Decade Later

DECADE LATER

Real Name: Unrevealed

Class: Parallel-Earth (Earth-DMZ) human

Occupation: Graffiti artist

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: DMZ, Manhattan, NYC, formerly Forest Hills, Queens, NY, Earth-DMZ

First Appearance: DMZ #12 (December, 2006)

Powers: Decade Later was a talented graffiti artist.

History: (DMZ #12, 23) - Two young taggers spend their time in the NY subway system travelling tunnels and painting graffiti on walls. One said his work would make sense once archaeologists uncovered it decades later, and his friend named him Decade Later. Decade conceived of a longterm project to paint the tops of trains, which would create one large piece once the trains came to rest at the Corona stop. The Free State Army revolted, and after a number of lengthy conflicts Manhattan became a DMZ. The local militias pressured Decade to join them, but he had no interest in violence. He braved harsh conditions and gunfire to get his spray cans, and had a gallery show exhibiting the slogans and phrases he painted on every block he could. . Decade attended a war party celebrating the neighborhood's survival of the latest military bombing, and met a fan enamored with him enough to spend the night with him. A militia broke into Decade's apartment, and because he'd snubbed them in the past they were willing to shoot him. The military busted in on a sweep and arrested everyone. Decade was placed on a helicopter on its way to holding cells located in Shea stadium, angry that his work had to come to an end, because even though he wasn't militia he wouldn't be given a trial or a chance to protest his arrest. His guard, a fan, allowed him to look over the Corona trainyard, where his work spelled out "MINE."

(DMZ #58) - Decade was brutalized in prison by military guards, and even though he didn't have any information he made things up and confirmed every rumor they'd ever heard about insurgents. He always felt life could never touch him because he was an artist, but was coming to the realization that wasn't true. He spent 2 years at the Shea Stadium prison, and never drew a line. One day eh found a pencil and drew a cityscape in his cell, and was beaten for it. He refused to clean it off the wall, and went on a hunger strike, convinced that the guards would let him starve himself to death. Shea was abandoned as a detention center when the US invaded the DMZ to retake it, and Decade was offered the chance of relocating to LI or returning to the city. He chose Manhattan, and amidst the heavy bombing of the city he found an empty gallery and covered the walls in a cityscape that encompassed all the important events and people in his life in NYC. He was pleased with his first gallery show, and advertised by placing his tag outside the gallery.

Comments: Created by Brian Wood.

Decade Later had a cameo in DMZ #50.