Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this comic. I was immediately drawn in by the description and artwork and it did not disappoint. I really enjoyed this and would recommend it to all.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this arc for review.

This was a good read. Gripping and fast paced. I really like the art style and colour palette used.

Thank you to NetGalley, AfterShock Comics, and Diamond Book Distributors for an eARC of this title.

This was definitely an interesting read. It stood out to me with the idea that a huge retailer is now making profit off of pretty much everything. I also thought it was interesting how they were working to generate a loss-prevention system that was flawless, which ended up being pretty gruesome.

In all honesty, this graphic novel just wasn’t for me. I thought the concept was incredibly interesting, but I didn’t quite understand what the message was supposed to be. It seemed that there was supposed to be a commentary on consumerism and the problems of it, but as the graphic novel went on I kind of got lost in what was happening and why things were happening. If there was more explanation I think I would have enjoyed it much more.

The art style is great and the concept is interesting, but this one just wasn’t for me.

Rating: 2/5 Stars.

Shoplifters will be Liquidated is the story of the largest retailer in the world and the best trained loss prevention staff. Described as if Judge Dredd worked for Amazon.

The story started out really strong. I struggled staying focused the longer the story went on because it was a really slow burn. The colors were bright and fun. The art was enjoyable.

Creative Team:
Creator and Writer: Patrick Kindlon
Creator, Artist, and Colors: Stefano Simone
Letters: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Published by Aftershock

Shoplifters Will Be Liquidated is a graphic novel commentary on corporatism based in a futuristic world. The characters are interesting to follow along with, if not particularly sympathetic, but the story really is about the world, not the people. I felt the story itself was rather unremarkable, but the various systems and factions that are introduced are intriguing and sometimes thought-provoking. At times the author’s commentary is oblique, but the novel features some very pointed, direct comments as well. The art is striking, with bold colors and easy-to-read panels and speech bubbles. Everything was easy to follow and the story ended on a perfect note. Definitely worth a read, particularly if you’re into the critique of corporatism or interested in the exploration of possible future societies.

I'm not sure what this comic was trying to say at all. It's clearly anti-big box capitalist, but savages those who have dropped out of the consumerist culture (literally living underneath it and off its dregs) as being violently self-interested to the point of nihilistic self-sabotage. Maye the author just wanted to tell a misanthropic satiric tale? If so he forgot to make it interesting. And the art's overly purple hues didn't help.

Enjoyed the art work most of all!

Started reading it with much high anticipation seeing the cover and I am glad the story turned out well.

I like the art sequence. However, I wish the dialogues were a bit convenient to read along.

Overall, a quick good read.

Thanks, author and the team, for providing me this copy.

Was never supplied with a file that worked, despite requesting one after initial problems. Only adding a star rating because I can't send without one.

Really enjoyable satire of customer service culture. The play on a mall as an authoritarian body, and loss prevention spouting off deals as they chase a small-time thief hits very close to home for someone who used to work in retail. Mr. Provo's new product ideas - as macabre as they could be at times - is a brand of dark humour that enjoy in comics. However, the multiple threads throughout the story were very confusing until about three-quarters of the way through the story, making certain parts very difficult to read through.


Thank you to Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley for the eARC in return for an honest review.

This was confusing, and actually kind of stupid.
I think one of the problems is that there are too many stories going on here. You have the tale of the head of the world's biggest company, who has become suicidal after being dumped by his wife and the efforts of his employees to stop him form committing a very public act of suicide.
You have for some reason a side story of two low-level employees of said ginormous company who are trying to get rich from shorting stocks (which could have been left out COMPLETELY and it would have made zero difference, this is seriously so superfluous)!
And the main tale - the story of a crazed security guard who takes company policy WAY too seriously and accidentally discovers a commune of shoplifting hippies living under the mega-store he works for.
None of the stories really go anyplace, the characters are never developed at all so you don't care about any of them, and the entire thing feels like a waste of time to read.

I would have to say that this story really intrigued me! I wanted to read it as soon as I saw it and read the description. Unfortunately, the story just did not give me what I expected. This idea could have been, if executed well, an important addition to the graphic story industry but it just fell short of anything more than anti-consumerism laid out in illustrations. Now to those illustrations, I enjoyed them. They were well balanced with rigid lines and great color. Overall, I enjoyed the graphic comic/novel but expected something else... or maybe just more

Patrick Kindlon offers an intriguing set-up in Shoplifters Will Be Liquidated. It’s a concept that carries my interest and the visuals not only enhance but elevate the story.

