Brian K. Vaughan is one of my favorite comic authors, perhaps because I encountered his work toward the beginning of my comic-reading career. Two Vaughan series in particular--Y: The Last Man, which follows the life of Yorrick Brown, last man alive after a virus targeting only males attacks the earth; and Runaways, charting the adventures of a group of teens who turn into superheroes after learning that their parents are super villains--top my list of comic favorites. Both series, as well as his Ex Machina series (review here) following Mitchell Hundred, architect-turned-superhero-turned-NYC-mayor by way of a freak accident giving him the ability to talk to machines which he uses to prevent the second twin tower from collapsing on 9/11, have concluded. So, when I learned that Vaughan had another series in progress, I knew I had to add it to my ever-growing list of comics to follow.
Not content to chart the lives of unusual humans in unlikely circumstances, in Saga Vaughan enters another world--or worlds, as the case may be--and introduces the plight of characters of a non-human nature. A never-ending inter-galactic war is taking place, in which beings from two worlds have taken their battle across the galaxy to involve other beings in the fight. In the middle of it are Marko and Alana, lovers from either side of the lines who have taken flight to give birth to Hazel, who has her mother's wings and her father's horns. Lest the precedent be set for cross-species love, the aristocratic caste from Landfall (who sport TV monitors as heads) send an envoy to the destroy the young couple; Freelancers have also been called to assassinate the couple--by none other than Marko's own people, in punishment for his betrayal of their kind.
So, Hazel and her folks clearly have the deck stacked against them from the start. It makes for a fast-paced race across space and time, with a whole cast of incredibly-imaginative species introduced. The first story arc does a good job introducing readers to this new world--enough so that I look forward to future releases with great anticipation.
Note: When adding labels to my post, I realized that Staples is the artist for another comic that I enjoyed. Entitled the Mystery Society (and reviewed here), it had only a 5-issue run. Here's hoping this collaboration lasts longer!
Two of my favorite comics are Runaways and Y: The Last Man by Brian Vaughan. Actually, I should say were my favorites, as both series were concluded some time ago. Once in a while another writer/artist combo will pick up the Runaways and complete a new story arc, but they are never as good as Vaughan's originals. So, the best I can do to follow Vaughan's current work is Ex Machina. And that's pretty darn good in itself.
It looks like I haven't reviewed Ex Machina yet on this blog--I'm a bit behind in my comic reading and just catching up--so I'll fill you in on the premise. Mitchell Hundred is an engineer/architect who comes in contact with an otherworldly item in
the water, which leaves him with the ability to talk to machines and command them to do his
bidding. With the assistance of two friends, he becomes a local NYC hero, rescuing babies and the like. The police consider him a vigilante and try to track him down, but after September 11, 2001, when he uses his abilities to stop the collision and collapse of the second Twin Tower, he becomes a community sensation. Having been raised by an activist mother, he decides to turn his new acclaim to public service and politics, turning celebrity into a position as NYC Mayor. In this position he fights the forces of evil--both political and supernatural--that threaten his people.
In trade 10, NYC Mayor Mitchell Hundred continues to fight the good fight against forces threatening his city--and now the world. In this story arc, a reporter becomes infected with an ability akin to Hundred's, with an evil twist: she can speak to humans and command them to do her bidding. Add the fact that she is acting on behalf of horrible monsters in another dimension who are seeking a gateway to ours, and it's a job for the super mayor. The volume ends with both relief and darkness, and readers are left to consider whether the system is leading Hundred down a path of corruption. And, I suppose it's fitting that Vaughan leaves us there, since issue 50 concludes the series. For first-time readers, that can be a good thing, as you won't have to wait for future issues to come out.
The plot is a bit absurd, but superhero comics require enemies, and they are harder to come by these days. Besides, it's the issues and discussion around the main plot that make this series interesting. Hundred's political rise from nobody to mayor of NYC, and his rumored candidacy for US office, are what make this comic worth reading. Hundred has made his reputation as an Independent, making decisions based on what he sees as best for the people of NYC instead of a specific political agenda. While he backed gay marriage, he rejects the morning-after pill, and he's hard to pin down on most hot-button topics. Additionally, the series is purposely self-conscious, throwing out one-liners about comics all the time. It makes for an interesting blend of politics, current events, and super heroism that's hard to resist.
