Listen closely because I’m about to introduce you to one of the greatest graphic novel series to ever be published. This isn’t hyperbole, this is fact. If you’re looking for a series that keeps you thinking and questioning what just happened after you’ve put the book down then this is the book for you. See this book respects you. It respects your intelligence and by giving you that respect it deserves some in return. Without a doubt the single most thought provoking series on the market right now. You’re about to enter the gritty world of 100 Bullets.
Here’s the tag paragraph to get you in the mood:
Agent Graves approaches you and provides you with an attache case. Within the case is irrifutable evidence of those that have done you wrong, 2 guns and 100 untraceable bullets. You are now above the law. You have carte blanche.
What would you do? It’s such a simple concept and opens the door to a floor of questions. Some might ask, how did Agent Graves get these bullets? Why is he doing what he’s doing? He’s effectively telling you to kill someone right?
The list of questions goes on. Agent Graves isn’t telling you to kill anyone, he is providing you with the opportunity and the means. What you choose to do with the case is your business. This series is all about choices and more often than not you’re actually surprised by the choices that are eventually made.
One thing that 100 Bullets does better than any other graphic novel series published, is making sure that NOTHING is to chance. Every single character introduced is done so for a reason. Every detail on the page has been put there because Azzarello wants it there. He wants you to go back to that page to find the clues he planted there for you to see and slap your forehead.
The dialogue just cracks off the page. The thing is though, that the dialogue would actually fall flat if it wasn’t for Eduardo Risso. Azzarello struck gold when Axel Alonso paired these two guys together. He found the only person that could possibly do this story any justice whatsoever. See Jim Lee would do a crap job at this. Frank Miller would be horrible and Adam Hughes would die of old age before he finished the first storyline. The point I’m trying to make is that if there was ever a book where the writer and the artist were made for each other, and came together from the same angle and created magic, this would be it. In case you haven’t noticed, yes I’m a complete fan of this series and I wish that other people would see the light as well.
When this series first came out many people didn’t get it. That didn’t really stop Azzarello. He continued his story and kept adding his layers. The first book, First Shot, Last Call, sets the stage. It collects two seperate stories. That of Dizzy Cordova and of Lee Dolan. Dizzy is about to find out who killed her boyfriend and child, while Lee is about to find out who and why his life was ruined 4 years ago. Trust me when I say that there is oh so much more than meets the eye here. You’d be good to remember that nothing happens for chance in the world of 100 Bullets. There is no such thing as a throw away storyline.
The covers are courtesy of Dave Johnson. I’m a massive Dave Johnson fan as he really puts a lot of thought into his work. His compositions are fantastic and he’s got this great edgy style that fits incredible well with the world of 100 Bullets. The first couple of covers didn’t really gel with me, but he soon found his stride and he was off creating some of the most memorable covers to grace of Vertigo comic. The only man in my eyes giving him a run for his money is James Jean over at Fables, but that’s another story for another time.
100 Bullets is the sort of book that slides in alongside your Fight Club dvd and The Godfather. It’s crime noir at it’s very best. Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso have created a series that many creators strive their entire careers trying to achieve and fail. If you’re going to ever buy a graphic novel based on what I write about this would be a good time. I will be following up this review with a much closer analysis of this first book because it deserves that sort of treatment.
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artist: Eduardo Risso
Colourist: Grant Goleash
Letterer: Clem Robins
Cover Artist: Dave Johnson