Nate Powell, author of the 2009 Eisner award-winning graphic novel, Swallow Me Whole, explores war and violence in Middle America in his new book, Any Empire. A group of kids from a small, Southern town face their privileged suburban fantasies of violence when there is a string of turtle mutilations. Later as adults, they meet again to confront the questions raised by their childhood experiences. Any Empire will be released by Top Shelf in August.