DMZ #5 Crosstown

[Tony Starkz]

The issue starts out with Matty staying in the place he was offered by the fallen soldier in the last issue.He talks about how he has made contacts around the city,explored a bit more,and has been able to keep in contact with Liberty news whenever the power comes on.

Matty is suddenly interrupted when a man breaks into his place.He hides in the shower and waits for the intruder to leave.When he comes back out,everything is still there except his press jacket and pass,the 2 things keeping him alive in the DMZ.

Matty pursues the thief asking bystanders along the way which way he went.Along the way Matty is surprised to learn that many of them thought it was Matty himself running to capture a story.He's surprised to learn what a celebrity he's become in the DMZ.Everyone knows him as "The Journalist".Along the way,he encounters gunfire,nasty looking locals,and a huge tattooed man.Of course,our hero prevails.

During his pursuit Matty comes close to the thief,but is then interrupted by a bystander.Being distracted,Matty gets wacked in the head.He awakes a few minutes later seeing none other than Zee standing there.Turns out Zee was called to the scene when a bystander found a "next of kin" number in Matty's wallet.There's an awkward silence between the two,until Matty continues to chase after the thief leaving Zee behind.

Matty finally encounters the thief standing in the distance.The thief has some words with Matty.When Matty comes close,he nearly sets off a trip wire which will set off explosives lined in the streets and buildings surrounding them.Matty says screw it,runs through,and sets off the explosions while he ducks for cover.After the dust settles,Matty sees the thief in the distance in total disbelief that he survived.This time Matty knows he has him and the final chase entails.

Right when Matty gets to him,they arrive at a gateway which serves as the entrance to the territory of the free states.The thief tries to tell the guards that Matty is the crazy one who has been chasing him.The guards already know who Matty is and that he is the true Journalist.After a series of threats,the thief gives the jacket and badge back and runs away.

The guards tell Matty if he ever wants to do a story on true,born and bred,Americans,he's always welcome.

DMZ #5 brings us back to the gritty,blown up up streets of NYC.This is a very fast paced issue with some good action.Matty becomes more and more comfortable in the DMZ.Not only that,he is also becoming well known around the city,giving him a kind of celebrity status.Readers get to explore more areas of the DMZ thanks to the always astounding artwork of Burchielli.His style gives this book a distinct and proper look only he could deliver.

All in all,another fantastic issue.This one could probably be by favorite of the first 5 issues.Body Of The Journalist is coming up and this issue only gets the reader more excited for that.

I encourage comic readers to give this book a try.It's a great departure from everything else that's going on in comics today.It stays very relevant to today's world and everything that is going on with the war.The series takes place from the viewpoint of someone suddenly stranded in a warzone.We see the different situations he encounters on a daily basis and what he does to survive.And what truly makes this comic worth it,is that it isn't very predictable.Next issue is always a surprise and could go either way.Oh yea,and I'm a Marvel freak,so this should mean something to some people.

Art-5/5
Story-5/5
Overall-10/10

[Crazz]

I couldn't agree with you more about everything, except that this is your favorite. I don't know if I could pick at the moment, I think they're all really good. I really wish more people were reading this because it deserves a wide audience.

[seaflower]

I loved this issue...

If Brian Wood ever wants to spread his seed...I am more than willing to carry his child...in exchange for all his comic goodness.

[Mr. Palmer]

Color me as another who really liked this issue!

Really want Zee back in these pages, so her "fly by night" appearance was a special treat. Looking forward to her getting more playing time as the series progresses (unless, of course, she ends up dead). Got a kick outta the Springsteen comment, too.

[The Adventurer]

It was a good issue. The only thing bugging me was how easy it seemed for Matty to get across town. Consitering how much trouble he's had getting to where he is now.

But it did showcase much of the city, offering many new veiws into the city. That will be play on at some point.

A great series.

[Schmakt]

It was a good issue. The only thing bugging me was how easy it seemed for Matty to get across town. Consitering how much trouble he's had getting to where he is now.

But it did showcase much of the city, offering many new veiws into the city. That will be play on at some point.

A great series.

It did seem strangely easy for him to run about chasing that guy... but he DID get shot at, yelled at, whacked on the head, and almost beaten by a guy twice his size. There were certainly obstacles... he was just able to get by them fairly easily.

I'm definitely loving this comic more and more with every issue. I still think that #4 was my favorite tho...

[Mr. Palmer]

I still think that #4 was my favorite tho...

That's my favorite, thus far, too.

[Tony Starkz]

Didn't notice until this morning that the map on the cover is the route Matty travels in the book.

[Schmakt]

Didn't notice until this morning that the map on the cover is the route Matty travels in the book.

nice find... I'll check that out when I get home...

nice synopsis too, btw. :)

[JimYung]

I've read all the issues that have come out and I've enjoyed them but I have one very simple question that I know I can find out for myself, but I don't want to dig out my first issue. What exactly is the situation in this story? Did some states split off from the US? Is it the FSA against the USA? Or is it that there is the FSA and USA and the island of Manhattan has chosen neither group so they're freestanding? I know it's strange to be 5 issues in and not know the basic premise but I've been able to enjoy them enough, but would like some help here.

As for this issue, it seemed a bit far fetched that a rookie like Matt has gone from being a total novice to being a respected journalist. I guess he always had it in him and the right situation brought out the best in him. I have different feelings about Zee from the rest of you. She's obviously an important cast member, but she rubs me the wrong way. I wouldn't mind if Matt was able to go through this series on his own merits.

