ExMachina Special #2 - Wildstorm

In this 2 issue special, Mayor Hundred has to deal with his polar opposite. He speaks to machines, so his nemesis, Pherson, speaks to animals. Come to find out the Mayor is how he got his powers, indirectly. Pherson was working in a recording studio and came across some DAT tape of the Mayor using his gift. The more he listened to it, the more it changed him. He started following him around and getting more and more tape to use. Eventually, he got his powers. So, my understanding is, his newfound power drove him a little loopy. He decided that Mayor Hundred was his arch enemy and that he would use the animals however he had to to get to him. All the while proclaiming that he was doing it to protect the animals. Hypocrite. What I like about this series is you always get a lot of political dilogue. The Mayor and Bradbury have a discussion on whether or not you would kill Osama if he caught him. And in doing a radio show he debates with the anchor about the ethics and ramifications of coporal punishment. Not the kind of stuff you read about in your normal super hero books. This truly is a thinking man's book. It's no wonder it's won or been nominated for so many awards. Brian K Vaughn has just done a superb job with these characters.