What’s in a Name?

After reading They Choose Violence, I’m convinced we need a new genre of storytelling—one that embraces vigilante justice as a means of empowering marginalized people.

Marketed as a revenge fantasy, They Choose Violence follows three HBCU friends—Laneka, Deidre, and Karen—now accomplished professionals. Fueled by rage against systemic injustice, they form a vigilante squad, targeting White Supremacists who’ve evaded the law. However, I sense writer Sheldon Allen is leading readers in another direction, theorizing that violence on this scale, although justified, has unforeseen consequences.

G.I. Jane

I don’t consider myself a pacifist, yet from a literary perspective, violence alone as a form of justice lacks ingenuity. Therefore, I’m not here to see racist cops get their heads blown off. I’m here to experience three intelligent Black women transforming themselves into warriors.

Allen and artist Mauricio Campetella carefully map out our heroes’ journey from college graduation to their first kill. The process is precise and meticulous. The montage where they shave their heads and train like Navy SEALs is captivating, and Allen’s narration adds a cadence to the visuals that locks the audience in. The costume design, with its “emoji” masks, adds a masterful cinematic touch reminiscent of Dead Presidents.

Great Expectations

Needless to say, I have high expectations for this book. I was hoping for in-depth world-building on the scale of Sam Greenlee’s Spook Who Sat by the Door, but I’m willing to settle for the Set it Off vibe Allen is creating. Also, I’m patiently waiting for signs of the mysterious serial killer mentioned in previews and online interviews.

Campetella’s art gets the job done, but unfortunately for him, I’m inclined to compare his work to Alexandre Tefenkgi’s in Bronze Faces, another vigilante justice story. Tefenkgi’s art elevates that narrative in a way I wish Campetella did, with more distinct character designs and compelling interactions.

Finding a Safe Space

Broad comparisons like this illustrate why They Choose Violence needs its own genre. Not to put it in a box, but to help these stories find their people. This book is for people seeking stories that intelligently empower marginalized folks while entertaining them. Comic book fans just out for blood need not apply.

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