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DMZ #1-2
DMZ 1
Collecting the first 12 issues of the series about the ultimate embedded war journalist trapped in a most unlikely war zone: the streets of New York City.
In the near future, America's worst nightmare has come true. With military adventurism overseas bogging down the Army and National Guard, the U.S. government mistakenly neglects the very real threat of anti-establishment militias scattered across the 50 states. Like a sleeping giant, Middle America rises up and violently pushes its way to the shining seas, coming to a standstill at the line in the sand -- Manhattan or, as the world now knows it, the DMZ.
Matty Roth, a naïve young man and aspiring photojournalist, lands a dream gig following a veteran war journalist into the heart of the DMZ. Things soon go terribly wrong, and Matty finds himself lost and alone in a world he's only seen on television. There, he is faced with a choice: try to find a way off the island, or make his career with an assignment most journalists would kill for. But can he survive in a war zone long enough to report the truth?
Collects issues #1-12 of the original monthly series.
In the near future, America's worst nightmare has come true. With military adventurism overseas bogging down the Army and National Guard, the U.S. government mistakenly neglects the very real threat of anti-establishment militias scattered across the 50 states. Like a sleeping giant, Middle America rises up and violently pushes its way to the shining seas, coming to a standstill at the line in the sand -- Manhattan or, as the world now knows it, the DMZ.
Matty Roth, a naïve young man and aspiring photojournalist, lands a dream gig following a veteran war journalist into the heart of the DMZ. Things soon go terribly wrong, and Matty finds himself lost and alone in a world he's only seen on television. There, he is faced with a choice: try to find a way off the island, or make his career with an assignment most journalists would kill for. But can he survive in a war zone long enough to report the truth?
Collects issues #1-12 of the original monthly series.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 21, 2014
39 people are currently reading
288 people want to read
About the author
Brian Wood
1,173 books962 followersBrian Wood's history of published work includes over fifty volumes of genre-spanning original material.
From the 1500-page future war epic DMZ, the ecological disaster series The Massive, the American crime drama Briggs Land, and the groundbreaking lo-fi dystopia Channel Zero he has a 20-year track record of marrying thoughtful world-building and political commentary with compelling and diverse characters.
His YA novels - Demo, Local, The New York Four, and Mara - have made YALSA and New York Public Library best-of lists. His historical fiction - the viking series Northlanders, the American Revolution-centered Rebels, and the norse-samurai mashup Sword Daughter - are benchmarks in the comic book industry.
He's written some of the biggest franchises in pop culture, including Star Wars, Terminator, RoboCop, Conan The Barbarian, Robotech, and Planet Of The Apes. He’s written number-one-selling series for Marvel Comics. And he’s created and written multiple canonical stories for the Aliens universe, including the Zula Hendricks character.
From the 1500-page future war epic DMZ, the ecological disaster series The Massive, the American crime drama Briggs Land, and the groundbreaking lo-fi dystopia Channel Zero he has a 20-year track record of marrying thoughtful world-building and political commentary with compelling and diverse characters.
His YA novels - Demo, Local, The New York Four, and Mara - have made YALSA and New York Public Library best-of lists. His historical fiction - the viking series Northlanders, the American Revolution-centered Rebels, and the norse-samurai mashup Sword Daughter - are benchmarks in the comic book industry.
He's written some of the biggest franchises in pop culture, including Star Wars, Terminator, RoboCop, Conan The Barbarian, Robotech, and Planet Of The Apes. He’s written number-one-selling series for Marvel Comics. And he’s created and written multiple canonical stories for the Aliens universe, including the Zula Hendricks character.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
April 11, 2023
This is the opening book of Brian Wood's thought provoking speculative fiction series about a modern American Civil war where most of New York City is a demilitarised zone, as seen through the eyes of a novice photo journalist. This has some quality content that looks at the nature of the American industrial-military complex, the media and the fortitude of the everyday man and woman. I found this story astoundingly thought provoking taking the disarray and non-rule we often are the root of cause in the so-called developing world and bringing it to New York. A must read for graphic novel fans looking for great non-superhero reads. 8 out of 12, Four Stars. I read the comic books DMZ #1-12 that are collected in this Deluxe Edition.
2017 and 2013 read
2017 and 2013 read
November 24, 2024
Interesting premise, art is taking some getting used to but the story is good and getting better. Hopefully not prophetic as a concept.
