Apocalyptic world? Check. Gritty realism? Check. Great characters? Check. What's not to love about DMZ?DMZ, by Brian Wood (Demo, Local) and Riccardo Burchielli, is “an inside look at a war without an end,” if the subtitles of the first two issues are to be believed. And that really is what DMZ is all about: the inside look. The war in question is a fictitious one: after 9/11, the area of the US from New Jersey inland (the Free States) and Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island (the United States of America), went to war. This leaves Manhattan Island stuck in the middle, a bombed-out shell of its former glory known as the DMZ (De-Militarized Zone). And that's just the first panel of the first issue.
However, this war, thus far, has really only been a backdrop for the true story to be told in DMZ: that of the people involved. Enter Matthew Roth: our eyes in the world of DMZ. A intern for a photojournalist, he goes to Manhattan on his first day on the job. However, things for Matt get much more interesting once they get there, since snipers and the human body tend not to play nicely together. Thus Matt, the only survivor, is left with camera equipment and a unique opportunity: to tell the story of those on the inside, a story no one outside of Manhattan has heard. And this is where DMZ truly begins.
After fainting at the site of the carnage, Matt awakes to meet Zee, the first of the colorful cast of characters in the DMZ. She leads him around Manhattan, meeting up with others on the inside like her. Here we get to see the personal side of the war raging in the country: each character is a unique person, with unique motivations, caring not so much about the war outside, but about life on the inside. We see love blossom across the lines drawn in the sand by the opposing forces, people trying to save their fellow man, and even a group of ecologically-minded zookeepers who may or may not be a mythical special forces unit. Though the story is, on its surface, about a journalist in a war, Brian Wood really just uses that as an excuse to tell the stories of the people who actually live in the DMZ. If you're expecting action, it's here; but that's not the focus of the book. The people are the story, and Wood populates his world with a colorful cast that one could easily meet on the street on the way to the comic book store. Which, incidentally, is where people should be rushing, since they should buy DMZ right now.
The art of DMZ adds yet another layer to an already-engrossing tale. The gritty, detailed look of Burchielli's art contributes to the sense of realism the story creates. Instead of just drawing the characters, Burchielli gives them character: their personalities show through even when they aren't talking, which furthers the wonderful characterization begun by Wood.
Overall, DMZ is a great read. Action, suspense, social commentary, believable characters, and even a little bit of love all come together to create an immersive world full of people you can't help but care about, and that's the book's true strength. It's still early in the series, so it shouldn't be hard to find the back issues; if you haven't picked it up already, do yourself a favor and give DMZ a try. You won't be disappointed.
Story: 8/10
Art: 8/10
Characters: 9/10
Jumping-in factor: 8/10. You need to know about the war, Manhattan's a mess, and that Matt's a photojournalist. Beyond that, you're probably good to go if you just jump in on the most recent issue. However, there are only 4 out as of 2/8, so you may as well get the whole story.
Overall: 9/10. Great read that keeps you wanting more.
--The Almeister
Originally posted on waitingforwednesday.blogspot.com 2/08/2006
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