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codyisreading's review
4.0
4.5/5
Volume 4 bounced back from the previous entry in Ex Machina. It's more enjoyable when the heroics and politics seamlessly intertwine, which happens when Hundred is called upon to use his powers to hunt the perpetrator of an attack on an anti-war rally. Additionally, The Great Machine's archenemy Pherson is introduced in these issues.
Other topics debated in March to War include the efficacy and morality of the death penalty, how far one can suspend civil liberties in the name of security, and xenophobia. Some pretty heavy lifting goes into these issues and Vaughn handles them with aplomb. Volume 4 has definitely been my favorite of the series so far.
Volume 4 bounced back from the previous entry in Ex Machina. It's more enjoyable when the heroics and politics seamlessly intertwine, which happens when Hundred is called upon to use his powers to hunt the perpetrator of an attack on an anti-war rally. Additionally, The Great Machine's archenemy Pherson is introduced in these issues.
Other topics debated in March to War include the efficacy and morality of the death penalty, how far one can suspend civil liberties in the name of security, and xenophobia. Some pretty heavy lifting goes into these issues and Vaughn handles them with aplomb. Volume 4 has definitely been my favorite of the series so far.
paulh1's review
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
shane_tiernan's review
4.0
Nobody writes dialogue like Vaughan. Add that to the plot being something totally different (a "superhero" who hung up his cape to become a politician, but once in a while he still does superhero stuff.) and you got some awesomeness going on here. He also gets points for writing about a time in my past (911, the Bush years) that evokes emotional reactions.
The only negative thing I can say about this series is that it really doesn't seem to have an overall story arch, or if it does, it's just moving so slowly you forget it's there.
The only negative thing I can say about this series is that it really doesn't seem to have an overall story arch, or if it does, it's just moving so slowly you forget it's there.
rmgebhardt's review
3.0
It might be that this series just isn't clicking with me 100%, but I continue to feel like there are a lot of interesting political topics touched upon, but they aren't given enough focus or time to be explored. Vaughan sure does like to toss hot-button topics into the mix (just look at the description of this volume to get an idea of what he tries to cover), but he then usually has a character spout off some neat thoughts on the topic and it's sort of just left at that while another plotline is explored. I guess what I was hoping for was more depth to the topics in this series. It's still not a bad read (which is why I stick with it), but I felt that it could be better.
joshgauthier's review
3.0
I think I'm coming to understand my feelings on this series a little more. "Ex Machina" gives a valiant effort in trying to achieve what "Watchmen" did so well - blend super heroes and politics into a single story. But where "Watchmen" succeeds, "Ex Machina" often feels more like two or three separate stories stuck together. It's not bad, but it doesn't achieve the unity or effectiveness that it strives for.
That being said, Vol. 4 continues the positive trend in which the series seems to be gaining a bit of traction. The art continues to be iffy, but the story has some interesting elements and does feel a bit more natural in this volume. I'm not a huge fan, but the series evokes just enough interest that I'm willing to keep reading, mostly to see where its larger story threads lead.
That being said, Vol. 4 continues the positive trend in which the series seems to be gaining a bit of traction. The art continues to be iffy, but the story has some interesting elements and does feel a bit more natural in this volume. I'm not a huge fan, but the series evokes just enough interest that I'm willing to keep reading, mostly to see where its larger story threads lead.
rouver's review
4.0
War protests, ricin attacks, and some arch-nemesis intrigue! Can't wait to get the next volumes.
_sb0000's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jwmcoaching's review
2.0
I have really enjoyed this series, but this is, by far, the weakest installment at this point. Maybe it was the fact that this seems somewhat dated now in light of Gulf War 2 being over 10 years on, but it seems more likely that my dissatisfaction came from the fact that the plots in each installment begin to feel similar after awhile. That's not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to a series that involves politics and City Hall, however, this installment just didn't do it for me. The second story here was particularly light on excitement and it even seemed a little lame to a certain extent, as far as the "arch nemesis" goes.