Ex Machina: The First Hundred Days Review

New review up @ New readers...start here!

Ex Machina: The First Hundred Days

The story of the superhero turned mayor, by Brian K. Vaughan & Tony Harris!

(Click for bigger pic)

Ex Machina © Wildstorm Comics

Comic NEWS! DC Reboot: Part VI

DC Reboot: part I

DC Reboot: part II

DC Reboot:: part III

DC Reboot: part IV

DC Reboot: part V

You liking the direction of this DCnU? Hating it? Mixed feelings?

Here's even more relaunched titles!
This time featuring the less known heroes of the DCU (Jonah Hex..), the series that had been left hanging (Blue Beetle...) and the Superman titles!

Lots of rumours are coming up. The latest to date?
Those are 52 new comics, right?
Well, some think they will each be taking place in one of DC's 52 different Earths/Universe!
Crazy, right? How to support this theory? Well, some characters seem to appear using different costumes. Which ones? Well, Superman for example, on this JLA cover above on the left, the new Action Comics and his own title below. Superboy in yesterday's Titans cover and his own book below as well.
These same people think it's all part of a new big event, like Grant Morrison's earlier trip to the future in DC 1 billion, where all issues jumped to #1000000 but this time rather than the far future they're all jumping back to #1.
Might turn out fake, but I like this theory.

And Gail Simone talked about the new Batgirl title. Apart from the fact this is actually the first time Barbara Gordon!Batgirl will actually have her own title she let us know some interesting tidbits. Like Cass Cain and Stephanie Brown might show up in Babs' book. And the fact that the whole history of Oracle/the wheelchair won't be negated and have still happened prior to this new direction. I can't wait to read her explanation/reason behind this return of Barbara... (did she fire Steph? how can she play Batgirl, isn't she disabled anymore?)
Anyway, here's the newly revealed titles.

A new era of DC Comics begins as the longest-running monthly comic of all time releases its first issue #1 since 1938.
This September, New York Times bestselling writer Grant Morrison (ALL-STAR SUPERMAN) joins with sensational artist Rags Morales to bring you tales of The Man of Tomorrow unlike any you’ve ever read before in ACTION COMICS #1. This momentous first issue will set in motion the history of the DC Universe as Superman defends a world that doesn’t trust their first Super Hero.
The first Action Comics #1 is now the most sought-after comic book of all time. This September, one of comics’ most imaginative storytellers will make history again in Grant Morrison and Rags Morales’ ACTION COMICS #1.

Huh....?
What happened to The Man of Steel?
Superman, "The Working Class Hero"?

What is Superman’s startling new status quo? How does it affect his friends, loved ones and his job at The Daily Planet? Find out in SUPERMAN #1, written by legendary comics creator George Perez (CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, NEW TEEN TITANS and WONDER WOMAN) and illustrated by Jesus Merino.

As you can see it's not the exact same costume than on JLA #1..or was it a mistake on the artist's part?
Will Jesus Merino be able to make this new look visually stunning...or is Jim Lee's design impossible to save?
That's quite a RAAAAGE!!-full cover for a relaunch..strange direction.
Also, I didn't knew the Kryptonians needed armour, they've never been warrior-like figures... Or will dwarves armed with Kryptonite try to punch his knees??

They thought he was just a failed experiment, grown from a combination of Kryptonian and human DNA. But when the scope of his stunning powers was revealed, he became a deadly weapon. SUPERBOY #1 will be written by Scott Lobdell with art by R.B. Silva and Rob Lean.


Is this the same Superboy as the one from Titans? Or even another 2nd clone?
Anyway, I don't believe in having 2 Superboys around...
Weird cover..like an actual reboot, or... Possibly a hint of the storyline in his own title?
Tron X Superboy crossover?
Sparta? (= madness)
Wait and see..

Supergirl’s got the unpredictable behavior of a teenager, the same powers as Superman and none of his affection for the people of Earth. Writers Michael Green and Mike Johnson (Smallville, SUPERMAN/BATMAN) will team up with artist Mahmud Asrar to give a new take on the teenager from Krypton in SUPERGIRL #1.

"and none of his affection for the people of Earth" Wait...What??

