Ex Machina Volume 6-Power Down

Written by Brian K. Vaughan

Mayor Mitchell Hundred has a problem. In fact, the ex superhero has so many problems he doesn't know what to do with them, ranging from the spy in his administration to the NSA gag order on him talking about his superpowers. But in 2003, as the great blackout hits, Mitchell finds himself faced with a very new, very different problem and absolutely no powers to deal with it...

Brian K. Vaughan's series has always been one of the oddest and smartest takes on the superhero genre on the market and this is no exception. Vaughan cleverly combines the real 2003 blackout with his fictional mayor to create a story which oddly, shines more light on Hundred's powers by taking them away. Forced to act without his abilities, and intercut once more with Hundred's actions on September 11, this story sees the overall series move into its third act. There is clearly a price Mitchell must pay for his powers and its clearly far, far heavier than he could imagine.

The series' handling of 9/11 has always been both remarkably sensitive and pragmatic and there's no exception to that here. The single World Trade Tower still standing in Mitch's New York becomes almost a symbol of his internal struggle to decide between mayor and hero, man and ideal. The fact that he seems incapable of making that choice is more than a little bleak but that darkness is tempered by the presence of the single tower. Mitch made a difference, and whether or not he thinks its enough, proof of that difference stands on the Manhatten skyline. Like I say, it's a very brave, very personal approach to the event and some readers may well find it difficult to deal with but Vaughan is surely to be applauded for dealing with it with such sensitivity and intelligence.

Vaughan's script is only half the work however. Tony Harris' staggering photo-referenced artwork gives the cast of the series a unique, and uniquely normal, life all their own. There's a bonus feature in this volume which sees Harris explore his composition techniques and the way the covers and pages evolve over time is genuinely fascinating to see.

A book about what happens when normal people do extraordinary things, Ex Machina is one of the best series on the market. If you're remotely interested in intelligent, funny, different storytelling then this, and the previous five volumes, need to be in your collection. Highly recommended.