Todd, Matt :: Ex Machina By Brian K Vaughan and Tony Harris

Ex Machina The Great Machine by Daniel Warren Johnson

Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson (All)

4 Comments - 249 Views - 3 Likes

Ex Machina The Great Machine by Daniel Warren Johnson Comic Art

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Artwork Details

Title:	Ex Machina The Great Machine by Daniel Warren Johnson
Artist:	Daniel Warren Johnson (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Convention Sketch
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	249
Likes on CAF:	3 4
Comments:	4
Added to Site:	6/29/2023
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Ex Machina The Great Machine by Daniel Warren Johnson
I imagine everyone has a story, or stories, they revisit numerous times over their lives, and each time they do, they connect with on a deeper level. The feeling it gives you just closes all the circuits of your imagination. For me, that story is a comic book called Ex Machina. A cautionary tale of the world�s first superhero who becomes Mayor of New York City. Mitchell Hundred, a well-intentioned costumed do-gooder who over the course of the series, loses his ideals to become a craven, political opportunist. Created by writer Brian K Vaughan and Artist Tony Harris and published through DC Comics� Wildstorm imprint from 2004-2010. Over its 50 issues and four annuals, BKV and Harris engineer a riveting political tragedy about wielding power, both political and super, and the cost that power takes on your soul�themes that are more relevant today than ever before. BKV, Harris, Inkers Tom Feister and Jim Clark, and colorist JD Mettler masterfully intertwine the past, present, power, politics, and science fiction together in such an inspired manner as to create a rich tapestry of a comic. With clear-cut storytelling that grounds even the most fantastical elements, Ex Machina uses flashbacks of Mitchell�s time as his alter ego, the Great Machine to provides action that is exciting, and sometimes comical. The series shines in its largely political, dialogue driven scenes. BKV�s dialogue is at its sharpest with this series and Harris �deft character focused art keeps the story moving and compelling, just as exhilarating as the costumed adventure segments. Harris� art is unbelievable, it does an excellent job creating clarity for the reader as we move back and forth between the past and the present. His characters feel real and reflective of the real world we live in. Harris is such a gifted artist, storyteller, and costume designer. I love the color palette JD Mettler uses; the tone of the color choice is unique in that it uses a shade of colors not typically used in comics. In its initial pitch, BKV described Ex Machina as The West Wing meets Unbreakable. I would also include Mad Men (a show that did not exist at the time of the comic�s release). Mitchell Hundred reminds me a lot of Don Draper in how close he keeps his cards to his chest, my comparison to AMC�s Mad Men is not really focused on similarity in content, but in the layered and complex characters much like the cast of the Matthew Weiner series. Like a magician who tells us exactly what they are going to do, which BKV really was as a child, we are given the ending in the first two pages. Mitchell says to his audience �it may look like a comic, but it�s really a tragedy.� Over the series we are lulled into a false, hopeful feeling, believing that maybe, just maybe Mitchell Hundred and his partners, best friend Rick Bradbury, and surrogate father �Kremlin,� will succeed and overcome the external and internal threats to New York City and Mitchell�s administration. Ex Machina is the ideal distillation of my interests. Politics, superheroes, and science fiction, with complex, conflicted glorification of our country and heroes, trying to reconcile what they should be and what they are. I have spent a lot of time thinking about why I keep coming back to this comic. I am not entirely sure. It is most certainly not an uplifting story, but its emotional impact is profound.
Daniel Warren Johnson is an amazing artist. That statement surprises no one who has seen his art. His creator owned work on Extremity and Murder Falcon is epic, beautiful, kinetic, and filled with so much heart. His current creator owned series Do A Powerbomb is some of my favorite work he has done. Even with my high expectations it exceeded them, clearing the top rope with ease. The world building he established is fantastic.
His evolution as a comic creator and artist continues to elevate with each project. Every page has such dynamic, kinetic, storytelling that never forgets its heart. What you accomplished with Extremity was incredible. Your story of a wounded artist trying to survive as she slowly compromises her soul to violence, war, and revenge was a masterful debut. Murder Falcon was full of such energy, power, and heart and is simply wonderful. Wonder Woman: Dead Earth and Beta Ray Bill were terrific and your story in Superman Red and Blue is one of my all-time favorite Superman stories ever, in the same echelon as All-Star Superman, For All Seasons and Birthright. You have an incredible gift of synthesizing your passions and creating something unique and very special.

Daniel�s commissions are unparalleled. This is one of his at home 4x6 con sketches, I was one of the fortunate to get on his at home list at the start of the 2023 Con season. I thought his style would create an incredible rendition of Tony Harris� Great Machine design and boy was I right.

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About the Owner

	Matt Todd Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	August 2014
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
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Bill J
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 6/29/2023

Great commission by the amazing Daniel Warren Johnson! Congrats on the pick-up!

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 6/29/2023

The upward camera angle and turn of the head to look outward gives this such an authorative look. Just like he does for Star Wars commissions, DWJ's work on helmets show them well used and lived in as an extension of the character itself rather than a covering.

John J
Member Since 2020

1 - Posted on 6/29/2023

Love it

Matt Moore
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 7/2/2023

Very nice! Congrats!

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