American Caper is a gripping new crime fiction comic series set to hit the shelves in November 2025. Created by Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games and the mastermind behind iconic titles like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, this series promises to deliver a sharp, satirical, and darkly humorous exploration of contemporary American society.
In American Caper, two very different families – one headed by a Mormon hitman and the other by a gambling-addicted lawyer – find themselves entangled in a botched real estate deal.
The series unfolds in the fictional town of Verona, Wyoming, where personal demons, corruption, and political turmoil collide. Alongside these central figures, the comic introduces a diverse cast of characters: a Mexican beauty queen fleeing her past, two love-struck convicts on the run, a billionaire turned cowboy, and a man driven by a relentless thirst for revenge.
The story draws on Houser’s lifelong interest in sociopaths, hypocrites, and dysfunctional families. “Dark, morally ambiguous, very vulgar and, we hope, funny, American Caper is a comic for the confusing world in which we live right now,” Houser explained in a statement.
Illustrated by Eisner Award-winning David Lapham, known for his work on Stray Bullets, American Caper features finishes by Chris Anderson and colors by Lee Loughridge. The first issue will include variant covers by acclaimed artists such as Tyler Boss and Simon Bisley.
This brutal, satirical comic is set against the backdrop of the country’s fractured political landscape, touching on themes from tax evasion in Wyoming’s pristine wilderness to the chaotic battlegrounds of Florida’s political scene. As Houser suggests, “This tragedy is someone else’s fault.” The first issue will be available for pre-order at local comic shops for $4.99.
Dark Horse Comics and Absurd Ventures plan to unveil more details about American Caper at San Diego Comic-Con, with a panel and exclusive signings from Lazlow, David Lapham, and Shelly Bond.