In the years following several vicious terrorist attacks in which ten millon Americans lost their lives, the United States government has taken drastic measures to protect the safety of its citizens. The first is the switch from paper money to fiduciary charge cards, a step that will allow Feds to keep a watchful eye on all monetary transactions. The second is the American Peace Initiative signal, really just a fancy term for brainwashing. A signal will be broadcast which will prohibit anyone from doing anything they know to be unlawful.
In the weeks leading up to the broadcast, small-time criminal Graham Burke plans one last heist. His goal is to swipe and hack one of the boxes that charges the currency cards, leaving himself with a nice nest egg. Only problem is, his original partners stabbed him in the back, forcing him to bring in a new team. Kevin is a safe cracker and his girlfriend Shelby, who Graham has gotten to know very well in the bathroom of a local tavern several minutes before the big meet, is a computer hacker. As Kevin makes the move to obtain a laser cutter needed for the job, Graham and Shelby face opposition from Graham’s original partners, a dangerous Mexican gang who still want their cut of the money.
The term “gritty” gets thrown around a lot, but The Last Days of American Crime is truly as gritty as it gets. It’s a harsh look at the seedy underside of life and gives us an unflinching look at the world of lowlife thugs who are willing to do anything to further their own careers. No one is to be trusted in this world of double dealing and backstabbing and literally no punches are pulled, whether it be man, woman or child. Everyone is a suspect and everyone is a victim here. Lending a sense of weight to this story is Greg Tocchini’s artwork. Tocchini, who has previously worked for Marvel and DC in a more traditional, though no less impressive style, loosens things up a bit with this series, giving the book a look that is every bit as grimy and disgusting as the story. After reading it, I felt dirty, like I needed to bathe. I can’t say that I loved every single page or every single panel, but it’s definitely a case of the art matching the story to a T and Tocchini is definitely a master draftsman.
Cover art to LAST DAYS OF AMERICAN CRIME #2 by Alex Maleev
Even more interesting than the big heist and violent action that takes place in this book are the questions of morality that writer Rick Remender is asking us. The idea of a signal that would inhibit unlawful behavior is an Orwellian nightmare and one wonders if our government would actually be willing to go to such levels, if the technology actually did exist. Media personalities debating the issue on a televised program seen in the comic give us the conservative and liberal viewpoints regarding such a measure and several conversations between the characters illustrate the futility of such an act. Would taking away the ability actually take away the desire? Can humankind’s impulses truly be inhibited or controlled? And when citizens are unable to break the law, what happens when the laws become more and more restrictive? The book further explores the darker side of human nature as well as asking the eternal question of whether or not there is any sort of honor among thieves.
With The Last Days of American Crime, Rick Remender and Greg Tocchini give us a thought provoking illustrated crime novel that never skimps on the rougher aspects of the business and doesn’t pretend to sugarcoat anything. It’s a twisted look into the human psyche and a fast-paced heist story to boot. It definitely comes recommended to fans of either type of storytelling.
And of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mention the fact that Radical gives readers 48 pages of story, plus an additional 11 pages of sketches, script and breakdowns for only $4.99. That’s an absolute steal and hopefully other publishers will take note.
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Radical comics....some good stuff. Not all is great but, I like this publisher a millions time better then DC. It's great read.