MARVEL COMICS/Icon – @Marvel
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Brian Michael Bendis
ART: Michael Avon Oeming
COLORS: Taki Soma
LETTERS: Chris Eliopoulos
EDITOR: Jennifer Grunwald
COVER: Michael Avon Oeming
48pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (May 2014)
The United States of Murder Inc. created by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming
The United States of Murder Inc. is a six-issue miniseries written by Brian Michael Bendis and drawn by Michael Avon Oeming. It was originally published in 2014 (cover dated from May 2014 to February 2015) under Marvel Comics' Icon imprint.
The United States of Murder Inc. imagines an alternate history for the United States in which the American Mafia did not lose its war with the Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI). Instead, in the world of this comic book, the “Five Families” forced the government of the United States to concede most of the Eastern Seaboard of the U.S., the city of Chicago, and parts of Nevada to them. This area controlled by the families is euphemistically called “the territories.” [If I understand this correctly, the names of the “five families” are Golanno, Lobombo, Luciano, DiGastra, and Bonavese, which I think are plays on the names of real-world mob crime families.]
The United States of Murder Inc. #1 opens on the day that Valentine Gallo becomes a “made man” in the Bonavese crime family. Now, head of the family, Don Chucky Bonavese, sends Valentine on his first mission as a made man. To complete this task, however, Valentine must leave the territories for the first time and travel to Washington D.C.
Not wanting to go alone on this momentous trip, Valentine takes his friend Dino with him. Don Bonavese also sends his talented hit-woman, Jagger Rose, with Valentine. Valentine must deliver a suitcase to Senator Fuller, a mission he completes. Unfortunately, things go terribly wrong, leaving Valentine and Jagger hunted by both the mob and the CIA. And Valentine's mother, Madonna Gallo, has a shocking secret to reveal. Valentine was born to destroy everything in which he believes!
I remember seeing The United States of Murder Inc. #1 on a comic book store shelf, but, at the time, I had heard nothing about it. I ignored it although I am a fan of both Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming and also of their seminal work together, the long-running superhero comic book, Powers. So I don't know why I had zero interest in The United States of Murder Inc.
I should have been paying attention. The United States of Murder Inc. #1 is the kind of first issue that makes the reader salivate for the rest of the series. I practically tore through issues #2 to #6 and read the entire thing before writing this review.
Although The United States of Murder Inc. is a smoothly running operation as far as how a creative team executes a graphical narrative, the entire series tone is that of a rough and tumble, rollicking crime story as serial adventure. The shocking terrorist act in the first issue exemplifies the explosiveness of the first issue itself and of the series as a whole.
I could not turn the pages fast enough or get to the next issue fast enough. Readers who like alternate-history fiction and mafia fiction may find, in The United States of Murder Inc., that they have struck gold. I look forward to the follow-up, United States vs. Murder, Inc. (DC Comics).
10 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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