Ex Machina, Vol. 9: Ring out the Old
As the acclaimed series featuring superhero-turned-New-York-City-mayor Mitchell Hundred nears its planned conclusion, the intensity grows on both the political and crime-fighting fronts: Hundred unveils a bold proposal to raise taxes (“Like, a lot”) and announces he won’t run for a second term (analogous to the creators’ decision to end the popular comic with the fiftieth issue); and he dons his long-abandoned costume to confront an old foe who threatens to attack the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration. Vaughan’s vivid storytelling and crisp dialogue and Harris’ sleekly realistic artwork remain as potent as ever. --Gordon Flagg