“No matter how many times you’ve seen it before, a little corner of your soul tells you, Not this time. This time’s going to be different, you’ll see. F*ck that corner.”

Equity. Vengeance. Consequence. They say justice is blind, but what happens when it turns a blind eye? Artists Writers and Artisans (AWA) has announced They Choose Violence, a razor-sharp, unflinching new crime thriller from writer Sheldon Allen and artist Mauricio Campetella. Hitting shelves on June 18, this dark but gripping five-issue series dares to ask the hardest questions about justice, vengeance, and the dangerous allure of fighting fire with fire.

They Choose Violence follows Laneka, Deidre, and Karen, three Black HBCU friends turned accomplished professionals who band together to form a vigilante squad that targets White Supremacists deemed to have circumvented the justice system and gotten away with protected murder. Serving up grisly justice in increasingly creative ways, the vigilante posse becomes cult heroes and front-page news, while always staying one step ahead of the law. It’s effective, it’s cathartic, it’s kinda fun—until they are forced to confront the consequences of their actions—a copycat killer whose signature contains a special message to them—and the line between hero and villain begins to blur.

More than just a revenge story, They Choose Violence is a bold, thought-provoking exploration of power and consequence and a deep dive into the gray areas of morality and today’s justice system. With cutting social commentary wrapped in relentless action, the series asks what happens when the people society pushes to the margins decide to push back.  Our protagonists, three powerful and relatable women, reprogram their minds, sculpt their bodies, and learn everything it takes to deliver their justice, but are not fully prepared for the ripple effect of their actions. What happens when you go down the dark, unforgiving road of revenge? What happens when the only path forward is escalation? In a world that often mirrors our own reality, They Choose Violence forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths while delivering pulse-pounding storytelling and powerful artwork. 

Prepare for a story that’s as electrifying as it is necessary. They Choose Violence is colored by Daniele Caramanico and lettered by Matt Bowers, with cover art by Rahzzah and Kyle Baker. Available online and in stores wherever comic books are sold, the new series launches with They Choose Violence #1 on Wednesday, June 18.