #3 in my subs delivery tomorrow, and along with She-hulk and my Legions it's on my "most anticipated" list! Woohoo!

Where's the love? Issue 6 is out,and this book is still great. I'm loving the political side, and anticipating Mayor Hundred being drawn back into his role as The great Machine.

Is there a trade collection in the works?

Ex Machina: The First 100 Days is in this month's Previews. It collects the first 5 issues and retails for $9.95, but my subscription site, DCBS ( www.dcbservice.com ) is running a special 50% discount on the TPB. $4.97! You couldn't buy the individual issues when as they came OUT for 3 times that!

The solicit reads:

Written by Brian K. Vaughan Art by Tony Harris & Tom Feister Cover by Harris From Wizard Magazine's Top Ten writer Brian K. Vaughan (Y: THE LAST MAN) and Eisner Award-winning artist Tony Harris (STARMAN) comes a collection of one of the most critically acclaimed new series of the year, featuring a gorgeous new cover by Harris! THE FIRST HUNDRED DAYS collects the first five issues of this stellar ongoing political thriller, including the extra-sized origin of the super-heroic Great Machine, as well as the 4-part 'State of Emergency.'

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!

I just read issue #6 today, and was happy as usual. This book continues to entertain me in ways that a lot of other books just aren't managing to do these days. The characters have issues, attitudes and personalities that seem so much more complex than the usual comic characters, and even bit-role type characters have a life about them that lends a realism that's very refreshing.

And the last page of issue #6 is especially topical considering that 'gay marriage' bill (or whatever it was) that was tacked onto the election poll in a few states. Mitchell's look on the second-to-last page was great (you could almost see the wheels turning in his head), as was the one on the last page.

And Harris & Feister continue to delight me with lovely art, even if I don't think the colourist is doing them a lot of favours. A lot of the scenes seem a bit too washed out and muted for my liking, while others (the subway scenes, the balcony chat) are done quite well.

I'm loving Ex Machina! Its something I can easily share with non-comic book folks. I still think the Great Machine looks kinda dopey (even it if is functional) with that face mask on.

Wouldn't be surprised if the dopey look was intentional. After all, the superhero thing doesn't actually work out for him.

The flipdown visor on a motorcycle helmet over a wrestler's mask? Yeah, dopey's a pretty good word for it... Even the name's unwieldly, not conventionally superhero-ish.

I stopped by the old CBS to wish Guy (the counter guy ) a happy Turkey Day, and we got talking about Ex Machina. He's been hearing about it from others besides me, and I pushed it real good ... made sure he knew about the TPB for 1-5, gave him a general summary of the setting. Hopefully I snagged another reader.

Bump for Knowjack and VU to join in on the old conversation.

Thanks, Pov!
This is a GREAT book. I love Vaughan's RUNAWAYS and Y:THE LAST MAN, and this is just as good.

Holy crap, this book is really good right now!

I'm loving everything about it... The art, the writing. Fabulous. The political subplots, the character work, the mystery surrounding Mitch's heroic past and the source of his powers, it's all clicking. Even the cut scenes between past and present, which was one of my misgivings early in the series, work... they add without being jarring.

Loving this book!

Comments on the book & a few words from Vaughn at http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/21587/ .

from the article:

Whether or not Vaughan's narrative can continue to sample the national nervous system to craft his compelling tales of virtue, vice and sociopolitical intrigue in a real-time environment growing more and more hostile to anything left-of-center still remains to be seen. But judging by the fact that three out of the five comics nominated for GLAAD's award are DC Comics productions, he can at least claim job security. Right now, he's just happy that someone, anyone, is giving comic books their long-deserved due.

"It's flattering when any institution recognizes comics in any capacity. DC Comics was discussing many things before TV and movies could. Because they've always had a relatively smaller audience, they have had more room to experiment and push the envelope. It's nice that GLAAD recognizes any comics at all, especially one that I'm lucky enough to work on."

Eisner nominations were announced this week and guess what?

Best Single Issue:
Ex Machina #1: “The Pilot,” by Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Feister

Best Serialized Story:
Ex Machina #2-5: “State of Emergency,” by Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Feister

Best Continuing Series:
Ex Machina, by Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Fesiter

Best New Series:
Ex Machina, by Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Fesiter

Best Writer:
Brian K. Vaughan, Ex Machina

Best Coloring:
J. D. Mettler, Ex Machina

I'll admit that I'm way behind on this series. I haven't picked up an issues in months but they are sitting in my must read pile. Maybe it is time to pull them to the top and read them all.

Congratulations Tony and Tom (and Brian and J.D.)!

It deserves all its accolades. One of my favorite books right now.

At the Cup O' Joe panel yesterday morning, Marvel publisher Dan Buckley had this to say:



I wonder how much longer he'll be working for Quesada.

Well, I'll close the EX MACHINA thread I opened this morning. Anyone who's not reading Ex Machina should . . . come to my house right away and start reading it.

You can read Y and Invincible, too, and while you're in the basement how about folding some of that laundry.

pretty good pull list you mentioned there. and while I understand why comic companies like to have franchise long-term series, I have to say the fact that Y and Ex Machina have a end point helps make them that much better.