Posted in: AfterShock, Comics | Tagged: aftershock, Patrick Kindlon, shoplifters will be liquidated

Patrick Kindlon and Stefano Simeone Mock Consumerism with "Shoplifters Will Be Liquidated"

AfterShock Comics has announced a new series from the creative team of Patrick Kindlon and Stefano Simeone, a "satirical take on the consumer society." And it's the perfect vehicle for such criticism, as what could be a better example of consumerism run rampant than comic books, a luxury item that only the top 1% of wealth-holders can possibly afford to purchase. Clearly an attack on the holy institution of capitalism by socialist malcontents hellbent on destroying American society, here's what Shoplifters Will Be Liquidated is about:

The largest retailer in the world requires the best-trained loss prevention staff, and Security Officer Nussbaum defends the company interests at any cost. Life, human rights, rational thought are all secondary concerns. But his world is upended when he finds a society living under the retail outlet – a culture that challenges his notions about consumerism and sense of self. Is he ready for the message?

And here's what writer Kindlon has to say:

In this hyper-capitalist future, a job in loss prevention is the closest a man can get to judge, jury, and executioner. Nussbaum takes his position seriously, and when he finds an underground society living outside corporate oversight his only instinct is DESTROY! This book feels timely without being forced commentary. A recipe for great sci-fi."

Judge Dredd and Marshal Law are so fully representative of their eras. The satire of those characters perfectly mirrors the concerns of the time. This series asks what that concept would look like in 2019. The name is a play on the ubiquitous 'shoplifters will be prosecuted' sign that makes every retail outlet feel like a county jail.

It would be shocking to hear Kindlon speak so negatively about our beloved corporate retail overlords, but we'll chalk it up to the poor influence of punk rock music and neck tattoos.

In the spirit of making press releases more like listicles to further degrade the already beleaguered institution of comics "journalism," Kindlon named three reasons readers should add Shoplifters Will Be Liquidated to their pull lists.

There's a fun science fiction adventure story here that can be taken at face value AND/OR a biting bit of satire that can be enjoyed on a different level. Fans of British comics will recognize that tiered reading experience immediately. Readers get to approach the work on whatever terms they care to.

Beautiful art by Stefano Simeone that gives the story beats a true and natural rhythm.

The sort of vivid violence and colorful language that used to make comics subversive and exciting.

Shoplifters Will Be Liquidated debuts in October.

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