Set in March of 1980, the way this comic uses dates gives it a more balanced setting and timeline than most books which just imply that their stories takes place in the present day. Its Tarantino-esque dialogue featuring pop culture references is rare in comics. There’s something funny about characters debating a universe where Batman and Catwoman had a kid together.

For those of you who are all about the action and gore, we’re really only gifted with one nasty blood bath of a sequence that’s sure to peak your interest, but this isn’t the action-packed story some of you might prefer.

When characters in a movie are film geeks themselves, discussing funny topics we have with our own friends in real life, it makes them more relatable and, in turn, more likable. This is the first time I’ve ever seen that technique used in a comic. Comic book characters who love comic books might seem simple, and it probably is, but the comedic element that this brings to the story is what makes Ex Machina stand out from the majority that I’ve read. The use of humor is perfect for a non-horror/superhero comic. This one isn’t loaded with action, but it’s not supposed to be. It’s a comic based on characters’ relationships with one other, which is the best way to make us care about them.