This is basically an abstract of the comic's theme, and not really an in depth explanation, since this blurb of text wouldn't rightly fit anywhere in the comic.

However;

The modern world is still the modern world. The world governments are all the same, and they haven't lost any power in a political or military sense. Retail chains however, have all recieved a drastically different portrayal. Their goal is still to sell merchandise at the lowest prices, but price wars instead aren't just waged with fancy campaigns and witty commercials; they are waged in blood. Specially trained agents from every store, the cashiers, clerks and stockers that you know and love, are pitted against each other in a life or death struggle.

The events we see in the corporate world as buyouts, mergers, and closings are all due to the open warfare that goes on in the streets. Wal-mart door greeters carry miniguns. Gamestop employees have lightsabers. Car salesmen have armored sedans outfitted like one of James Bond's.

Technology is about the same, except for certain fantasy/sci fi elements. Basically if it can be done in some kung fu movie or video game you played based halfway in reality, it's possible. Bending bullets from Wanted? Why not. Lightsabers? A necessity. Realistism geared mechs?(sorry, no gundams here) Expensive, but not rare.

And with all this going on, people carry out their every day lives. All the killing and fighting isn't unknown to us. It's accepted. It's expected. Hell, if you're a Mom and Pop corner store and you don't have two shotguns and an RPG in the back room you're just asking to be shut down by the supermarket down the street.

Retail is a brutal, messy business. Only now people die.

so if I understand this correct, you could be buying the weekly groceries when suddenly the person bagging your cereal pulls out a handgun and starts blazing away at two guys who came through the door with riot shields and grenade launchers and you wouldn't bat an eyelash, just pray that your life insurance is up to date. correct?

That's absolutely correct.