January 5, 2019
Dystopian civil war series. I’ve been on a deep exploration of all things dystopian, cyberpunk, post apocalyptic in pop culture since my dad died last year. I’ve been a punk for over 30 years but when my dad got sick I started looking for hope in the pain of lyricists, artists, poets, and writers. Countless nights listening to Swedish and American death metal, Norwegian black metal, thrash. Reading Carnac McCarthy The Road. Watching The Walking Dead. Reading Y:The last man,Transmetropolitan, Tokyo Ghost, Invisible Republic. Of course I had my standby Discharge, Final Conflict, Crucifix, Tragedy, His Hero is Gone records but now there emerges DMZ. Deeply moving and oh so prophetic considering the current political and moral turmoil of America. Is this a work of future realism. Is America headed for civil war in a post 9-11 dystopia. This book made me really question a scenario that I never thought possible during my life. US Civil War 2
March 4, 2017
En un futuro próximo aunque indefinido, nos encontramos una segunda guerra civil norteamericana que se libra en distintas ciudades a lo largo del país, en Nueva York el ejército de los estados libres controla Jersey y la zona interior, el ejército de estados unidos controla la zona de Brooklyn, Queens y Long Island, entre medias queda la zona desmilitarizada de la isla de Manhattan.
Matty Roth, reportero gráfico, es contratado por Liberty News como fotógrafo acompañante de Victor Ferguson, un famoso periodista para hacer un reportaje en la isla de Manhattan. Al bajar del helicóptero son atacados por francotiradores y Matty es abandonado en tierra, tras lo cual el helicóptero es abatido, así queda Matty sólo con su equipamiento en mitad de la zona desmilitarizada, rodeado de peligros pero también con una oportunidad única, es el único periodista vivo dentro de la DMZ, el único que puede contar la verdad sobre la situación en la ciudad.
Wood y Burchielli nos muestran una ciudad casi viva y representan un conflicto armado cruento en un escenario único, mientras retratan a las distintas facciones y a aquellos que simplemente quieren seguir viviendo en su ciudad, los que no quisieron dejar su hogar o aquellos que vieron una oportunidad de medrar en el conflicto.
El dibujo quizás no sea de sobresaliente, pero es muy adecuado para lo que se representa, destaca la representación de los escenarios callejeros, los edificios, los grafittis y la iconografía a lo largo de toda la obra, las portadas, realizadas por el propio Brian Wood son excelentes y dan un aire único a la serie
Para los pocos residentes de la sitiada isla de Manhattan, un alto el fuego es un pobre consuelo si vemos la realidad de la zona de guerra en la que viven: saqueadores, bandas ambulantes de milicias de barrio, insurgentes, terroristas, asesinos a sueldo... este es el día a día en la ciudad
Matty Roth, reportero gráfico, es contratado por Liberty News como fotógrafo acompañante de Victor Ferguson, un famoso periodista para hacer un reportaje en la isla de Manhattan. Al bajar del helicóptero son atacados por francotiradores y Matty es abandonado en tierra, tras lo cual el helicóptero es abatido, así queda Matty sólo con su equipamiento en mitad de la zona desmilitarizada, rodeado de peligros pero también con una oportunidad única, es el único periodista vivo dentro de la DMZ, el único que puede contar la verdad sobre la situación en la ciudad.
Wood y Burchielli nos muestran una ciudad casi viva y representan un conflicto armado cruento en un escenario único, mientras retratan a las distintas facciones y a aquellos que simplemente quieren seguir viviendo en su ciudad, los que no quisieron dejar su hogar o aquellos que vieron una oportunidad de medrar en el conflicto.
El dibujo quizás no sea de sobresaliente, pero es muy adecuado para lo que se representa, destaca la representación de los escenarios callejeros, los edificios, los grafittis y la iconografía a lo largo de toda la obra, las portadas, realizadas por el propio Brian Wood son excelentes y dan un aire único a la serie
December 29, 2014
Probably the best comic by Brian Wood that I have read so far ( his Northlanders is ok but very unequal).
March 23, 2023
Exquisite. A truly wonderful book in every way. The art is interesting and stark and bleak, but also hauntingly beautiful. The characters are good and all play off each other well, and it makes for a narrative that stays interesting no matter the arc.
It does have a political bent, which isn't for everyone, but it uses it more as a lens through which to view hardship and survival. So many people just do what they can to get by, and it's a sobering reminder that most of those in places of power and wealth truly do not care.
I have almost no criticism of this book, and I look forward to more.
It does have a political bent, which isn't for everyone, but it uses it more as a lens through which to view hardship and survival. So many people just do what they can to get by, and it's a sobering reminder that most of those in places of power and wealth truly do not care.
I have almost no criticism of this book, and I look forward to more.
July 12, 2024
The Trump Revolution has begun, kicking off the Second American Civil War. The "Osamas", "redneckers", "flyovers" etc congregated in Helena and marched east across the country and--thanks to a National Guard crippled by sympathizers--up through New Jersey; what remained of the American government occupied mainland New York. Manhattan is the DMZ, a contested hellscape peopled by hardy refugees scraping a third world-refugee living out of the debris.
Into this, a journalism intern is dropped on his first day on the job. His helicopter is shot down; he's the sole survivor. With the help of a local medic, he shows us what the next US civil war might look like, and what it already looks like in many parts of the world.
------------------------------------
Wood has an abysmal opinion of war and immense respect for its victims and survivors. He doesn't dwell on politics at all, surprisingly; at this point, in this place, it doesn't matter. Both factions will unhesitatingly run over civilians, lie to the public, and deliberately murder unarmed noncombatants if they think it might give them a tactical advantage or a leg up in the PR contest. Wood is interested in the human cost. And he's interested in the human capacity to adapt and survive.
