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By Brian K. Vaughn, Tony Harris, Tom Feister, Chris Sprouse, Karl Story & JD Mettler (WildStorm)
ISBN 1-84576-253-3
This volume of the adventures of retired superhero and New York City Mayor Mitchell Hundred collects issues #17-20 and the Ex Machina Specials #1 and #2. Set in early 2003, this storyline concerns the build-up to the invasion of Iraq and deals with all the disparate views of a troubled people whilst never losing sight of the big picture – making an entertaining story.
As the mobilisation tension builds the Mayor increasingly finds himself fighting good advice, and his principles war with his duties and common sense. He permits a major peace rally through the City streets, but when terrorists attack the demonstrators, the repercussions have personal, as well as professional consequences. And naturally, Joe Public lets the side down as ordinary Americans retaliate the only way they know how, by attacking anybody who doesn’t look or sound like they do.
The delightful conceit that a liberal independent could be elected to such high office never occludes the thoroughly grounded nature of this series. Despite all the fantasy elements involved, this is always a wonderfully ‘real’ tale. The tragic aftermath of the attack, hate-crimes and over-reactions of the security forces all have the painful authenticity and veracity of our world, not a comic book.
The remainder of this volume tells the history of Hundred’s ‘evil counterpart’, a man named Pherson, who had control of animals in the same way that the Mayor can manipulate machines. Of course this more traditional fare is couched in solid political terms as our liberal hero is ambushed in a radio debate on the death penalty.
I can’t say enough good things about this series. So I’ll just shut up and assume you’re already reading it. Don’t let me down.
© 2006 Brian K. Vaughn & Tony Harris. All Rights Reserved.