100 Bullets, Vol. 01: First Shot, Last Call

100 Bullets is an ambitious crime drama comic series, of which this graphic novel reprints the first five issues.

These first two story lines, "100 Bullets" and "Shot, Water Back", set up the premise the series is built upon. Individuals from all walks of live are approached by a mysterious man bearing an unusual gift; a suitcase containing a gun, one hundred untraceable bullets, and evidence pointing them to someone who has wronged them in the past.

But the offer of unpunished retribution is far from simple than it sounds, as the people suddenly faced with this blank check for revenge suddenly find themselves dealing with the concepts of Justice, Innocence, Morality, Loyalty, and Retribution.

Azzarello not only brings these philosophical show more dilemmas into the light, but also enhances them with mystery surrounding 'Agent Graves' and his offer. A chance at vengeance is a tempting offer, but what are the ulterior motives of the man with the briefcase? Does the chance to settle a score outweigh the risk of being used as a weapon for someone else's battle? What is truly at stake here, and who is really pulling the strings?

The first two story lines in 100 Bullets take us from crooked cops and greedy gang bangers in the urban jungles, to internet crimes and corporate power brokers. The stories and situations are modern, yet there is an undeniable Noir tone throughout, an unrelenting mood that never lets you forget that, despite the occasional moments of brightness and levity, there are no happy endings when violence and vengeance become a part of the background. show less

This perfect marriage between writer and artist. I'm a little beside myself for not having read this terrific series sooner. Azzarello nails character dialog in a way rarely seen in any written form. His bad guys have tude to the nth degree and always seem on the edge of gross violence. His two mystery men (agent Graves and Mr. Shepard) are not delved into at this point, but it's clear these are dark men with a long reach and intricate connections. Risso's art is crude, which is about the highest compliment I can think of for this particular project. Crude fits! The language, the actions, the moral dilemmas all face are base at heart. Of particular please is the numerous unexpected angles Risso uses to form the perspectives to his show more drawings. In one issue, viewers are looking up and out of a toilet to see two characters framed within the oval seat.

If you like hard boiled mysteries, this is for you. show less

The first of a great series (at least from the first half or so that I've previously read), but I think what makes this first volume so good is how well it stands on its own.

It starts with a simple premise, that a man is handing out briefcases filled with an opportunity for justice. Two stories (and a brief epilogue) in which someone who's life has been torn apart is given a gun and a target. One pulls the trigger; the other doesn't. For neither one, however, does the gun itself bring any resolution. Both are able to change their lives, but the gun is little more than a catalyst.

And that's all this series could have aspired to, but soon, those cases and the people to whom they're given will be little more than a catalyst to the rest of show more the story. There are tiny hints of this in the first volume, but so effortlessly presented that it can be appreciated as a beginning or solely on its own merits. show less

100 Bullets is an ambitious crime drama comic series, of which this graphic novel reprints the first five issues.

These first two story lines, "100 Bullets" and "Shot, Water Back", set up the premise the series is built upon. Individuals from all walks of live are approached by a mysterious man bearing an unusual gift; a suitcase containing a gun, one hundred untraceable bullets, and evidence pointing them to someone who has wronged them in the past.

But the offer of unpunished retribution is far from as simple as it sounds, as the people suddenly faced with this blank check for revenge suddenly find themselves dealing with the concepts of Justice, Innocence, Morality, Loyalty, and Retribution.

Azzarello not only brings these philosophical show more dilemmas into the light, but also enhances them with mystery surrounding 'Agent Graves' and his offer. A chance at vengeance is a tempting offer, but what are the ulterior motives of the man with the briefcase? Does the chance to settle a score outweigh the risk of being used as a weapon for someone else's battle? What is truly at stake here, and who is really pulling the strings?

The first two story lines in 100 Bullets take us from crooked cops and greedy gang bangers in the urban jungles, to internet crimes and corporate power brokers. The stories and situations are modern, yet there is an undeniable Noir tone throughout, an unrelenting mood that never lets you forget that, despite the occasional moments of brightness and levity, there are no happy endings when violence and vengeance become a part of the background. show less

The first volume of the collected 100 Bullets is great stuff - what starts off as a seemingly cliched bit of noir fiction takes on some really original and fascinating dimensions over the course of these pages. Eduardo Risso's world-class artwork is the main reason to visit this locale, but Brian Azzarello's story quickly begins to demand attention as well - at the end of this volume, I am generally eager to move on to the second volume and figure out where all of this is going to go. There's some silliness herein, so the series could go south into formulaic genre muck, or it could play to a set of obvious strengths and take readers somewhere they have never been before. Here's hoping the latter case proves to win out in future volumes...

I enjoy the 100 Bullets series. This volume, the beginning of the story, is pretty straightforward, but it sets the series up well. The mythology isn't introduced yet, but Agent Graves is already an interesting figure, and more importantly, we see how the series can work, and the different types of stories that can be told. Plus, Dizzy Cordova is introduced, and she will prove to be a fascinating character. A solid introduction.

Not perfect, but this is definitely the beginning of a great series. I did have a bit of an issue with Dizzy's story, as it seemed a bit slow at times (as in just get on with it kind of feel). However, it was still worth reading. The second story does have a nice little twist I will not reveal to get people to read it. I love the premise of this book: a stranger shows up with a suitcase, including a gun and 100 bullets and evidence of those who wronged you. You can carry out your revenge, get justice, and you will be scot-free. It is a tempting idea: if you had this opportunity, would you take it? And how would you use it? I can see this turning into some party game or such. That aside, the premise is very good. This volume definitely show more makes you want to read more, see if it gets better. I get the feeling it will. If you like noir, crime and revenge, and mysteries with some conspiracy thrown in, this is a must read. I definitely enjoyed it overall, and I will be reading more of this series. The agents, those who bring the briefcase and gun, reminded me a bit of the Cigarette Smoking Man in the X-Files. The art work definitely complements the story very well, enhancing the mood and ambiance. Anyhow, this is a series to pick up. show less