On the Ground
The first story arc gives us a taste of life under constant fire. Filthy, battered Americans who've learned which streets are sniper hunting grounds, where to get food in a concrete jungle, how to protect themselves from one another. Some neighborhoods war with each other; suicide bombings are common. Protagonist Matty Ross finds his footing, makes contacts, and begins filing stories with Liberty News. [I'm guessing Liberty News is a FOX analog, but Wood is so effortlessly apolitical that it's hard to tell.]
Body of a Journalist
In the second arc, Matty gets kidnapped by the Free States of America. Their intent is to use him to negotiate a sweet deal for the return of Viktor Ferguson, another (more famous) journalist they've kidnapped ISIS-style. Matty and the reader learn much about how little the powers-that-be are to be trusted.
(Also, Matty gets an occasional-girlfriend, a war correspondent from a rival news network that may or may not map onto MSNBC.)
Zee, NYC
Backstory of Matty's benefactor and local medic, Zee. A med student who stayed behind during the evacuation, she recognized what was coming and how badly she'd be needed. Zee gives us a street level view of the the invasion, the breakdown in public services and social order, the resulting Lord of the Flies effect on some people, and the sheer ingenuity of human beings in seemingly impossible circumstances.
Into this, a journalism intern is dropped on his first day on the job. His helicopter is shot down; he's the sole survivor. With the help of a local medic, he shows us what the next US civil war might look like, and what it already looks like in many parts of the world.
------------------------------------
Wood has an abysmal opinion of war and immense respect for its victims and survivors. He doesn't dwell on politics at all, surprisingly; at this point, in this place, it doesn't matter. Both factions will unhesitatingly run over civilians, lie to the public, and deliberately murder unarmed noncombatants if they think it might give them a tactical advantage or a leg up in the PR contest. Wood is interested in the human cost. And he's interested in the human capacity to adapt and survive.
On the Ground
The first story arc gives us a taste of life under constant fire. Filthy, battered Americans who've learned which streets are sniper hunting grounds, where to get food in a concrete jungle, how to protect themselves from one another. Some neighborhoods war with each other; suicide bombings are common. Protagonist Matty Ross finds his footing, makes contacts, and begins filing stories with Liberty News. [I'm guessing Liberty News is a FOX analog, but Wood is so effortlessly apolitical that it's hard to tell.]
Body of a Journalist
In the second arc, Matty gets kidnapped by the Free States of America. Their intent is to use him to negotiate a sweet deal for the return of Viktor Ferguson, another (more famous) journalist they've kidnapped ISIS-style. Matty and the reader learn much about how little the powers-that-be are to be trusted.
(Also, Matty gets an occasional-girlfriend, a war correspondent from a rival news network that may or may not map onto MSNBC.)
Zee, NYC
Backstory of Matty's benefactor and local medic, Zee. A med student who stayed behind during the evacuation, she recognized what was coming and how badly she'd be needed. Zee gives us a street level view of the the invasion, the breakdown in public services and social order, the resulting Lord of the Flies effect on some people, and the sheer ingenuity of human beings in seemingly impossible circumstances.
November 24, 2024
A comprehensive list of comics/graphic novels I've read:
1. a one off comic based on the life of Pope John Paul II (don't ask)
2. Watchmen
3. DMZ
DMZ hues much closer to the latter than the former, taking place in an alternate history where the United States is engulfed by a crippling civil war during the Global War on Terror that leaves Manhattan as a no-man's land controlled by various gangs, war lords, and competing civil war factions. Ironically, it is by no stretch of the imagine a demilitarized zone!
A naive news intern is stranded in the Manhattan DMZ after the group he is traveling with is ambushed. He proceeds to take up the mantle of the only reporter on the ground in order to examine how life in the city is adapting to the violence of the civil war. Despite being published in the mid-aughts, there are a number of lessons that remain relevant in today's atmosphere of discussing/demanding a "national divorce." I promise everyone they don't such rhetoric to bear fruit and the book aptly demonstrates why.
3.5 stars though b/c the main character is such an unlikeable dickhead. I know the author intended the character to be unlikeable but succeeding in one's intentions doesn't necessarily make the unlikability more bearable. Will definitely be reading the rest, though.
1. a one off comic based on the life of Pope John Paul II (don't ask)
2. Watchmen
3. DMZ
DMZ hues much closer to the latter than the former, taking place in an alternate history where the United States is engulfed by a crippling civil war during the Global War on Terror that leaves Manhattan as a no-man's land controlled by various gangs, war lords, and competing civil war factions. Ironically, it is by no stretch of the imagine a demilitarized zone!
A naive news intern is stranded in the Manhattan DMZ after the group he is traveling with is ambushed. He proceeds to take up the mantle of the only reporter on the ground in order to examine how life in the city is adapting to the violence of the civil war. Despite being published in the mid-aughts, there are a number of lessons that remain relevant in today's atmosphere of discussing/demanding a "national divorce." I promise everyone they don't such rhetoric to bear fruit and the book aptly demonstrates why.
