Johnsenclan

This is book seventeen in 52 books in 52 weeks

The books take place in New York City in the near future. There is a civil ware going on in the United States, and while there are battles going on throughout the United States, the main battle is taking place in New York City. The Free States are the larger group that started Montana and made its way east. They first battles against the U.S. Army in Allentown, Pennsylvania where both sides decided that they didn’t want to fight, after which the Free States Army descended on New York. Manhattan is the location of the demilitarized zone between the two armies. The Free States armies are made up of citizens of Middle America that rose up against the pre-emptive war policies of the US government, causing a Second American Civil War.

The main character in the story is Matty. He’s dropped into the demiliterized zone in Manhattan, the area of land that separates the Free Armies and the U.S. Army. People in the Manhattan area are stuck there because neither side will let them leave. Both armies try at various times to enter the area and take control, but here are always insurgent and enemy forces keeping either side from taking control. Zee is the other character, a nurse that stayed behind in Manhattan while people were trying to evacuate. She switches between helping Matty and trying to stay away from the trouble he is causing.

Over the first four volumes, it goes from following Matty while he learns more about teh DMZ, to showing how the two sides of the country eventually went to war. It mirrors various events in Iraq and Katrina. There are insurgent groups in the DMZ as well as other parts of the country, some working for each side. There are private militaries, different levels of the United Nations being involved, and suicide bombers.

The whole thing is very fascinating. Like Matty we learn that the insurgents aren’t exactly what they appear to be. And the representatives of both sides in the war are never totally honest while trying to convince their citizens who is right and wrong. The artwork is a great style, but can get a little messy at times(I’m guessing this is what they’re going for). I’m looking forward to the next volume.

Rating B+

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