The Last Days of American Crime #[nn]

A woman sprawls across a tattered American flag alongside a handgun, a crumpled Los Angeles Times, a cigarette-stubbed ashtray, and a worn lighter — Alex Maleev's painted cover for this Splitter Verlag edition sets a mood that is equal parts noir fatigue and quiet menace. Rick Remender and Greg Tocchini's crime saga gets a fittingly atmospheric showcase here, and Maleev's moody, painterly style makes this 2011 German release a genuinely striking object to hold. If pulp crime fiction with a distinctly American edge appeals to you, this is a compelling place to start.