DMZ #52

Written by Brian Wood
Art by Riccardo Burchielli

So how do you react when you feel you're responsible for a nuclear explosion on American soil?  Matty is looking for ways to redeem himself, and is making some very strange conclusions about the best way to do that.  He wants to return the dogtags of the dead soldiers he found in a crashed helicopter last issue (wonderfully illustrated on the cover by John Paul Leon), even though he knows it means crossing a very hostile city and speaking with American Army soldiers who are probably going to be less than happy to see him.

When Wood has Matty out in the city, it reminded me of stories I'd read about life in Sarajevo during the war there.  Matty is terrified of crossing Broadway, which has become a 'river of blood' separating the east from the west side of the city.  There is a real sense of menace in these scenes, where every person is a potential threat.

This series is consistently entertaining and impressive.