I'm actually fine with this new costume. Heck, Robin!Dick Grayon wore a similar costume for years and nobody had a problem with it.
(did I just write Kara and Dick wear similar costumes?)
While Clark and Kon seem to be quite armoured (for...some reason?) Kara is exactly the opposite. Even better than no kneecaps armour, nothing!?

Harley Quinn! Deadshot! King Shark! They’re a team of death-row super villains recruited by the government to take on missions so dangerous – they’re sheer suicide! Who will be the first to crack under the pressure? Find out in SUICIDE SQUAD #1, written by Adam Glass (FLASHPOINT: LEGION OF DOOM) with art by Marco Rudy (THE SHIELD).

Mmmh.. huh...yeah..ah...
Harley looking more of a "slut" (to write it down straight away) than in the Arkham Asylum/City games?
And this one will be replacing the Secret Six book...without Gail Simone...
Here's what she had to say about that on her twitter:

"Huh. I didn't know there was going to be a SUICIDE SQUAD book with King Shark and Deadshot. That would have been nice to know, guys."

 'nuff said!

It’s not easy being Jaime Reyes. He has to deal with high school, family and all the drama that comes with being a teenager. Also, he’s linked to a powerful scarab created by an alien race who seek to subjugate planets – or annihilate them. It’s up to one teen hero to turn this instrument of destruction into a force for good in BLUE BEETLE #1, written by Tony Bedard (GREEN LANTERN CORPS) and illustrated by Ig Guara (FLASHPOINT: GRODD OF WAR) and Ruy Jose.

Yay! Blue Beetle's got his on-going back! I knew we'd have that!
Well, this, a Red Beetle series or Ted Kord resurrected...but so far this looks more like a relaunch than a reboot. (nobody's been resurrected for example)
And it seems it will follow the recent developments as seen on Blue Beetle's back-up feature in Booster Gold.

A metahuman mercenary who made a living taking out the toughest targets, Deathstroke will reclaim his fearsome legacy by any means necessary in DEATHSTROKE #1, a new series from rising star Kyle Higgins (Batman: Gates of Gotham) and artists Joe Bennett and Art Thibert.

Here's another new book for Deathstroke, DC really wants him to become their equivalent of Marvel's Wolverine. So they give him a book every now and then.

Stormwatch is a dangerous super human strike force whose existence is kept secret from the world. Jack Hawksmoor and the rest of the crew look to recruit two of the deadliest super humans on the planet: Midnighter and Apollo. And if they say no? Perhaps the Martian Manhunter can change their minds. Featuring a surprising new roster, STORMWATCH #1 will be written by the critically-acclaimed Paul Cornell (Superman: The Black Ring, “Dr. Who”) and illustrated by Miguel Sepulveda.

A Wildstorm series of a Wildstorm team of character...featuring now the Martian Manhunter?
Awww...
With Brightest Day and all, I was hoping they'd give J'onn J'onzz his own on-going series...

Blackhawk is an elite group of mercenaries made up of brave men from around the world equipped with the latest in cutting-edge hardware and vehicles. Their mission: Kill the bad guys before they kill us. A set of contemporary tales that battle the world’s gravest threats, BLACKHAWKS #1 will be written by Mike Costa and illustrated by Ken Lashley.

 A new Blackhawk team? Will it feature Birds of Prey's Zinda?

The grandson of the original Sgt. Rock assumes the command of Easy Company, a team of crack ex-military men financed by a covert military contractor, as they brave the battle-scarred landscape carved by the DC Universe’s super-villains. SGT. ROCK AND THE MEN OF WAR #1 is contemporary military story fighting under modern conditions, and will be written by Ivan Brandon and illustrated by Tom Derenick.

Another military oriented comic.
For DC's much more diversified line of comics as they said.

Going back to Gotham City when it was just a one-horse town, crime is running wild as you would expect. Things don't get better when bounty Hunter Jonah Hex comes to town. Amadeus Arkham, a pioneer in criminal psychology, tries to enlist Hex to help the Gotham City Police Department track down a serial killer. Back up stories will star DC's other western heroes. All-Star Western #1 will be written by the fan-favorite Jonah Hex team of Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray. Art will be by Moritat.

