In February of 2012, the comic book series DMZ ran its 72nd and final issue. After nearly six and a half years and twelve graphic novels, Brian Wood’s tale of war in a near future New York City rolled up its final story arc and gave us the last stories from the demilitarized zone of Manhattan. Having recently picked up the final graphic novel to put the cap on my long-time love affair with the series, I was struck by how touched I was as a reader and a New Yorker by the evolution of DMZ’s story. As I said goodbye to what I would consider one of the best complete comic stories I had ever read, I realized something important about the Vertigo title. More than being set in New York, DMZ is the story of New York sung to the hail of gunfire and war-time helicopters. Whatever an individual’s politics, this is a comic book ode to one of the greatest cities in the world.
And this is my tribute, my goodbye, to that amazing comic.
[Read more. Minor spoilers ahead.]