The first three issues of Brian Wood's new series from Vertigo, DMZ comprise the opening arc "On the Ground." They're a nice opening arc, introducing us to the main character, a young intern photographer named Matty, and setting up the over all concept of the series... that is to say, a civil war has broken out in the United States, and the border runs right though NYC, turning the city into a.. wait for it.. DMZ.
While Wood handles the writing, along with contributing a few pages of art for each issue, the main artist is Riccardo Burchielli, a European artist I never heard of before now.. but damn is he good.
Possible Spoilers
The story opens with Matty finding himself dragged into a situation far beyond what he had expected. His first time on the job as an intern photographer, he figured he'd be working at a photo lab, instead he finds himself being assigned to a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter as he heads into the no mans land that is NYC for a series of reports focusing on the people stuck there. Obviously, things quickly turn to s**t. The reporter and military guards are gunned down, the helicopter is blown out of the sky, and Matty's left on his own in war zone.
Thankfully he's not left on his own for too long, as he quickly stumbles across a former med student named Zee who takes Matty under her wing. Thanks to Zee he gets patched up, gets most of his equipment back and is shown what life is really like for the current inhabitants of NYC. The first three issues give the reader their barings, explaining that there's two sides, The United States of America, and the Free States, and that the neither side is really talking to each other at the moment. We're not told how or why NYC ended up as a bombed out shell, but it doesn't really matter since the point is that even in a war zone life goes on, even if we're not always aware of it. People band together, neighborhood militas pop up to protect individual blocks, people barter with food, electronics equipment, ammo, etc. It's an inside look at what life in a warzone might be like. I say might be like because, well, it probably varies from place to place, but it seems like a fairly feasable idea.
At this point Wood hasn't really brought politics into the series. We get the idea that the US is using it's news to spread a certain amount of disinformation about their enemies and NYC, but that's about it. That's hardly some huge political statement either. Governments using the news to lie? Shock! Awe! Horror! At the same time, he doesn't really s**t over the US either. The few soldiers we see initially don't seem to bad, maybe a bit ignorant of the enemy, but that's about it. In fact, in the first issue one of the most likeable and sympathetic characters is a poor Sgt. who tells Matty to stick by him, and explains how he used to live in NYC and can remember his block and where everything used to be. He doesn't really come off as a spiteful caricture which is probably what some people expected.
They key character here is obviously Matty, and it's dawning awareness and descision to stay in NYC instead of returning to the US when given the oppurtunity, on multiple occassions mind you, that's going to drive the series. His first assignment, and after realizing that he's been lied to, he feels obligated to help get the truth out that there are people living, loving and dying on this chunk of land, which they're told is full of vagabonds and people who eat rats.
Zee's pretty interesting too. She's set herself up as a mobile nurse/clinic and treats people from the neighborhood and..well, anyone else she encounters who's injured, like Matty for example. Bent out of shape over the fact that both sides have turned her home into a hell hole, it's pretty clear that she sees in Matty a chance to show what's going on, and hopefully effect some sort of change through his reports. At least that's my impression, otherwise why drag him along on her home visits, showing him crippled children and the like when she just as easily could've kicked his a** out on the street. Plus her obvious offense when she finds out just what people think is going on there.
Wood's writing is great as usual, and this series is almost returning to his roots in a way. A series with a slightly political bent to is set in NYC, not quite as angry or middle finger-ish as Channel Zero, but that's to be expected since he's matured and grown over time. Wood himself has called this series a love letter to NYC, while some people might not get it, I think it's obvious. The fact that the life persists on the level that it does is a bit of a nod to the strength and resourcefullness of the city and it's inhabitants.
Burchielli is a lovely surprise though. It's his first American work and damn.. can this draw. His burnt out city scapes are lovely to look at, as is the detail he's able to pack into each and every panel, ranging from the clothing and equipment on everyone, to the graffitti on the walls. This guy can go, and I'm dying to see what else he's done and what else he'll do in the future. Hopefully he'll be on this title for a good long time.
All in all it's a great series with a lot of promise.
Currently there are only three issues out, and no TPB as of yet, but that'll change soon enough. The first three issues make up the opening arc, and the next two issues will be stand alone stories. It's a monthly comic from Vertigo with a $3 price tag.
