United States vs. Murder Inc. #1

Reviewed by: Robbie Rowe

Rating: 8 out of 8

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Artist: Michael Avon Oeming

It’s funny how your whole life can be decided by one decision, especially if it’s

made so early into it. This exactly happens to a young girl named Jagger here,

when she’s given the chance to decide what she can and can’t do after her father

was murdered. This isn’t the genre of comic I’d usually read, but I’m definitely

glad I did.

After reading United States vs Murder Inc, I’m absolutely delighted that Brian

Bendis gets to do so many unique and varying comics at DC, between something more based on investigative journalism in Action Comics, more cosmic in Superman, a little more outside the box with Cover – and now we have a fairly enjoyable crime story, which looks a bit noir in colouring and illustrations.

Interestingly, whenever people are killed in this, the blood isn’t as splashy as I

expected and it makes it easier for me reading it. When there’s people killed in

other comics, sometimes the blood’s too oozing, or too splashy, just a bit too

much for me. I was a little annoyed when the comic ended – because I really

wanted more!

This particular comic was mainly about Jagger becoming a part of the secret world of organized crime, most specifically hit men and we get to see her slowly

becoming more and more used to being a hit woman, even if the ending sets up a challenge that seems a fair bit more difficult than she was ever expecting. I really, really look forward to the next issue. Bring it on, Misters Bendis and Oeming!