At least, that's the pitch of the first issue.
I'm hoping we'll see more of the DCU's own Old West characters, like Batlash or the Trigger Twins or El Diablo!
And I'm glad we'll have the same writers stay on Jonah Hex!

Ex-black ops agent Cole Cash is a charming grifter that few can resist. And yet he’s about to be branded a serial killer when he begins hunting and exterminating inhuman creatures hidden in human form – creatures only he can see. Can the biggest sweet talker of all time talk his way out of this one when even his brother thinks he’s gone over the edge? Find out in GRIFTER #1, written by Nathan Edmondson with art by CAFU and BIT (the team behind T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS).

Bringing more of Jim Lee's WildC.A.T.S. into the DCU.
That's right, it's a Wildstorm Comics character with a brand new book. (Jim Lee didn't even redesign him for that matter!)

In OMAC #1, a man loses control of his life as the omnipresent Brother Eye transforms him against his will into a powerful killing machine. Written by DC Comics Co-Publisher Dan DiDio and co-written and illustrated by Keith Giffen and Scott Koblish.

We've almost reached all 52 new #1s.
What d'you think so far?
Happy for the relaunch? Fearing it?
I think we've seen some great things, even in the new designs, but also some pretty bad decisions..
It's a mixed bag...

CBR Friday the 13th

You like Friday the 13th?
No? Too bad for you cause here's more of it!

'Hope this will change your mind on the series then :P

(and if yes, you like it, well here's a lesser known entry in the franchise!)

Comic title: Friday the 13th (Volume 1)
Story by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Art by Adam Archer and Peter Guzman

Published by Wildstorm
From 2007
Lineup Friday the 13th
Format: Trade paperbacks collecting the first six issues of the Friday the 13th miniseries.


Around 2007, DC wanted to produce more "franchised" comics under the Wildstorm inprint.
Which resulted, amongst others, in the Chuck comics, the Fringe comics and this Friday the 13th one in question.

On the writing, my favorite duo of Palmiotti and Gray, the creative minds behind the fabulous Power Girl reboot and the recent Jonah Hex comics. They've got a real sense of epic writing, great timing and synchronicity with the artist they work with and know how to write fun realistic dialogues. That's what characterize them the most, and what would be perfect to bring in an original fresh look at Jason Voorhees.

The art team, Archer and Guzman, have a quite stylized overlook, but for an horror and quite graphic comic, it works well.

What about the plot itself?

Jason's back baby!

The story is about some investors who want to reopen the Camp Crystal Lake once again (again? really? come on guys, stop trying, you see how it always ends up!?). For this they decide to have a new group come by, check out the installations and conditions. Take temperature.

But this is his place. They're on Jason's turf there.

Jason starts to get them one by one while we follow the point of views of our happy campers.
While they act as any pre/post-adolescent in any horror flick, we get to follow one of the girls who seems to have some very special visions of Jason and the Lake.
What is really happening in Crystal Lake? Is she only going crazy? Is Jason back once again...or isn't he?

We are treated to a nice development of characters unlike most usual slasher flicks. The characters start typical horror movie clichés, but all get the chance to evolve a bit over the story and actually be interesting. The clichés introduced at the start are actually used here to make the reader lose from sight some aspects and follow some other ones. Grey and Palmiotti are masters of illusions and deceptions. Like they would do in a thriller/mystery comic, they play with our perceptions.

The story is actually sort of deconstructed. It starts with a girl screaming, running from the woods.
And then...

There's even some nice plot twists.

The comic doesn't base itself upon all the Friday movies. It could as easily happen around the first couple of ol' movies or around the later one. (nut due to Jason's looks, it probably takes place around Jason Vs. Freddy)
There's only some sligh allusion to events from the movies, but it could as easily by your introduction to the series!

Overall, it's a fun read.
It really surprised me. I wasn't expecting something like how this story turned into. Not from the first issue only.

Check it out if you're a Jason Voorhees fan, an horror fan or simply want to read something other than a superhero comics for once.

Jason doing what he does best, people trying to survive and being themselves the real threat around amongst them.

Everyone's favorite slasher.under his best light!

I give it:

  2 / 3 ManThings!