Definately worth a look.
Link of interest..
The DMZ Workblog
While Wood handles the writing, along with contributing a few pages of art for each issue, the main artist is Riccardo Burchielli, a European artist I never heard of before now.. but damn is he good.
Possible Spoilers
The story opens with Matty finding himself dragged into a situation far beyond what he had expected. His first time on the job as an intern photographer, he figured he'd be working at a photo lab, instead he finds himself being assigned to a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter as he heads into the no mans land that is NYC for a series of reports focusing on the people stuck there. Obviously, things quickly turn to s**t. The reporter and military guards are gunned down, the helicopter is blown out of the sky, and Matty's left on his own in war zone.
Thankfully he's not left on his own for too long, as he quickly stumbles across a former med student named Zee who takes Matty under her wing. Thanks to Zee he gets patched up, gets most of his equipment back and is shown what life is really like for the current inhabitants of NYC. The first three issues give the reader their barings, explaining that there's two sides, The United States of America, and the Free States, and that the neither side is really talking to each other at the moment. We're not told how or why NYC ended up as a bombed out shell, but it doesn't really matter since the point is that even in a war zone life goes on, even if we're not always aware of it. People band together, neighborhood militas pop up to protect individual blocks, people barter with food, electronics equipment, ammo, etc. It's an inside look at what life in a warzone might be like. I say might be like because, well, it probably varies from place to place, but it seems like a fairly feasable idea.
At this point Wood hasn't really brought politics into the series. We get the idea that the US is using it's news to spread a certain amount of disinformation about their enemies and NYC, but that's about it. That's hardly some huge political statement either. Governments using the news to lie? Shock! Awe! Horror! At the same time, he doesn't really s**t over the US either. The few soldiers we see initially don't seem to bad, maybe a bit ignorant of the enemy, but that's about it. In fact, in the first issue one of the most likeable and sympathetic characters is a poor Sgt. who tells Matty to stick by him, and explains how he used to live in NYC and can remember his block and where everything used to be. He doesn't really come off as a spiteful caricture which is probably what some people expected.
They key character here is obviously Matty, and it's dawning awareness and descision to stay in NYC instead of returning to the US when given the oppurtunity, on multiple occassions mind you, that's going to drive the series. His first assignment, and after realizing that he's been lied to, he feels obligated to help get the truth out that there are people living, loving and dying on this chunk of land, which they're told is full of vagabonds and people who eat rats.
Zee's pretty interesting too. She's set herself up as a mobile nurse/clinic and treats people from the neighborhood and..well, anyone else she encounters who's injured, like Matty for example. Bent out of shape over the fact that both sides have turned her home into a hell hole, it's pretty clear that she sees in Matty a chance to show what's going on, and hopefully effect some sort of change through his reports. At least that's my impression, otherwise why drag him along on her home visits, showing him crippled children and the like when she just as easily could've kicked his a** out on the street. Plus her obvious offense when she finds out just what people think is going on there.
Wood's writing is great as usual, and this series is almost returning to his roots in a way. A series with a slightly political bent to is set in NYC, not quite as angry or middle finger-ish as Channel Zero, but that's to be expected since he's matured and grown over time. Wood himself has called this series a love letter to NYC, while some people might not get it, I think it's obvious. The fact that the life persists on the level that it does is a bit of a nod to the strength and resourcefullness of the city and it's inhabitants.
Burchielli is a lovely surprise though. It's his first American work and damn.. can this draw. His burnt out city scapes are lovely to look at, as is the detail he's able to pack into each and every panel, ranging from the clothing and equipment on everyone, to the graffitti on the walls. This guy can go, and I'm dying to see what else he's done and what else he'll do in the future. Hopefully he'll be on this title for a good long time.
All in all it's a great series with a lot of promise.
Currently there are only three issues out, and no TPB as of yet, but that'll change soon enough. The first three issues make up the opening arc, and the next two issues will be stand alone stories. It's a monthly comic from Vertigo with a $3 price tag.
Definately worth a look.
Link of interest..
The DMZ Workblog
