Last Days of American Crime #1

Written by Rick Remender
Art by Greg Tocchini

This is an interesting comic. Remender is writing a genre crime comic, albeit one set in the near future, with some science-fiction elements. He's much more controlled than he usually is in his creator-owned comics, keeping things very close to the vest. He leaves it to the reader to figure out a lot of what is happening in the world - specifically the details of the API broadcast, which will make it impossible for people to conduct criminal or terroristic activity. This has set off a nation-wide crime spree, as people try to get their kicks in before the well runs dry.

In the middle of all of this is Graham Bricke (Rory to his mom), who has plans for one massive last score, involving government ATM-like machines and the shift to a cash-less society, which is taking place at the same time as the broadcast. He needs to outsource some of the work, and gets hooked up with a pair of criminals that are also a couple, and clearly working their own, individual, agendas.

It's a good start to the series (even if I did have to read the interview with Remender at the back to confirm a few of the main details). I like this $4.99 prestige-format approach that Radical is taking to their books. It's a very satisfying chunk of comics; for the same price as a Marvel annual, you get twice the story, and no reprints.

Tocchini's art works well with this type of story. It's rough, but colourful.