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Ex Machina (comics)
Encyclopedia
Ex Machina is an American creator-owned
comic book
series
created by Brian K. Vaughan
and Tony Harris
, and published by DC Comics
under the Wildstorm
imprint.
The series details the life of Mitchell Hundred (also known as The Great Machine), the world's first and only superhero, who, in the wake of his actions on 9/11
, is elected Mayor
of New York City
. The story is set during Hundred's term in office, and interwoven with flashbacks to his past as the Great Machine. Through this, the series explores both the political situations Hundred finds himself in, and the mysteries surrounding his superpowers.
as part of DC Comics' Wildstorm imprint. The series ended in August 2010 with issue fifty.
The title of the comic comes from the Latin phrase 'deus ex machina
', and is also a reference to Hundred's superhero persona, the Great Machine, in that he is now an 'ex-Machine'. In the first issue, Mitchell explains that he chose the name "Great Machine" based on a quote about society by Thomas Jefferson
. Accordingly, one of the series' recurring themes is the tendency of citizens to become overly reliant on their government and constantly expect it to save them.
Vaughan has said that the comic was "born out of my anger with what passes for our current political leadership (on both sides of the aisle)".
Vaughan has admitted seeing the series as a means to explore real-world contemporary politics as well, but states that discussing themes overtly is not something he prefers.
:
In addition, the series is being released in deluxe hardcovers, the first of which was released on July 15, 2008.
announced that they picked up the rights to make a film adaptation.
Creator ownership
Creator ownership is an arrangement in which the creator or creators of a work of fiction retain full ownership of the material, regardless of whether it is self-published or by a corporate publisher. In some fields of publishing, such as fiction writing, creator ownership is a standard arrangement...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series
Ongoing series
The term "ongoing series" is used in contrast to limited series , a one shot , a graphic novel, or a trade paperback...
created by Brian K. Vaughan
Brian K. Vaughan
Brian Keller Vaughan is an American comic book and television writer. He is best known for the comic book series Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina, Runaways, and Pride of Baghdad, and was one of the principal writers of the television series Lost, during seasons three through five...
and Tony Harris
Tony Harris (cartoonist)
Tony Harris is an American comic book artist, known for his work as series such as Starman, Iron Man, and Ex Machina. He has been nominated for five Eisner Awards for his work.-Career:...
, and published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
under the Wildstorm
Wildstorm
WildStorm Productions, or simply WildStorm, published American comic books. Originally an independent company established by Jim Lee and further expanded upon in subsequent years by other creators, WildStorm became a publishing imprint of DC Comics in 1999...
imprint.
The series details the life of Mitchell Hundred (also known as The Great Machine), the world's first and only superhero, who, in the wake of his actions on 9/11
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, is elected Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The story is set during Hundred's term in office, and interwoven with flashbacks to his past as the Great Machine. Through this, the series explores both the political situations Hundred finds himself in, and the mysteries surrounding his superpowers.
Publication history
Ex Machina launched in 20042004 in comics
-February:*February 6: Marvel Enterprises and Electronic Arts announce a multi-year agreement in which EA will develop a new generation of fighting video games pitting Marvel superheroes against a new, original set of EA heroes....
as part of DC Comics' Wildstorm imprint. The series ended in August 2010 with issue fifty.
The title of the comic comes from the Latin phrase 'deus ex machina
Deus ex machina
A deus ex machina is a plot device whereby a seemingly inextricable problem is suddenly and abruptly solved with the contrived and unexpected intervention of some new event, character, ability, or object.-Linguistic considerations:...
', and is also a reference to Hundred's superhero persona, the Great Machine, in that he is now an 'ex-Machine'. In the first issue, Mitchell explains that he chose the name "Great Machine" based on a quote about society by Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
. Accordingly, one of the series' recurring themes is the tendency of citizens to become overly reliant on their government and constantly expect it to save them.
Vaughan has said that the comic was "born out of my anger with what passes for our current political leadership (on both sides of the aisle)".
Vaughan has admitted seeing the series as a means to explore real-world contemporary politics as well, but states that discussing themes overtly is not something he prefers.
