DMZ #58

Written by Brian Wood
Art by Danijel Zezelj

With this done-in-one issue, Wood returns to the character Decade Later, a fine art graffiti artist not seen since issue 23, when he was captured by US military forces.  In this book, we get to see where Decade has been kept, and learn about the conditions he's had to endure at Camp Shea Stadium, where he was tortured for information and eventually went on a hunger strike to preserve the only piece of artwork he was able to create in that time.

As the war shifts directions once again, Decade Later is suddenly freed from captivity and allowed to return to Manhattan.  He knows nothing of what has happened - no Parco Delgado, no nuclear explosion, no US bombing campaign.  Once back in the city, he quickly goes back to creating works of art.

The art in this issue is by Danijel Zezelj, who is one of my favourite artists.  I wish he would be used more regularly instead of on all these random stints as a guest artist or on the odd graphic novel.  His approach is perfect for a book like DMZ - his Manhattan looks more desolate than ever.

DMZ has been really good lately (I tend to like the issues that don't have main character Matty Roth in them the most), but this issue was one of the best in a long while.  Wood uses a non-political artist like DL to show just how off-mission the American forces have gone.