Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

DMZ #72
Vertigo (DC) Comics
Wood & Burchielli

The final issue of DMZ is a terrific epilogue on the series. The book manages to bring the reader, in some case begrudgingly, back to the side of Matty Roth, the main character throughout the series. The creators have such command over their creation that this comic could have easily been the first issue of the series, it's that well executed. Overall, this series doesn't get much better than issues such as this one. I actually think a newcomer could pick this issue up and then want to go back and read the series to find out about all of the hidden treasures in this book. This is textbook how a creator owner series should bring the curtain down on.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

DMZ #71
Vertigo Comics (DC)
Wood & Burchielli

This issue is the trial of Matty Roth. This is basically the end of the series as the next issue is the epilogue. This comic book is excellent for a number of reasons but the most important one is how Wood ties everything up with a single issue. Roth has become such an unlikable character over the past twenty or so issues but he manages to save a little face in this issue. No, he doesn't redeem himself but at least he agrees to be held accountable for much of what he's done and a little extra. This is the issue I have been curious about since the book's ending was announced and it didn't disappoint.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

DMZ #65
Vertigo Comics (DC Comics)
Wood & Burchielli

As the final few issues of the series gets underway, this issue ends the arc entitled, "Free States Rising" with an unexpected twist. As usual, Wood puts Matty in a spot where readers could be divided about whether or not he's a decent person in a bad situation or just another wheel in the machine that probably deserves a bad ending. He clearly isn't a hero but that doesn't mean he isn't put into positions where he makes decisions that manage to save lives.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

DMZ #63
Vertigo (DC Comics)
Wood & Burchielli

"Free States Rising" continues as the book races towards its conclusion. This issue, much like the past few issues, seems to be getting back to basics. It has a familiarity to it from the first few issues in the series where Matty has a code of ethics and some standards he holds himself to, but this time through he's got a lot of skeletons in the closet to deal with as he meets these characters for a final time. This issue focuses on the resurrection of Parco. It's another strong issue that presents a good confrontation between the two as Matty calls out Parco for everything he should based on their past interactions. This is the kind of comic book that never churns out a bad book.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

DMZ #60
Vertigo Comics (DC Comics)
Wood & Martinbrough

The formation of the Free States of America begins in this flashback issue. For as long as I have been reading this series I have wondered about a number of aspects of the war and this is one of them. I can't say this issue answered all of my questions and, in some ways, now that the mystery has been unveiled I think I preferred my own imagination to have run wild about the origin of the war rather than have it explained for me. At least on this small of scale. It's a good issue but it isn't the epic beginning story I had hoped for. Perhaps Part Two of the arc will bring it all together.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

DMZ #59
Vertigo (DC Comics)
Wood & Lapham

The conclusion of the series of one shots called Collective Punishment focuses on the main character throughout this series: Matty. This issue puts the reader, through Matty, right in the heart of the bombing of the city. I found the issue to visually stunning and a very interesting character study. What Wood has done is taken his hero of the story, Matty, and turned him into something unlikable. As this issue unfolded I found myself hoping he would get bombed. However, Wood drags the reader back over to Matty's side, almost against their will. This was a very good issue taking on the almost impossible task of making me care about the fate of Matty.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

DMZ #57
Vertigo Comics (DC Comics)
Wood & Chiang

The third issue of the series of one-shots called "Collective Punishment" tells a powerful story about a character that you might not expect this level of emotion from, Amina. Amina was introduced a few years back as essentially a suicide bomber that ending up failing in her mission and, thus, being cast off from her group. This issue deals with some of those scars, but really focuses on her humanity and her ability to repair her own life by taking on a huge responsibility by chance. This is a very moving story with a gut wrenching ending that was filled with tension. I enjoyed this issue a lot.

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