3.5 stars though b/c the main character is such an unlikeable dickhead. I know the author intended the character to be unlikeable but succeeding in one's intentions doesn't necessarily make the unlikability more bearable. Will definitely be reading the rest, though.
December 8, 2024
(Zero spoiler review)
I actually read a chunk of this series years ago when I was first getting into comics, and I remember being suitably unimpressed. I was still acclimatising to the ways of comics, and I remember being suitably unimpressed with Wood's writing, seeing as how I am a picky bastard when it comes to the written word. Since then I've read both better and worse material from Wood, yet a return to DMZ was always something I wanted to do. And now that I've returned with years of comics experience under my belt, it really does feel about the same.
Solid at best, middling at worst, despite the strength of the idea, DMZ never manages to get out of third gear and really grab the reader by the short and curlies. It plods along rather predictably, with only the pretty excellent artwork from Ricardo Burchielli to elevate it into something more essential than what it is.
It improves as it goes along enough so that I'll definitely check out volume two (I might as well, after all, I bought it. But had you not already gone to said expense of purchasing this series, then a more cautious approach may be in order. 3/5
OmniBen.
I actually read a chunk of this series years ago when I was first getting into comics, and I remember being suitably unimpressed. I was still acclimatising to the ways of comics, and I remember being suitably unimpressed with Wood's writing, seeing as how I am a picky bastard when it comes to the written word. Since then I've read both better and worse material from Wood, yet a return to DMZ was always something I wanted to do. And now that I've returned with years of comics experience under my belt, it really does feel about the same.
Solid at best, middling at worst, despite the strength of the idea, DMZ never manages to get out of third gear and really grab the reader by the short and curlies. It plods along rather predictably, with only the pretty excellent artwork from Ricardo Burchielli to elevate it into something more essential than what it is.
It improves as it goes along enough so that I'll definitely check out volume two (I might as well, after all, I bought it. But had you not already gone to said expense of purchasing this series, then a more cautious approach may be in order. 3/5
OmniBen.
April 3, 2018
Brian Wood crafted a very unique story here that is ambitious and quite scary at the same time. Vertigo once was the destination for creator driven stories, something that disappeared and landed at Image. This first volume is gritty and constantly shifting gears, you never know where the story will turn to next.
I have recently watched the film Bushwick which is right in the window of plagiarism as it covers quite similar ground, this book is much deeper and covers a grand story arc which is slowly unfolding in the later half of this volume. Our protagonist Matt Roth is in the wrong location at the right time and inherits the position of his mentor after presumably dying at the hands of the militia. Matty is soon going into the field and finds conflicting arguments with what he believes and what is actually happening.
This is going to be a long saga but given Wood's storytelling, this is going to be a series to remember. I'm looking forward to the next volume as this establishes the world successfully and is ripe for expanding into different corners.
I have recently watched the film Bushwick which is right in the window of plagiarism as it covers quite similar ground, this book is much deeper and covers a grand story arc which is slowly unfolding in the later half of this volume. Our protagonist Matt Roth is in the wrong location at the right time and inherits the position of his mentor after presumably dying at the hands of the militia. Matty is soon going into the field and finds conflicting arguments with what he believes and what is actually happening.
This is going to be a long saga but given Wood's storytelling, this is going to be a series to remember. I'm looking forward to the next volume as this establishes the world successfully and is ripe for expanding into different corners.
September 16, 2023
This was probably the first graphic novel I have ever read! Now I am hooked so I think it tells everything about this novel. Civil war in Manhattan, politics and a rookie journalist in the middle of it. Exciting!
November 19, 2016
Pretty cool, Wood did a solid job of visualizing how a second Civil War would happen and I tend to agree. There is no North vs South here, more like an insurgency of rebellion in the general population.
I like how Wood approaches war as well. He never glorifies it, just shows the gory and disturbing consequences. I also like how neither side is good, it seems a lot more real. The journalist is just concerned with the truth.
My only criticism is more from a technical standpoint. I know you want to show those cool stealth bombers and stuff, but there is NO WAY they would be flying that close to the ground, ever, especially during daylight. They were literally flying less than 500 feet in the air. Those planes are 2 billion dollars a pop, the air force wouldn't open them up to small-arms fire. Sorry, my one complaint because I laughed out loud when I saw it.
I like how Wood approaches war as well. He never glorifies it, just shows the gory and disturbing consequences. I also like how neither side is good, it seems a lot more real. The journalist is just concerned with the truth.
My only criticism is more from a technical standpoint. I know you want to show those cool stealth bombers and stuff, but there is NO WAY they would be flying that close to the ground, ever, especially during daylight. They were literally flying less than 500 feet in the air. Those planes are 2 billion dollars a pop, the air force wouldn't open them up to small-arms fire. Sorry, my one complaint because I laughed out loud when I saw it.
