Winding down, but not out
There's a certain tingly feeling that comes with a story winding down. However, that doesn't mean that its all introspection and dull narrative: DMZ still brings the pain.
The Good
There's a lot to like about this issue; Matty finally finds out about the death of one of his closest friends in the zone and gets to reflect on it. I've written about Matty Roth's relationship with Wilson previously, and it's one of my favourite parts of the narrative. After all the crap Matty's gone through and the poor decisions he's made, it's a grounding moment where Matty grows more as a person. I like that.
I'd like to take a moment and point out how awesome the cover is. Like I mentioned above, there's been a lot of events that have complicated what started out as a very simple story; this cover almost brings us back to the early days, where Matty was just a reporter, not a figure of so much controversy. He's where he needs to be: reporting.
The Bad
It is too late in the story's 72-issue run to introduce a new cliffhanger on the final page of the issue that could have huge rammifications for all parties involved. There are a lot of strings to tie up right now, including a couple one-shot issues which take up valuable "main plot" time. Not sure what Woods is doing here, but I'm putting some trust in him; he's said that the story is going to have a definite resolution, and this new thread could be the one that damns the US Government.
The Verdict
Hoo boy, I cannot wait for the end of this series; not because I don't like it, but because there's so much I want answered. I've been along for almost the entire ride, so having the plot wind down and each character "get theirs" is very bittersweet: I'm happy that Brian Wood has etched out such a great narrative and has consistently done so for 60+ issues.
That consistency earns my recommendation. As it should from all of us.