DSTLRY announced Last Flight Out of Wichita, a descent into celluloid ‘70s crime from celebrated creators B. Clay Moore (Hawaiian Dick, Battle Hymn) and Mack Chater (Briggs Land, Sword Daughter). This gripping new series catapults readers into a high-stakes world where bad decisions and brutal consequences collide. The first issue will debut in February, with pre-orders at local comic shops lasting through January 13th.
Capturing the post-war erosion of the American Dream in 1977, Last Flight Out of Wichita follows two Vietnam veterans struggling to make ends meet in the Midwest. A desperate gamble plunges the duo into the chaotic underworld of Kansas City’s organized crime, pitting them against mob bosses and violent double-crosses as the pair unintentionally wanders into the crosshairs of the historical Purple Capsule Gang and other factions vying for supremacy. The ensuing mayhem offers a new benchmark in taut, adrenaline-ramping crime comics choreographed with expert precision.
“Last Flight Out of Wichita examines the different ways people try to reach for an American Dream that isn’t available to them through conventional methods,” explains writer B. Clay Moore. “The series takes place in 1977, at the tail end of a recession and the main protagonists—Vietnam veterans—have already had their lives forever altered by systems beyond their control. In desperation, they decide to step outside of the conventional system and take matters into their own hands, only to realize that there are always other, more powerful, people also existing beyond the system’s control. And when those people are crossed, there’s nowhere to turn for help.”
“Noir has such a gorgeous visual language, mostly codified throughout the ‘50s and ‘60s beginning with folks like Fritz Lang and continuing with designers like Saul Bass,” continues artist Mack Chater. “The ’70s dragged the genre out of the shadows, showing every scar. This is a lavishly decadent, gritty descent into bullets, drugs, and sleepless nights.”
Perfect for fans of True Detective, Fargo and, No Country for Old Men, Last Flight Out of Wichita delivers a cinematic experience perfect for crime hounds.
“Hawaiian Dick stands as one of my favorite comics. That singular series ushered in the 21st century’s love affair with crime comics unafraid to break convention, while remaining grounded in vice and escalating bad decisions,” said DSTLRY co-founder and CCO Chip Mosher. “With Last Flight Out of Wichita, Moore is back at the top of his game, with Chater delivering the visual punch. After reading the first issue, I had no regrets on boarding this plane.”
“Nobody weaves the genre around unforgettable places and characters quite like Clay, and Mack’s pages are like walking into the sun-drenched ’70s. We’re beyond proud for this to be DSTLRY’s first crime series,” continued DSTLRY co-founder and CEO David Steinberger.
Each issue of Last Flight Out of Wichita is presented in DSTLRY’s perfect-bound Prestige format, featuring wraparound covers with spot gloss on robust cover stock, complemented by 48 pages of exquisite interior stock. “It’s the DSTLRY difference,” says DSTLRY CCO & Co-Founder Chip Mosher.