[The Adventurer]

Best I can tell there is a civil war on between a number of states (including New Jersey) and the USA. With Manhattan smack dab in the middle as a major buffer zone. The US probibly technicly controls it, but the FSA has access so the USA can't send troops in mass through it without taking heavy fire. And vise versa. So it's a kind of No man's land.

Hopefully Matty will take up that FSA trooper's offer and do an interview so we get the details.

Because I love these kinds of "What if" war stories.

[nHammer]

I love the art in this book. And the stories ain't half bad either. :D

[matt levin]

Regarding Matty's crossing town-- remember he's been there now over three weeks, could be as many as four or five weeks all told, so he's a lot more hip to situations and such, making travel easier. don't know the actual distance covered, but the guy he was chasing did the same route...

I liked last issue better than this; still not too excited about this series, though, seems very very slow about getting anywhere (besides cross town, that is--). I'm left wanting more about political situations, actual living conditions-- which is what attracts me more to last issue, I guess.

Still gonna give this a few more issues' worth of try.

Matt

[Tony Starkz]

Regarding Matty's crossing town-- remember he's been there now over three weeks, could be as many as four or five weeks all told, so he's a lot more hip to situations and such, making travel easier. don't know the actual distance covered, but the guy he was chasing did the same route...

I liked last issue better than this; still not too excited about this series, though, seems very very slow about getting anywhere (besides cross town, that is--). I'm left wanting more about political situations, actual living conditions-- which is what attracts me more to last issue, I guess.

Still gonna give this a few more issues' worth of try.

Matt

The book is only 5 issues in so let's not expect too much..Most of the "war" aspects were already vaguely covered in the 1st issue.

[MarkSullivan]

The book is only 5 issues in so let's not expect too much..Most of the "war" aspects were already vaguely covered in the 1st issue.
I agree. I really haven't had any problem with the pacing; in fact, this is easily my favorite of the latest crop of Vertigo monthlies. A question for those of you who keep bringing up the need for more readers: do you actually know that DMZ isn't selling well? If so, how?

[JimYung]

From the Pulse:

(122) DMZ (Vertigo)
11/2005: DMZ #1 -- 18,705
12/2005: DMZ #2 -- 14,840 (-20.7%)
01/2006: DMZ #3 -- 14,503 (- 2.3%)

Not sure if these are bad numbers or not. They're about the same as Hellblazer and 100 Bullets but I think those titles have a trade following.

[MarkSullivan]

From the Pulse:

(122) DMZ (Vertigo)
11/2005: DMZ #1 -- 18,705
12/2005: DMZ #2 -- 14,840 (-20.7%)
01/2006: DMZ #3 -- 14,503 (- 2.3%)

Not sure if these are bad numbers or not. They're about the same as Hellblazer and 100 Bullets but I think those titles have a trade following.
More from The Pulse:

"Via its Vertigo imprint, DC Comics released 10 new titles in January 2006. (Dec 2005: 9; Jan 2004: 8; Jan 2005: 15.) The average new Vertigo release in January 2006 had a cover price of $ 2.89 (Dec 2005: $ 2.88; Jan 2004: $ 2,81; Jan 2005: $ 3.24) and sold an estimated 15,036 copies. (Dec 2005: 16,320; Jan 2004: 15,069; Jan 2005: 12,309.)"

"(113) THE EXTERMINATORS (Vertigo)
01/2006: The Exterminators #1 -- 16,187

With a few of their long-running titles ending in the foreseeable future, Vertigo keep starting new ones to replace them. Although these numbers are, realistically, pretty much what you'd expect, they're not exactly spectacular, obviously.

Ultimately, the survival of their recent launches (the others are DMZ, TESTAMENT and LOVELESS) will have much to do with collection sales."

So DMZ appears to be doing about as well as comparable Vertigo titles. Vertigo titles typically stay alive if they're above 10,000 copies sold/month. DMZ's above that, and holding steady--and there's still a chance it will sell well in trades, too. The sky is not falling, I don't think. I love this title, so more readers would be great, but worries about its cancellation are premature.

[JimYung]

From a recent Newsarama interview regarding the state of the war:

"The Free Armies were born out of the extreme right-wing militias that bunker up in the Midwest, people with very strong feelings about what they think the role of government should be, and it just got to be too much for them. Seeing the military and National Guard bogged down in stupid police actions overseas, ignoring the needs of its own citizens, spending into record deficits... they saw an opportunity and took it: The second American civil war."

This is very interesting. So it's basically an opportunistic group of militias who started to take over the country? I would very much like to see what the state of the country is in this series. I might have to reread the series to see what I can pick up with this new knowledge. I wonder how they explain why the government doesn't just recall all it's overseas troops to come back and deal with the uprising. I would imagine they're more advanced and would be able to easily take them down.

[Volk1]

This is very interesting. So it's basically an opportunistic group of militias who started to take over the country? I would very much like to see what the state of the country is in this series. I might have to reread the series to see what I can pick up with this new knowledge. I wonder how they explain why the government doesn't just recall all it's overseas troops to come back and deal with the uprising. I would imagine they're more advanced and would be able to easily take them down.

After reading the article, that's what I thought first too. Why don't they bring in their troops from the overseas, but then again, we also don't know the situation of the outside world. The world could in shambles and the American military is depleted being all over the world....

This would make sense because its makes it more logical how an uprising can just sweel up in the middle of America and take a portion of the country...