by Mike Collins

For those who haven't read issue #1 of Arvid Nelson's promising post apocolyptic series let's begin with a quick recap...Zero's world is different from our own. In his world the Soviet Union and the US exchanged nukes decimating most of the world.

Manhattan is flooded. It's skyscrapers are now home to various violent gangs at war with each other. Enter Zero, a "trashman" or bounty hunter paid by ganglords to bring in renegade gang members. Last issue Zero saved Stark from a group of renegade gang members he was tailing. Stark has now become his unwanted sidekick.

Issue #2 opens with Zero and Stark making their way out of the remains of the Chrysler Building. Traveling through the flooded city they spot a JOCOM chopper moving through the skyscrapers. A masked sniper fires on the chopper sending it crashing into the still standing World Trade Center's North tower.

All of this happens in the first few pages of the issue.

Zero's world is slowly starting to come into focus. We see his home in the remains of the Empire State Building, his burgeoning relationship with Stark as well as meeting one of his friends. It still isn't much, but it's an enticing trail Arvid Nelson is leaving for the readers. We begin to get some sense of what may have happened to Zero.

The issue ends on a cliffhanger which should bring even more of Zero's world into view. We begin to see who the different factions are and that there is still some sort of government presence though it's looking like a fialry sinister one.

The art continues to be impressive. Matt Camp is a find. He has a very clean, mainstream style that I think will win over regular comics readers. Camp's storytelling is strong and he is really delivering a creative world. It's a good combination between artist and writer.

For people looking for a book a little different than the normal superhero fare I'd suggest giving Zero Killer a look. It's a more fantasy based take on a post apocolyptic New York than DMZ and well worth a read.