Characters
- Mitchell Hundred Before becoming a superhero and mayor, Hundred was a civil engineer. His colleagues say that he knows more about the Brooklyn BridgeBrooklyn BridgeThe Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River...
than anyone else alive. He was raised by a highly political single mother; this, and his being a keen reader of DC Comics, inspired his life choices. There is an "is he or isn't he" aspect to his sexuality; on several occasions, characters ask him directly if he is gay, and Hundred does not directly reply in the affirmative or the negative. As the result of an explosion from an extradimensional device at the foot of the Brooklyn BridgeBrooklyn BridgeThe Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River...
, Hundred is permanently scarred (he has markings on the left side of his face and body reminiscent of a circuit board or electrodes); and develops the ability to communicate with and command mechanical devices. This includes anything from guns, to cellphones, to cars (but not, as Hundred discovered, a device as simple as a bow-and-arrow) — however, they will not necessarily obey him, and may even lie to him. As the Great Machine, Mitchell Hundred utilizes many devices he designed after his accident. He wears a rocket backpack that allows him to fly, and uses ray guns and taser gloves as weapons. He has entrusted Kremlin and Rick Bradbury with possession of machines which disrupt his powers. He built them based on dreams (along with some of his crime-fighting weapons), and expects them to be used as a contingency measure in case he ever goes mad with power. Hundred is visually based on a real-life friend of Tony Harris. IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
ranked Mitchell Hundred as the 48th greatest comic book hero of all time stating that Hundred has been nothing but a pleasure to watch fall from grace; IGN also quoted that "often times the greatest heroes are the most flawed; it is in these flaws that we can sympathize with good ol' Mitch. Hundred, all at once, exemplifies the best and worst in humanity and our eternal struggle to find the balance between the two." - Rick Bradbury: Mitchell's best friend, retired MarineUnited States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
(he claims to have fought in "one and a half wars"); and head of security. As a lieutenant on the Harbor Patrol he witnesses the incident that gives Mitchell his amazing abilities and goes on to assist his career as a crime fighter and politician. - Ivan "Kremlin" Tereshkov: A mechanic on Coney IslandConey IslandConey Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
and family friend. He acts as mentor for Mitchell, inspiring him to don the Great Machine costume. The Russian immigrant is not pleased that Mitchell gave up his superhero career to pursue a profession he does not think highly of. Though disillusioned by the Soviet UnionSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, he still believes in the dream of communism. Kremlin believes that it was Mitchell's cosmic purpose to become the Great Machine, and he is covertly working to ensure that Hundred is not re-elected. - Commissioner Angotti: As police commissioner of New York City, Amy Angotti often finds herself dealing with bizarre cases linked to Mitchell Hundred and his powers.
- Dave Wylie: Mitchell Hundred's deputy mayor and good friend is a lowly councilman who got talked into running with that "nut." Thinking he was only going to help the Republican party spoil the democratic candidate he was treated to a surprise landslide victory and now finds himself the recipient of complaints by many critics of the administration.
- Journal Moore: A former City Hall intern, she was promoted to "Special Advisor on Youth Affairs" by Hundred and is now seen frequently assisting him in many of his duties. She is hospitalized after a ricinRicinRicin , from the castor oil plant Ricinus communis, is a highly toxic, naturally occurring protein. A dose as small as a few grains of salt can kill an adult. The LD50 of ricin is around 22 micrograms per kilogram Ricin , from the castor oil plant Ricinus communis, is a highly toxic, naturally...
gas attack during an anti-war demonstration and succumbs to her injuries. - Candice Watts: Mayor Hundred's fourth Chief of Staff after the former three resigned after only two weeks of Hundred in office.
- Jack Pherson: Mitchell Hundred's nemesis as the Great Machine, first appears in the Ex Machina Special. Pherson is a sound technician who tries to figure out the secret of the Great Machine's power so that he can make money from it. He captures a sound bite of Hundred in action, and studies it carefully to determine the source of the power of the Great Machine's "voice." After Pherson hears his pet African Grey parrot repeat the recorded phrase (duplicating frequency and timbre in a manner Pherson's audio gear cannot) he suddenly (and violently) gains the ability to hear and talk to animals. He learns a means for disrupting Hundred's powers and utilizes it in pursuit of his cause of extremist animal rights. He goes on to draw out Hundred; however, Hundred turns his powers against him, resulting in his death by mauling by a pack of dogs, followed by an explosion which brings part of a building down on him. Despite this, Kremlin asserts that Pherson is still alive. Pherson's parrot, which has been seen in the present time of the book, also appears to have both an increased intellect and some of the same powers.
