What's a good recent start for DMZ?

[BigBoss]

I wanna start reading DMZ but dont got the money to do TPB's. so what's a good recent start?

[DonC]

Have you tried your local library? They often carry trade paperbacks.

[Dorsai]

I am currently reading it in trade and I would suggest you start with Volume 1 TPB. Number 5 was just released and I felt that even though it was good, it was the weakest so far. The first couple of trades I really enjoyed.

The library actually isn't a bad suggestion if you wanted to save a little bit of cash. But because this series started off so strongly, I would really recommend you start with volume 1 if possible. And for me, this series just always seemed to be one that read better in trade.

[BigBoss]

my library is crap all they got good is maus.

[Dorsai]

You might give DCBS (Discount Comic Book Service) a try. It is a mail-order business that sells at a discount. It doesn't really help on the money situation but might be a decent option.

It looks like they have Volume 1 TPB for $5.99. Basically, for the price of two single issues you get a trade paperback.

http://www.dcbservice.com/index.aspx

Sorry, but couldn't get a direct link. On the left, choose Trade Paperbacks and the click DC. On the right, choose Vertigo from the dropdown you should be able to find the DMZ trades.


DMZ VOL 1 ON THE GROUND TP (MR)
From indie comics icon Brian Wood (Demo, Channel Zero, GLOBAL FREQUENCY) and up-and-coming Italian artist Riccardo Burchielli (John Doe) comes the first volume of DMZ, collecting the first 5 issues of the series about the ultimate embedded war journalist trapped in a most unlikely war zone: the streets [more]...
Product Code: MAR060383
Your Price: $5.99
Regular Price: $9.99
Discount: 40%

[morganagrom]

1. You can read the the first pamphlet for free on DC's website. See how you like it.

http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=5272

2. The paperbacks might seem expensive, but they're actually a lot cheaper than buying the pamphlets. Without any discount at all, you'll save approximately 25% off of the price of the pamphlets by tradewaiting and buying the paperbacks at cover. If you want to save even more money, go to amazon or an online retailer like dcbservice mentioned above and save another 30-40% off of the paperback cover price.

[Headhunter]

I think you have to start from the beginning, the characters and their relationships don't make sense if you don't have the full backstory as you go along.

Have you tried your local library? They often carry trade paperbacks.
That's how I read Sandman, which I'm now collecting in the Absolute editions.

[Drink]

Yeah, best to start at the beginning, either through the Library if possible, or gradually getting trades. DMZ like a lot of series is one you can't really pick up from any one issue and see where it's going.

On a related note, I've ordered in all the issues I don't have, so I'll be getting the book on a monthly basis now.

[briancwood]

Yeah, best to start at the beginning, either through the Library if possible, or gradually getting trades. DMZ like a lot of series is one you can't really pick up from any one issue and see where it's going.


I designed Vol. 4 as a jumping on point, and recommend that to people if they can't find Vol. 1.

b

[Drink]

I designed Vol. 4 as a jumping on point, and recommend that to people if they can't find Vol. 1.

b

Didn't think of it like that when I read it, but yeah, it can.

Though, with no offense to you or other writers, I still think that reading series like this are best if you start from Vol. 1 and go from there. Otherwise, it's sort of like if you pick up a novel and start reading at Chapter 10. You can do it that way if you want, but it's best if you don't.

I guess I always had the benefit of stores that always kept highly stocked up on Vertigo trades, including DMZ. So one could always start at the beginning with no problems.

[briancwood]

Didn't think of it like that when I read it, but yeah, it can.

Though, with no offense to you or other writers, I still think that reading series like this are best if you start from Vol. 1 and go from there. Otherwise, it's sort of like if you pick up a novel and start reading at Chapter 10. You can do it that way if you want, but it's best if you don't.

I guess I always had the benefit of stores that always kept highly stocked up on Vertigo trades, including DMZ. So one could always start at the beginning with no problems.


Yeah, I agree that v1 is ideal, although I try and encourage people to read v1 and v2 together, as a place to start. My personal belief is that v4 is probably the best DMZ story to date, so sometimes I start people off with that.

b

[Drink]

Fair enough point. Maybe someday, if it ever gets made into an Absolute format, Vols.1 and 2 will be put together.

While I'm thinking of it, there was something I wanted to ask you about DMZ.

I've noticed while rereading it that Matty's bandage on his nose just seems to appear at the beginning of one issue, where his nose seemed alright at the end of the previous.

Not to be too much of a nitpick or anything, as of course a bit of time does seem to pass between the two. But as it's something I associate directly with Matty, is there any explanation for it?

Thanks.