October 8, 2019
For me this books reads like Wood's response to the Iraq imbroglio which America found itself in in the mid 2000s. We have New York as the hotbed of a civil war between the Government and the 'rebels'. However, as we see in Iraq and Syria, 'life goes on'! People find work, create music, make love, beget children and most importantly, keep hoping.
Brian Wood covers some of these in this first volume. Hoping to see how this evolved in the subsequent four!
Brian Wood covers some of these in this first volume. Hoping to see how this evolved in the subsequent four!
December 11, 2024
This is the first of a proposed five hardbacks collecting the entire DMZ series. It gathers material previously available in paperbacks On the Ground and Body of a Journalist, charting both the progress of journalist Matty Roth and writer Brian Wood. Wood begins with an interesting idea: that civil war has split the USA and Manhattan island is the buffer zone between the opposing forces. Wood, though, is more interested in the underview than the overview. A later chapter here, ‘Zee’, provides background information on how the conflict grew and it’s initial impact on Manhattan, but it’s the microcosm of the island that Wood explores.
The readers eyes are shared with Roth, son of a TV executive who’s helicoptered into Manhattan to accompany the Nobel Prize winning Viktor Ferguson, complete arse. The situation immediately fouls up, and Roth is left stranded with the station’s equipment. He discovers day to day life in Manhattan, the DMZ, is at variance with the propaganda he’s absorbed, and begins delivering on the ground segments for broadcast.
Over the course of the book, noted as roughly a year, Roth grows as both a journalist and a resident, becoming more savvy overall. Initially scared out of his wits, a growing appreciation of his work permits him access eluding others, and he’s also aware enough to question the sudden generosity of his network employers, although couldn’t have foreseen the situation that develops in this book’s strongest story ‘Body of a Journalist’. Wood had dropped early into a repetitive pattern and until that point the series appeared to be going nowhere.
Wood initially contributed pages of art as well, but these diminish as the book progresses, which is just as well because Riccardo Burchielli is the man for the job of depicting the perma-tagged urban decay and danger that haunts Roth’s steps. His spiky characters and grubby locales rapidly characterize the series, and this hardback includes a phenomenal sketch and interview section.
The longer stories are split by self-contained chapters. Wood’s still finding his way, and they lack the passion of the longer story arcs, a problem never really solved throughout the run, although the magazine format of Roth’s guide to Manhattan and its inhabitants offers a few hints as to future stories.
The readers eyes are shared with Roth, son of a TV executive who’s helicoptered into Manhattan to accompany the Nobel Prize winning Viktor Ferguson, complete arse. The situation immediately fouls up, and Roth is left stranded with the station’s equipment. He discovers day to day life in Manhattan, the DMZ, is at variance with the propaganda he’s absorbed, and begins delivering on the ground segments for broadcast.
Over the course of the book, noted as roughly a year, Roth grows as both a journalist and a resident, becoming more savvy overall. Initially scared out of his wits, a growing appreciation of his work permits him access eluding others, and he’s also aware enough to question the sudden generosity of his network employers, although couldn’t have foreseen the situation that develops in this book’s strongest story ‘Body of a Journalist’. Wood had dropped early into a repetitive pattern and until that point the series appeared to be going nowhere.
Wood initially contributed pages of art as well, but these diminish as the book progresses, which is just as well because Riccardo Burchielli is the man for the job of depicting the perma-tagged urban decay and danger that haunts Roth’s steps. His spiky characters and grubby locales rapidly characterize the series, and this hardback includes a phenomenal sketch and interview section.
The longer stories are split by self-contained chapters. Wood’s still finding his way, and they lack the passion of the longer story arcs, a problem never really solved throughout the run, although the magazine format of Roth’s guide to Manhattan and its inhabitants offers a few hints as to future stories.
December 11, 2018
This is for the entire 72 issue series...
Oh man.. What a Breaking Bad moment today as I realized I was closing in on the end of the series. I had to know how things panned out and what was to come of Matty, Zee, Delgado... And Wilson... But then it hit me that when I was done I was done (as should be the case, no sequels, prequels, sidequals, overquaels, anything to squeeze out another dime...) I know when it would be over I'd miss the rush and danger of post second cival war NYC. Yet at the same time hope springs eternal, right??
This series would be nothing without the details and personal touches of Brian Woods writing and award winning art of Riccardo Burchielli. Some scenes took me aback, seeing the Woolworth building bombed and MSG roofless, but as a native NYer it made it all so much more real.
One can only imagine how these stories lines would play out in "real life" but Wood tackled them realistically, and gave the characters such life that you were heart broken when Matty let you down though you still cared enough to care through his struggles. I appreciated the side stories and the issue or two excursions were a good relief that didn't get you too distracted from the story line.
Again though, Burchiellis artwork kept you rivited through out. Often I marveled at his city scapes, knowing the exact spot where he took his inspiration from, even though things (thankfully) don't currently look that bleak.