- Trip: An employee of the governor of New York. At his employer's behest, he tries to blackmail Hundred into subordinating himself to the governor; knowing that the blackmail was false, Hundred confiscates it and threatens to stop Trip's pacemaker if he ever tries something similar again.
- Jackson Georges: An NSA cryptologist who works with Hundred to try and better understand his powers. Prolonged exposure to the fragment that gave Hundred his power, as well as the shock of the September 11 attacks, makes Georges lose his mind.
- Connie Georges: Jackson's wife. Driven insane by exposure to the fragment, she stabs herself with it and gains Hundred-esque powers. She goes on a killing/mutilating spree in the subway before Hundred kills her in Gracie MansionGracie Mansionthumb|250px|Western sideGracie Mansion is the official residence of the mayor of the City of New York. Built in 1799, it is located in Carl Schurz Park, at East End Avenue and Eighty-eighth Street in Manhattan...
. - Leto: Owns the comic book store that Hundred frequented as a kid. After seeing Hundred's success, he decides that he could be a superhero too. He dons insectoid full body armor and a government surplus jetpack and begins prowling the streets as "Automaton", leading people to speculate that he is a robot built by Hundred. He is shot by Kremlin after violently reacting to Bradbury and Kremlin's discovery of his secret; over a year later, he is seen to have become homeless.
- January Moore: Journal Moore's sister. After her sister's death, she becomes an intern for Hundred's office at the invitation of Wylie. Along with Kremlin, January is actively working to subvert Hundred's administration and ensure that his re-election will fail.
- Trouble (Monica): A tour guide who becomes a masked adventurer after interacting with Great Machine. Her actions prove increasingly troublesome to Mitchell and his administration.
Pre-2000s
- 1968 - Mitchell Hundred is born to Thomas and Martha Hundred.
- December 15, 1969 - Martha Hundred kills Thomas Hundred in self-defense.
- October 18, 1999 - Mitchell Hundred, now a civil engineer, is caught in an explosion from an unknown device at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge. He discovers that he is able to control and communicate with machinery in the hospital.
- October 31, 1999 - Mitchell Hundred is robbed in a convenience store right after being released from the hospital. He begins to experiment with the use of his powers.
2000
- February 4, 2000 - Ivan "Kremlin" Tereshkov talks Mitchell Hundred into becoming the world's first superheroSuperheroA superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
. - April 10, 2000 - Mitchell Hundred starts his superhero life, calling himself "The Great Machine."
- April 17, 2000 - The Great Machine has his first fight; a bystander gains the ability to communicate with plant life.
- October 13, 2000 - The Great machine saves a fireman.
- December 24, 2000 - The Great Machine tries to deliver toys to an orphanage on Christmas Eve but crashes, destroying his jetpack.
2001
- March 4, 2001 - Jack Pherson gains the ability to control and communicate with animals.
- March 10, 2001 - The Great Machine uses his homemade ray gun in a fight; instead of producing a blast of energy, the ray gun opens an interdimensional portal (terrifying the Great Machine's opponent into surrender).
- March 10, 2001 - Jack Pherson meets the Great Machine and learns he is Mitchell Hundred.
- March 27, 2001 - Jack Pherson and the Great Machine fight each other in a rooftop apiaryApiaryAn apiary is a place where beehives of honey bees are kept. Traditionally beekeepers paid land rent in honey for the use of small parcels. Some farmers will provide free apiary sites, because they need pollination, and farmers who need many hives often pay for them to be moved to the crops when...
- May 8, 2001 - Jack Pherson unleashes a multi-pronged attack against The Great Machine. Pherson and Hundred meet for the last time as Pherson is apparently killed when an exploding building collapses on him.
