Exclusive Vertigo preview: Last Gang In Town revives England’s revolutionary spirit

Vertigo Comics have always been deeply rooted in British culture thanks to the contributions of creators like Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, and Warren Ellis. So it makes sense that some of the new Vertigo debuts this season would look to Great Britain for inspiration: Red Thorn embraces the mythology of Scotland in its horror romance narrative, and next week’s Last Gang In Town jumps back to the turbulent landscape of London in the ’70s for a punk rock-inspired story about fighting a government suffocating the life out of the city and the country at large. Writer Simon Oliver is a Vertigo veteran that has written strange, high-concept series like The Exterminators and FBP: Federal Bureau Of Physics, and while there may be a twist in store for his new title, this preview of Last Gang In Town #1 keeps it simple with an exciting action sequence and some foreshadowing that sets up the general conceit of the book.

That opening action sequence is given thrilling energy by artist Rufus Dayglo and colorist Giulia Brusco; Dayglo’s cartoonish but intricately detailed linework immerses the reader in the setting while accentuating the chaotic atmosphere of a busy London street, while Brusco’s palette creates tension for the chase with the contrast of hot and cold colors. The art becomes much gentler when the story jumps forward 41 years, with Dayglo smoothing out his panel borders and Brusco using a duller yellow palette to reflect the change in mood when the plot moves away from the main action. After a bit of a rocky start, Vertigo’s debut season has been gradually improving with each new book, and the craft on display in this preview makes a solid argument for checking out Last Gang In Town.