The ending I think was a fitting one, the story was told, deeds were payed for and the chapter was closed. As in the words of The Delgado Nation.. LONG LIVE THE DMZ!!!
Oh man.. What a Breaking Bad moment today as I realized I was closing in on the end of the series. I had to know how things panned out and what was to come of Matty, Zee, Delgado... And Wilson... But then it hit me that when I was done I was done (as should be the case, no sequels, prequels, sidequals, overquaels, anything to squeeze out another dime...) I know when it would be over I'd miss the rush and danger of post second cival war NYC. Yet at the same time hope springs eternal, right??
This series would be nothing without the details and personal touches of Brian Woods writing and award winning art of Riccardo Burchielli. Some scenes took me aback, seeing the Woolworth building bombed and MSG roofless, but as a native NYer it made it all so much more real.
One can only imagine how these stories lines would play out in "real life" but Wood tackled them realistically, and gave the characters such life that you were heart broken when Matty let you down though you still cared enough to care through his struggles. I appreciated the side stories and the issue or two excursions were a good relief that didn't get you too distracted from the story line.
Again though, Burchiellis artwork kept you rivited through out. Often I marveled at his city scapes, knowing the exact spot where he took his inspiration from, even though things (thankfully) don't currently look that bleak.
The ending I think was a fitting one, the story was told, deeds were payed for and the chapter was closed. As in the words of The Delgado Nation.. LONG LIVE THE DMZ!!!
April 26, 2024
It would be an understatement to say that I have loved this series so far, and I have to give Wood and Burchielli major kudos for a job well done. The real highlight of “DMZ” is Matty Roth and the exploration of the Demilitarized Zone and what it has become. Right off the bat, Roth meets a medic named Zee who takes him under her wing and shows him around. The world that Brian Wood creates is a fascinating one. Sure, there’s blood and death and destruction everywhere, but there are also incredible stories of survival. Those left in the DMZ have turned it into an almost community filled with food growers, neighborhood militias, and even an art scene. The whole thing has an underground, almost subversive feel to it and the everyday struggle to survive is well researched and would probably be uncomfortably familiar to anyone who has actually lived through something like this.
The gritty realism continues with superb artwork by artist Riccardo Burchielli. It’s not to say that the art is perfect, Burchielli’s art does kind of fall flat with the facial expressions of the characters. It seems that everyone is only limited to being terrified, extremely angry, or grimly determined, but it almost doesn’t matter. Burchielli lays the horrors of war bare for the reader to see and it’s a style of art that is the perfect fit for the kind of story that “DMZ” wanted to tell.
The gritty realism continues with superb artwork by artist Riccardo Burchielli. It’s not to say that the art is perfect, Burchielli’s art does kind of fall flat with the facial expressions of the characters. It seems that everyone is only limited to being terrified, extremely angry, or grimly determined, but it almost doesn’t matter. Burchielli lays the horrors of war bare for the reader to see and it’s a style of art that is the perfect fit for the kind of story that “DMZ” wanted to tell.
May 31, 2025
Very New York war graphic novel from the 2000s. Has a lot of similarities to Joe Sacco's nonfiction Palestine comics (which are better). Premises “what if Iraq, but in NYC”? Or maybe, “what if The Warriors, but in 1979 Beirut”? I'd be here for a “what if post-Gothic War Rome, but NYC” book. Captures some of the Bush era paranoia and cynicism, as well as some other less tangible pieces of the zeitgeist. Successfully predicts that the U.S. would be divided into factions, and the “middle ground” between them is nothing but a destroyed wasteland. The FSA's success in the face of government forces defecting or deserting kind of reminds me of the Free Syrians' final toppling of Assad. I feel like the wheels would come off the American war machine pretty fast in the event of any sort of civil conflict. The short-range use of long-range weapons systems (e.g. submarine launching missiles at lower Manhattan from off Breezy Point , missile artillery firing across the East River) made me roll my eyes a little bit. World conflicts of the 2010s-2020s make the lack of drone activity seem a little incongruous as well. Not sure what to say about the protagonist Matty. He's there, I guess. I want to know more about Wilson or Zee or the sniper guy and his sniper girlfriend.
June 22, 2021
DMZ very intricate and detailed with incredible amounts of attention put into seemingly minor details. The opening of this story was very engaging and really draws you into the story and main characters. The artwork and coloring is very complementary and fits perfectly to the overall gritty aesthetic of the story - with the lettering and graphic design elements seamlessly blending in. Presentation of this deluxe edition was top-notch. The matte paper, although on the thinner side it really gave that newspaper print feel which only added to pull you deeper within the story. The artwork on the dust jacket was okay, and the design on the spine was pretty pleasing when placed next to the other 4 volumes. The solid black hardcover was very appealing with the subtle debossed logo on the front cover and spine being really nice addition to this edition. The extra content was mostly all directly related to the story and the attention to detail was very impressive. There was also a lengthy interview with the creator Brian Wood, which gives you a lot of back story on the creation of the series.