- May 19, 2001 - Monica first sees the Great Machine as he chases after a criminal in a jetpack.
- June 2, 2001 - Monica chases after the Great Machine as he is being chased by the NYPD
- June 30, 2001 - Mitchell Hundred talks to Dave Wylie about retiring The Great Machine and running for mayor.
- July 4, 2001 - Mitchell Hundred unmasks in Central ParkCentral ParkCentral Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
and announces his candidacy for mayor. - July 24, 2001 - Mitchell Hundred meets Jackson Georges, an NSA cryptologist, for the first time.
- August 11, 2001 - Mitchell Hundred tells Jackson Georges that he gave up his helmet and jetpack to the NSA.
- September 11, 2001 - The Great Machine stops United Flight 175 before it crashes into the south tower of the World Trade CenterWorld Trade CenterThe original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
. - November 6, 2001 - Mitchell Hundred is elected Mayor of New York City. Hundred spends the day in a sensory deprivation tank overseen by government officials to ensure he does not use his powers to fix the election.
2002
- January 9, 2002 - Mitchell Hundred is inaugurated as Mayor of New York City.
- March 23, 2002 - Jackson Georges and his wife Connie develop psychosis due to exposure to the fragment of circuit board that gave Mitchell Hundred his powers as well as increasing emotional stress in their marital life. Connie stabs herself with the fragment and cuts her left arm off, then kills Jackson and their daughter Emily. She gains Hundred-esque powers. Over the next several days, Connie Georges moves to the Manhattan sewers, wearing a hazard protection suit and spray-painting glyphs that resemble the one found on the fragment. A commuter views several of the glyphs and goes into seizures, finally killing herself.
- March 28, 2002 - During an assassination attempt, Mitchell Hundred discovers that a bow-and-arrow is too simple for him to command. Later that night, Connie Georges infiltrates Gracie MansionGracie Mansionthumb|250px|Western sideGracie Mansion is the official residence of the mayor of the City of New York. Built in 1799, it is located in Carl Schurz Park, at East End Avenue and Eighty-eighth Street in Manhattan...
and confronts Mitchell Hundred; he is forced to kill her in self-defense. She makes several coded references to string theoryString theoryString theory is an active research framework in particle physics that attempts to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity. It is a contender for a theory of everything , a manner of describing the known fundamental forces and matter in a mathematically complete system...
and Edward WittenEdward WittenEdward Witten is an American theoretical physicist with a focus on mathematical physics who is currently a professor of Mathematical Physics at the Institute for Advanced Study....
, and implies that Hundred is a Christ-figureChrist-figureA Christ figure is a literary technique that authors use to draw allusions between their characters and the biblical Jesus Christ. More loosely, the Christ Figure is a spiritual or prophetic character who parallels Jesus, or other spiritual or prophetic figures.In general, a character should...
, calling him 'carpenter' and saying he should 'spread the gospel.' - March 30, 2002 - Mitchell Hundred presides over a gay marriage ceremony.
- October 9, 2002 - Leto starts his superhero career in full body armor, calling himself "Automaton".
- October 10, 2002 - Kremlin attacks Leto and destroys his armor.
- November 7, 2002 - Martha Hundred tells her son the truth about his father's death; he had previously been told that his father died in a cave-in.
2003
- February 15, 2003 - Journal Moore is hospitalized after a ricinRicinRicin , from the castor oil plant Ricinus communis, is a highly toxic, naturally occurring protein. A dose as small as a few grains of salt can kill an adult. The LD50 of ricin is around 22 micrograms per kilogram Ricin , from the castor oil plant Ricinus communis, is a highly toxic, naturally...
gas attack during an anti-warAnti-warAn anti-war movement is a social movement, usually in opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict, unconditional of a maybe-existing just cause. The term can also refer to pacifism, which is the opposition to all use of military force during conflicts. Many...
demonstration. - February 18, 2003 - Journal dies as a result of the ricin attack.
- March 4, 2003 - Mitchell Hundred gives an open Q&A on New York Public Radio where he is ambushed by the moderator.
- July 15, 2003 - Mitchell Hundred meets January Moore for the first time.
