DMZ #56

Written by Brian Wood
Art by Nathan Fox

The Collective Punishment arc is examining recent events in the DMZ to see how they affect some of the various back-up characters that we've gotten to know over the last few years.

This issue shines a light on Wilson, the protector (or warlord, depending on your point of view) of Chinatown.  Wilson has ruled the area for a long time, and the people who live there are very thankful to him for the protection he has provided them.  Now though, with the American army about to invade the island, Wilson is in a difficult position.

A representative visits, giving him a classic helicopter and 20 million in gold as payment for clearing Chinatown before the tanks roll in.  Wilson has never been one to roll over for anybody, and so he is left with a difficult decision to make.

The art for this issue is by Nathan Fox, who has appeared in this title before, and has recently done an amazing job on the Dark Reign Zodiac mini-series.  He provides his usual brand of detailed, slightly scratchy art, but also shows the odd flashback panel that has been inked with a finer line and coloured differently, making it really stand out.

My favourite panel of the issue (and possibly of recent memory) is the one where Wilson is buttoning his shirt on his bed before going out to address his followers, with David's famous 'La Mort de Marat' hanging in the background, suggesting a connection between Wilson and either Marat or perhaps his assassin, Charlotte Corday.  It's a very powerful page.