June 26, 2021
I liked that this story jumped right into the action. The reader doesn't know the exact backstory, but it taken for a ride. I also liked the one-off issues that felt like vignettes around the DMZ. The "Ghosts" issue about Central Park in particular was my favorite. This deluxe edition contains an arc; I'd probably recommend reading this over individual issues or smaller volumes. I would avoid reading the interview with Brian Wood at the end of this edition because it mentions things later on in the series.
Read for my local library's graphic novel book club.
Read for my local library's graphic novel book club.
May 14, 2020
DMZ is a special series set in the near future, where a Second Civil War in the United States has turned Manhattan into a demilitarized zone (DMZ). Manhattan is caught between the American military and the armed forces of the secessionist Free States of America. Created by Brian Wood with the majority of the artwork handled by Riccardo Burchielli, this series has a distinct style that really immerses you. The world of the DMZ is realistically depicted with incredible detail. The final issue of Deluxe Edition Book One includes a great breakdown of the DMZ including neighborhoods, culture and people.
This first volume focuses on rookie reporter Matty Roth and his chaotic arrival in the DMZ. Along the way he meets a diverse cast of characters (whose own distinct narratives are interspersed throughout the series). The story is clearly influenced by the 9/11 attacks and U.S. invasion of Iraq providing a nice parallel to the quagmire of that conflict. A strong starting point for this 72 issue series. Four more deluxe volumes to go!
This first volume focuses on rookie reporter Matty Roth and his chaotic arrival in the DMZ. Along the way he meets a diverse cast of characters (whose own distinct narratives are interspersed throughout the series). The story is clearly influenced by the 9/11 attacks and U.S. invasion of Iraq providing a nice parallel to the quagmire of that conflict. A strong starting point for this 72 issue series. Four more deluxe volumes to go!
July 14, 2017
Whoa, this comic is really well done. The art is not top-notch glitter and lens flares, but it really suits well the story narrated.
One of an armed conflict inside the US, fought over the ruins of Manhattan. This is the story of and embedded journalist and the survivors caught in the cross-fire.
It is the struggle of the average man against those who take decisions, the ones with the biggest guns. An incredibly asymmetrical clash over reality itself: the ones deploying weapons are also the ones controlling the information, and each faction spin a different and simplified tale for the masses living the war only through a TV screen. Meanwhile, innocents (Insurgents) die (get terminated) while just trying to cross the road (attempting a suicide bombing).
This is really a gem. I will surely keep reading it.
One of an armed conflict inside the US, fought over the ruins of Manhattan. This is the story of and embedded journalist and the survivors caught in the cross-fire.
It is the struggle of the average man against those who take decisions, the ones with the biggest guns. An incredibly asymmetrical clash over reality itself: the ones deploying weapons are also the ones controlling the information, and each faction spin a different and simplified tale for the masses living the war only through a TV screen. Meanwhile, innocents (Insurgents) die (get terminated) while just trying to cross the road (attempting a suicide bombing).
This is really a gem. I will surely keep reading it.
December 8, 2018
At its core, DMZ is a war story. It takes place during the second American Civil War; The Free States faction that began as a grassroots movement in the heartland of the United States of America had rapidly grown into a full-fledged insurgency. A militia army of millions of disheartened Americans then made a push eastward toward New York CIty, the economic heart of the nation; the fact that the United States had nearly all of its combat troops stationed overseas in the Middle East only served to make it easier for this Insurgency to grow. NYC became ground Zero in this war, as the United States concentrated the bulk of its military forces in and around the city in attempt to halt the Free States advance. A cease-fire was called, and New York City became the DMZ.
If this sounds interesting, check it out. It's well worth your time.
If this sounds interesting, check it out. It's well worth your time.
January 27, 2021
It is interesting to reread this after the attack on the capital of the United States on January 6th 2021. Created in 2003, this book has always seemed like a distant alternative future, now it seems more like a warning than anything else.
It is a damm good book, about a would-be journalist stuck as a tourist in a warzone. While it covers a lot about the Civil War between the USA and free states, what truly makes this book unique is that it is the civilians who are the heart and center of it. They fill the book and the world with life, and how weirdly life continues on as normal even during a war.
The one shot with Zee gives her much needed characterization and makes her lack of action interesting in its own way. The last issue reads more like a magazine about the DMZ. It is truly brilliant. The art is astonishing and the DMZ feels truly like new york in all the best and worst ways.
It is a damm good book, about a would-be journalist stuck as a tourist in a warzone. While it covers a lot about the Civil War between the USA and free states, what truly makes this book unique is that it is the civilians who are the heart and center of it. They fill the book and the world with life, and how weirdly life continues on as normal even during a war.
The one shot with Zee gives her much needed characterization and makes her lack of action interesting in its own way. The last issue reads more like a magazine about the DMZ. It is truly brilliant. The art is astonishing and the DMZ feels truly like new york in all the best and worst ways.