- August 14, 2003 - Augustyn Zeller, a traveler from an alternate timeline, accidentally causes the Northeast Blackout of 2003Northeast Blackout of 2003The Northeast blackout of 2003 was a widespread power outage that occurred throughout parts of the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Ontario, Canada on Thursday, August 14, 2003, just before 4:10 p.m....
; for the duration of the blackout, Mitchell Hundred is unable to use his powers. - August 15, 2003 - Mitchell Hundred confronts Zeller, who manages to give him a cryptic warning before being forcibly returned to his own timeline.
- October 28, 2003 - Mitchell Hundred resolves the issue of the KKK wanting to hold a rally in Central Park.
- December 9, 2003 - Mitchell Hundred is invited to meet Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul IIBlessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
in Vatican CityVatican CityVatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of... - December 13, 2003 - Hundred and Bradbury fly to Italy.
- December 15, 2003 - Mitchell Hundred has a private audience with Pope John Paul II, during which foreign agents attempt to mind-control him into committing murder.
2004
- July 29, 2004 - Mitchell Hundred is asked to give the keynote address at the 2004 Republican National Convention2004 Republican National ConventionThe 2004 Republican National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States, took place from August 30 to September 2, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York...
. Trouble (Monica) BASE jumps off of the remaining World Trade Center tower. - July 30, 2004 - Trouble defaces the Empire State BuildingEmpire State BuildingThe Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...
with graffiti. - August 30, 2004 - Trouble breaks into City Hall to meet Mitchell Hundred.
- October 6, 2004 - Mitchell Hundred interviews Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris about writing and drawing his biography. He decides on Garth EnnisGarth EnnisGarth Ennis is a Northern Irish comics writer, best known for the Vertigo series Preacher with artist Steve Dillon and his successful nine-year run on Marvel Comics' Punisher franchise...
and Jim LeeJim LeeJim Lee is a Korean-American comic book artist, writer, editor and publisher. He first broke into the industry in 1987 as an artist for Marvel Comics, illustrating titles such as Alpha Flight and Punisher War Journal, before gaining a great deal of popularity on The Uncanny X-Men...
instead. - December 29, 2004 - Mitchell Hundred announces that he will not be running for re-election as Mayor of New York.
- December 30, 2004 - As a result of a rash of animal attacks, Mitchell Hundred becomes concerned that Jack Pherson is back. He puts on a mask and enters the sewers to hunt for Pherson. In the sewers, Hundred encounters an automaton. The automaton criticizes him for misusing his powers, which it states were intended to prepare the Earth for invasion. Meanwhile, journalist Suzanne Padilla is exposed to an artifact built by Hundred; she gains the ability to influence and control human minds and memories, as well as enhanced strength, speed, and the ability to fly.
2005
- April 10, 2005 - Suzanne Padilla attacks Mitchell Hundred and dumps him in the East River. She then steals the dimensional portal-opening device from Martha Hundred; Martha Hundred is killed in the process. Hundred once more dons the Great Machine costume to battle Suzanne, revealing that the supposed "jammer" for his powers never really worked. He pushes her through the inter-dimensional portal where we briefly see a hell like dimension before it closes. Before the police arrive, he and Bradbury switch places. Bradbury claims that he wanted to protect the mayor, and takes the fall for all his actions.
2006
- Now the United States ambassador to the United Nations, Hundred reveals his final act as Mayor: the rebuilding of the Twin Towers to show the world New York is not afraid and ready to come back.
2007
- Having spent a year in prison and with his family abandoning him, a drunken and disheveled Bradbury comes to Hundred, revealing that he's always been in love with the man. When a stunned Hundred pushes him away, noting that his friend is drunk, a furious Bradbury punches him and leaves.
- Kremlin summons Hundred to his home, threatening to release Suzanne's files indicating Hundred used his powers to fix the mayoral election, determined to keep Mitchell a hero to New York. Mitchell refuses, saying he can do more to help the world as President. Kremlin initially threatens to shoot Mitchell, but then turns his gun on himself. Instead of trying to stop him, Mitchell uses his powers (he may have used them unknowingly) to make the gun go off, killing Kremlin.
