lbrex's review
5.0
After working my way through some of the other later volumes, most notably numbers 7 and 8, which I don't think added to the overall plot or showed us that much about the main character, Vaughan has brought the series to a puzzling and distressing end--an end that is satisfying nonetheless. This series actually ends up being even darker than I imagined at first, and the series' engagement with issues of "national security" seems much more complicated. . Ultimately, this is a series about political idealism told through super-hero narrative, but it ends up disabling our inclination to see politicians as superheroes. This leaves me wondering whether this isn't, then, politically disabling...a series that will lead to even more crippling political cynicism.
Spoiler
Also, who would have thought that Mitchell Hundred would, like Sarah Palin, end up as the mayor who became John McCain's running mate?? And that Mitchell was, in fact, even more frightening than real-life politicians in the lengths to which he would go to defend the security of the planet?shinychick's review
3.0
The very last story seemed a little... Odd. But, overall, an interesting ending to a solid fun scifi series.
molokov's review
1.0
Overall, the climax of this story wasn't bad - but it still felt like there should have been *more*. The final "resolution" issue was just awful. McCain, seriously?
I think that this whole series wasn't really for me, especially in the light of the horrible state of US politics since it was set (1999-2005) and published (2008ish). Things were just too "real" which is not what I want out of a fantasy comic, even one that has political undertones. I'll reiterate what I said in my Vol 1 review: Transmetropolitan had far better political commentary, and because it was all allegorical (and not based in the real world/current day), it could go so much further with issues.
I think that this whole series wasn't really for me, especially in the light of the horrible state of US politics since it was set (1999-2005) and published (2008ish). Things were just too "real" which is not what I want out of a fantasy comic, even one that has political undertones. I'll reiterate what I said in my Vol 1 review: Transmetropolitan had far better political commentary, and because it was all allegorical (and not based in the real world/current day), it could go so much further with issues.
sewcialist_librarian's review
3.0
Gah! I cannot believe the ending. ARGH! Clearly, I was hoping for a slightly better (read: happier. Not that I was expecting unicorns and rainbows) end. One GR reviewer says "...ending with an image of John McCain like the final shot of any horror movie where the camera pans down to reveal they didn't destroy all the eggs! It's almost exactly that cheesy." I have to agree. Also, the ending is bitter. Just because Ex Machina didn't end the way I hoped, doesn't mean it wasn't compelling.
Spoiler
Mitchell Hundred is corrupted. At first, I wanted to say that he pulled a 180 (as others have said); but really, he is corrupted by his political goals. Bradbury...well, that's just weird. He wears the jet pack once and suddenly he's the super hero that Hundred wasn't; but then he hates all the attention he got from it? That left me totally confused. All the other characters just sort of pft away in the wind...conveniently written out of the story. Also weird.sbernad08's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
bowienerd_82's review
2.0
I felt like the ending on this was a bit rushed, and that there were dozens of story threads that were never tied up. I also didn't really like the ending, though I would never expect a happy one from Vaughan.
jakekilroy's review
4.0
Well, holy shit, I can honestly say I didn't see any of this ending coming. If Vaughan was going for the weird and the wild, he got it. Ultimately satisfying for the most part, mostly because it sticks to realism (or as much as it can in this sci-fi craziness). Even the seriously fucking insane seems to work here, as it's matched by a willing interest to tell a story that matters, even if in a parallel world of sorts. It doesn't wrap up everything prettily as if going for the mainstream to fall in love for an adaptation down the road. He writes it as honest and true to the characters, the story, and what was built between.
jdeets03's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this series. I am not normally into superheros and villains, but this series kept my attention with early 2000s politics as the backdrop. The art is pretty amazing although at times a bit gruesome.