June 29, 2022
Great and realistic
Great story that leave you asking for more, after finishing the first volume you will need answers to a lot of questions about the world, the characters and the life in the city in general. SMS is critic to the "ecosystem" created after a war, the manipulation of the information, how the life has to go on even in the most tragic and harsh conditions, how the rest of the world stop caring about the tragedies when they are not directly affected, and so much more.
Even if it has some inconsistencies, like someone with a literally destroyed city won't be thinking of an event that happened years ago (9/11) and destroyed so much less than this war. I bought this after watching the show and now I wonder why didn't they just adapt this story?, it would have so much better.
Great story that leave you asking for more, after finishing the first volume you will need answers to a lot of questions about the world, the characters and the life in the city in general. SMS is critic to the "ecosystem" created after a war, the manipulation of the information, how the life has to go on even in the most tragic and harsh conditions, how the rest of the world stop caring about the tragedies when they are not directly affected, and so much more.
Even if it has some inconsistencies, like someone with a literally destroyed city won't be thinking of an event that happened years ago (9/11) and destroyed so much less than this war. I bought this after watching the show and now I wonder why didn't they just adapt this story?, it would have so much better.
March 16, 2023
Overall series - A work that projects the worst of American military policy during the Bush era forward into a 2010s - 2020s USA which is embroiled in its own insurgent civil war. Manhattan serves as a not-so-demilitarized zone in the middle of the war's largest front and as the new home to our protagonist reporting on the events on the ground. The series is a competent critique of nation building and the military industrial complex while also presenting a narrative full of big and small drama. Overall the characters are vulnerable, flawed, and complex however many are fairly archetypal and the main character is perhaps the least interesting but also has a compelling character arc which fits the story well. This may not be everyone's jam and perhaps too pessimistic for many but for me this was fantastic. The "Friendly Fire" and "No Future" storylines may be some of my favorite war fiction plots in any comic I've read. 8.75/10
April 8, 2021
The main points: There's a lot going for this; It was slightly uneven; and I'm not the perfect audience for it so won't be reading more.
I feel slightly bad about the rating of 3. It's a big, bold work, clearly. The art of the city looks fantastic. I can imagine it would be extremely powerful if I was a New Yorker. Not as keen on the depictions of the people. Looks a bit like Ezquerra. Some of the flow from panel to panel was weird.
The evolution of the character relationships was very clumsy and the more personal dialogue often prompted eye-rolls.
I do quite like Brian Wood, though this wasn't quite for me.
I feel slightly bad about the rating of 3. It's a big, bold work, clearly. The art of the city looks fantastic. I can imagine it would be extremely powerful if I was a New Yorker. Not as keen on the depictions of the people. Looks a bit like Ezquerra. Some of the flow from panel to panel was weird.
The evolution of the character relationships was very clumsy and the more personal dialogue often prompted eye-rolls.
I do quite like Brian Wood, though this wasn't quite for me.
April 2, 2022
Tras ver un par de capítulos de lo que HBO ha decidido titular DMZ sin que haya más que un robo del nombre ( From Hell League of Extraordinary Gentlemen ) Me he vuelto a acercar a un cómic que recordaba interesante y que, desde luego, merece la pena. Una historia adulta y seria en la que, a través de los ojos de un periodista accidental, vamos descubriendo la vida oculta de la ciudad de Nueva York, presa de la anarquía en una futura (y no del todo increible) guerra civil en los USA. Una maravilla tanto en guión como dibujo con un primer arco argumental muy bien hilado. Alejaos de la serie y pillad este cómic.
August 6, 2024
I thought it was time to revisit one of my favorite graphic novel series, DMZ is special for me as it was the comic together with Watchmen that brought be back into reading comics. I remember being as a comicstore where 3 comics peaked my interest. One was Preacher, the other one was Fables, and DMZ i asked about those titles and flicked through some of the books and i opted for DMZ (i think i liked the artwork best) but i also really digged the vibe and story, this was also a couple years after 9/11 and it still felt relevent sort of. I reread the first of 5 deluxe editions because i finally have found the set again after selling my trades, and i still think its a incredible series!
November 23, 2018
A very well-thought out world that propels a story that I honestly wasn’t sure would have a lot of legs, but Wood has put a lot of effort into exploring a solid if not entirely original “what if” scenario through the eyes of a protagonist who sees it all unfold from a unique perspective. A bit of suspension of disbelief is required in my opinion, since it’s a little sketchy how those in the DMZ have cell phone service, TV, and general infrastructure, but everything else shows a lot of promise, and I’m eager to read more.
April 14, 2022
Remember CHAZ, that 'autonomous zone' that was born during the BLM riots? Those geniuses that thought they could be self sufficient by planting tomatoes on a cardboard in a park? Mix that with the 'Humans of New York' page and you get DMZ.
There's no sense of direction, just a bunch of comrades being autonomous 'n shit in a broken down America during a conflict the author didn't bother explaining for the two first Volumes, some 300 pages or so.
There's no sense of direction, just a bunch of comrades being autonomous 'n shit in a broken down America during a conflict the author didn't bother explaining for the two first Volumes, some 300 pages or so.
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