Post-2005
- Hundred recounts his story "... my four years in office, from the beginning of 2002 through godforsaken 2005." He is shown sitting in an unknown location, looking dejected. It is revealed on the final issue that he was actually talking to the jetpack he used to wear during his time as The Great Machine. On the final pages, we learn that Hundred is in Number One Observatory CircleNumber One Observatory CircleNumber One Observatory Circle is the official residence of the Vice President of the United States.Located on the northeast grounds of the United States Naval Observatory in Washington, DC, the house was built in 1893 for its superintendent. The Chief of Naval Operations liked the house so much...
and is now Vice President of the United StatesVice President of the United StatesThe Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
under PresidentPresident of the United StatesThe President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
John McCainJohn McCainJohn Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
. As he looks at a picture of his former friends, he pronounces the last words of the series: "Fade to blackFade to BlackFade to Black can refer to:* Fade , in stage lighting, a change in light level; decreasing the level to complete darkness is a "fade to black"* Fade to Black , a Nero Wolfe mystery by Robert Goldsborough...
".
Collected editions
Ex Machina has been collected in the following trade paperbacksTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
:
| Title | Material collected | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| Ex Machina Vol. 1: The First Hundred Days | Ex Machina #1-5 | ISBN 1401206123 |
| Ex Machina Vol. 2: Tag | Ex Machina #6-10 | ISBN 1401206263 |
| Ex Machina Vol. 3: Fact V. Fiction | Ex Machina #11-16 | ISBN 1401209882 |
| Ex Machina Vol. 4: March to War | Ex Machina #17-20 and Ex Machina Special #1-2 | ISBN 1401209971 |
| Ex Machina Vol. 5: Smoke Smoke | Ex Machina #21-25 | ISBN 1401213227 |
| Ex Machina Vol. 6: Power Down | Ex Machina #26-29 and Inside the Machine Special | ISBN 1401214983 |
| Ex Machina Vol. 7: Ex Cathedra | Ex Machina #30-34 | ISBN 1401218598 |
| Ex Machina Vol. 8: Dirty Tricks | Ex Machina #35-39 and Ex Machina Special #3 (Masquerade Special) | ISBN 1401225195 |
| Ex Machina vol. 9: Ring Out the Old | Ex Machina #40-44 and Ex Machina Special #4 | ISBN 1401226949 |
| Ex Machina Vol. 10: Term Limits | Ex Machina #45-50 | ISBN 1401228364 |
In addition, the series is being released in deluxe hardcovers, the first of which was released on July 15, 2008.
| Title | Material collected | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| Ex Machina: The Deluxe Edition Book One | Ex Machina #1-11 | ISBN 1401218148 |
| Ex Machina: The Deluxe Edition Book Two | Ex Machina #12-20 and Ex Machina Special #1-2 | ISBN 1401226779 |
| Ex Machina: The Deluxe Edition Book Three | Ex Machina #21-29 and Inside the Machine Special | ISBN 1401228003 |
| Ex Machina: The Deluxe Edition Book Four | Ex Machina #30-40 and Ex Machina Special #3 (Masquerade Special) | ISBN 1401228453 |
| Ex Machina: The Deluxe Edition Book Five | Ex Machina #41-50 and Ex Machina Special #4 | ISBN 1401229999 |
Film
On 14 July 2005, New Line CinemaNew Line Cinema
New Line Cinema, often simply referred to as New Line, is an American film studio. It was founded in 1967 by Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne as a film distributor, later becoming an independent film studio. It became a subsidiary of Time Warner in 1996 and was merged with larger sister studio Warner...
announced that they picked up the rights to make a film adaptation.
External links
- DC Comics page on Ex Machina - Includes a free downloadable copy of the Ex Machina #1
- BEHIND THE SCENES with the artists of the book
- Brian K. Vaughan On Ex Machina's Final Year, Comic Book ResourcesComic Book ResourcesComic Book Resources, also known as CBR is a website dedicated to the coverage of comic book-related news and discussion.-History:Comic Book Resources was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1996 as a development of the Kingdom Come Message Board, a message forum that Weiland had created to discuss DC...
, December 16, 2008