DMZ #55 – Review

by Brian Wood (writer), Andrea Mutti (art), Jeromy Cox (colors), and Jared K. Fletcher (letters)

The Story: Forced into close contact with his targets, an undercover commando comes to learn the truth about not just the residents of New York, but also himself.

What’s Good: The first in a series of one-shots, I really enjoyed the concept behind our protagonist.  It makes sense that the US, or the Free States for that matter, would have agents in deep cover in the DMZ; it’s a really cool theme that I’m surprised hasn’t been investigated before.

The writing itself is really well-done, focused on emotional and ideological conflict, juxtaposition, and incomprehension.  The narration provided the protagonist seems sharp, cynical, and contrary to what we’re used to seeing and thinking about the DMZ, and yet, seeing through his eyes, it does make sense why he would see the DMZ and its inhabitants in the manner that he does.  While I can’t say that we ever fully agree with or support his opinions, they certainly do follow a consistent form of logic.  Furthermore, despite his disdain for the DMZ and the war, there’s also a sense of fatigue and war-weariness behind all the cynicism that suggests a commonality that the protagonist shares with the very people he so distrusts.

Wood’s portrayal of Zee and the bunkered down community of the DMZ is also outstanding as ever, yet another testament to the vitality of the living, breathing world of the DMZ.  There’s a sense of togetherness, goodness, and trust that really is touching.  The ease with which one war-wounded character comes to lean on the protagonist, opening up to him wholly was really well-done and a perfect example of the sort of fellowship and inter-reliance fostered by desperation and hard-times.

The high-point of the issue is how this affects, or rather pulls in, the protagonist.  Wood does a fantastic job of showing the commando’s pre-conceptions shattered and, naturally, how this leads to unfavorable and traumatic self-reflection. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this issue is how much Wood made me care about two characters whom I’ve never seen before and who we never even know the names of.  I suppose that’s appropriate, given that this issue is very much about understanding, not only of the DMZ, but also of oneself, and just how interrelated both these arenas can be for Wood’s characters.

Andrea Mutti works very much in the spirit of regular series artist Riccardo Burchielli.  As a result, everything feels business as usual for DMZ.  However, I do have to say that his work on the protagonist’s flashbacks were really stylish and emotionally evocative.