Patience in parts

So my local comic shop finally got the latest installment of Ex Machina, from Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. Seems this book has been months behind, but I’m sure there are valid reasons. The artwork, for one, seems a bit complicated. Early trades showed glimpses of Harris’ illustration process, with key frames based on storyboard-like photos of staff members. Odd, but I like the end result. Then there’s Vaughan’s contributions to LOST scripts and story sessions as well. That’s got to eat up some time.

Ex Machina is probably the single best comic I’m reading right now for characterization, writing and general cool factor. Quick hit: Mitchell Hundred is an average civil engineer in New York City who gets called out one night to investigate an anomaly on the Brooklyn Bridge. Subsequent freak sci-fi accident occurs, and he can suddenly converse with mechanicals and electronics. The comic constantly shifts between his time as a fledgling vigilante with unique powers in a pre-9/11 NYC, and his term as Mayor of New York City after the terrorist attacks. It’s seriously like The West Wing meets Spider-Man, but far grittier. Definitely a mature comic.

The trouble is, it seems flat at the moment. Early on, we got insane storylines involving…well, the coolest stuff just hasn’t been explained quite yet: time travel, interdimensional visitors, a shadowy nemesis, etc. I also want more on why Hundred has his powers and where they come from (which, supposedly, the Federal government has classified as top secret) and lately we just keep getting tepid political problems for Mayor Hundred with corresponding flashbacks to his vigilante days to give us some perspective. Granted, there was a recent situation with his trip to Rome, which culminated in a fucking great set-up for future storylines, but now it seems we’re back to his dealing with political rabble-rousers, all of whom seem to be female, blonde and spunky.

I’m positive the Ex Machina crew has big things planned for Hundred, but I’m getting a bit tired of these little throwaway bits that don’t seem to move the larger story along. Of course, this is the third issue of this particular arc, so perhaps there are bigger events or revelations on the way. Out of nowhere we got a nice flashback to some of the earlier sci-fi elements, which then drifted away without explanation, so maybe Vaughan’s just telling us to hang in there and all will be well.

Hope so. I came late to the Y: The Last Man party, and only got to experience that book through the trade volumes. I can see how reading it month-to-month would have been pretty frustrating, and maybe that’s how I should take in Ex Machina. The Last Man was a staggering epic with an absolutely pitch-fucking-perfect ending, so I find it hard to doubt Vaughan’s skill as an episodic storyteller.