All October long I will be exploring the context behind (using reader danjack's term) "meta-messages." A meta-message is where a comic book creator comments on/references the work of another comic book/comic book creator using the characters in their comic. Each time around, I'll give you the context behind one such "meta-message." Here is an archive of the past installments! If you have a suggestion for a future meta-message, e-mail me at bcronin@comicbookresources.com.

Today we look at the clever Ex Machina #40, where the book's creators Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris appear in the comic pitching a comic book starring the main character of Ex Machina.

Ex Machina stars Mitchell Hundred, a former "superhero" who quits to run for Mayor of New York City, a position he wins after becoming a national hero on 9/11.

In #40, Hundred (who is a comic book fan) agrees to let DC Comics pitch him on a biographical comic book starring him.

Tony Harris and Brian K. Vaughan meet to pitch Hundred on the comic and Vaughan quickly mocks his penchant for including "factoids" into pretty much every issue of Y the Last Man and Ex Machina...

Very clever.

Later, while they're waiting in the hallway to see the Mayor, Vaughan metas with the best of them...

Hilarious.

And after the Mayor mistakes Vaughan for Brian BENDIS, the two meet and discuss Vaughan's work...

Really well done.

I won't spoil who Mayor Hundred eventually decides on to write and draw his comic, except to note that they are both major names. Pick up Volume 9 of Ex Machina, titled "Ring Out the Old" to find out who got the job!