The artwork in this graphic novel is excellent, but the story itself falls flat. It tried a little too hard to be an allegory about consumerism and our culture, but doesn't quite get there.

this book is very interesting, and i'm not sure if it is pro or against capitalism and consumerism culture but you could make a case for both, which is alarming. It is very intriguing, and handles the pace of the story very well, specially the ending.
The colours are beautiful, the colour palettes are incredibly well coordinated, they give this sense of almost surrealism within the sci-fi of the story. However, all of the positive aspects I could name are a little bit overshadowed by the commentary this story is trying to make. Even within its satirical nature, it gets lost. It feels almost intentional, mocking each side, invalidating everything its trying to comment in. It's one of those stories that could so easily be misinterpreted and used against what the author is trying to say, but maybe that's its purpose, isn't it? i hope not.

'Shoplifters Will Be Liquidated' by Patrick Kindlon with art by Stefano Simeone is a bleak look at consumerism that should probably come with a trigger warning for those with depression.

Caucus is a mega store and to protect their assets, they need the best security. Theft is treated severely and loss prevention officer Nussbaum is trained and brainwashed to stop theft at any cost. When the CEO tries to commit suicide on the store floor, Nussbaum stops him, then finds himself cast into the society living below the store. This society doesn't take to Nussbaum or his ways, and he learns that they have very different notions of property and self.

This book is so cynical and so wrapped up in its cynicism, that I lost the plot. I also really just wanted to finish the book and be done with it. The art is as bleak as the story. If there was a point besides "consumerism bad," it was lost on me

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from AfterShock Comics, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

I enjoyed the story and the illustration style. The conclusion was logical and satisfying and I found the story to be a wonderful satire.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book. All views given are honest and unbiased.

I thought the blurb about this book was really interesting and funny, as well as setting up a potentially good storyline. For some reason, I have recently become interested in the practices of loss prevention, so I laughed when I saw this was a possible read on NetGalley. I think more specifically the blurb reminded me of Amazon industry practices.

Google books has it as: "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? Imagine Judge Dredd working for Amazon, and you've got a hint of what you're in for."

I suppose I thought this book tried to do a lot of things all at once. I thought that there were some top moments that were quite good, some fall flat. A fun story.

I liked the premise of this one, but it just didn’t really grab me. I did read all of it, and I’d mostly describe it as “fine.”

I do love the coloring of it. That was gorgeous.

I wanted to root for the protagonist, but he mostly just didn’t make me feel much of anything. I was intrigued by the new society, but I also wasn’t super interested in the villains trying to retrieve our protagonist. I don’t think I’d return to a volume two.

I did not really care for this comic. The story did not interest me and neither did the characters. (I actually began to doze off a few times while trying to finish it.) The art style was alright- not great, not terrible. I don’t really have much more to say; just not for me!

** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Copy received through Netgalley

~

Shoplifters Will Be Liquidated
★★★★★
120 Pages


Well, this was a strange and intriguing little number.

The main character is...not loveable, not relatable, single-minded and violence without pause, and comes across as someone who is brainwashed by the corporate structure. However, he's really not. At least not the last one. And, somehow, he still manages to carry the weight of the story.

Do I like him? No. Do I root for him? Not really. Was he my favourite character? Not by half. That definitely goes to the Hermit and the Kid, with even the guy trying to kill the MC coming higher.

However...it still works. There is a triple aspect story : Nussbaum hunting shoplifters and dropping into a world below the shopping centre; the boss trying to capitalise on suicide and murder; and two employees hoping to use the boss' insanity for their own profit. Each story is interwoven, with an epic ending that ties it all together.

Do I like any of the central characters? Not on your life. But I don't have to, to appreciate the story. It's original, clever. And the story does have a point, a lesson and yet remains hard to classify. Sometimes a person just needs something to believe in, a place to call home. And sometimes the greatest enemy to one person is the greatest saviour to another. The world isn't black and white, and the people who treat it as such will end up getting a rude awakening one day.