100 Bullets #100 - Vertigo

This book left me with a lot of mixed emotions. I love this book. I have since the beginning. Yes, there were times where it was a little hard to follow. Sometimes the story was a bit to complex for it's own good. But . . it was honest. It showed the true nature of the people involved in it. There were a lot of various story-lines, going in a lot of various directions, but . . when it came down to it, this was really a story about power. It was about the want and the need for power . . the pursuit of that power, and . . the reality that you will lose all trust in those around you because of that power. I was concerned when I learned that this would be the final issue. I wondered how it could end, when there's so much going on . . so many characters with a hand in the pot . . a story to tell. Well . . being the final issue was apropos. We start out this issue with everyone trying to decide where this organization would go next. Last issue everyone's place in it was set . . now they just had to put the machine back in motion again. However, their was one wild-card that I don't think anyone took into account . . Lono. No matter what they decided . . no matter their intentions . . Lono was always going to be out there on his own program, with his own agenda. This issue we find out that plan was to take down the whole house of cards. He doesn't do the whole thing himself, however . . his actions provide others with the courage to do things they wanted to do . . things they may have thought about but never conceived as a possibility. When all is said and done, this is the final issue because . . well, there's no one left. Actually Loop, Victor Ray and his dad make it out of this mess, and drive away. But there involvement in everything was minuscule at best. The last 2 standing were Graves and Dizzy. But we always knew Graves was going to fight his way to the end. He's just taken out Mr Medici, and Dizzy is hurt because of an explosion in the house. He's come to her side, but as she's hanging on, she's questioning his move against the last house, killing Medici. "Years ago, he ruined my life . . compromised my principles . . in exchange for . . giving me the opportunity to offer my principles to other people." To which Dizzy responds, " Then he didn't ruin your life." The house is burning down around them, and Dizzy barely has enough energy to pick up her gun, but the final scene of the book is Graves holding her in his arms, she's got her gun to his head, and he says . . "I know." It was a powerful book, that had an equally powerful ending. But, really . . it ended the only way it could. Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso should be commended for telling this incredible story. They've been with it since issue #1. Ten years of fantastic story-telling. We hate to see it go, but . . this was such a great issue . . it kind of eased that pain a little bit. I hate to say it, but . . this story ended the way the Sopranos should have. Thanks for all the great issues.

100 Bullets #99 - Vertigo

A lot of stuff goes down this issue. A whole lot actually . . considering it's the next to the last. I'll try to get all of it, but if I leave something out . . I'm sorry. Last issue, Victor Ray broke into the hotel room where Loop, Cole and Jack were trying to hole up. They were just trying to get out of the way for a little while. Lono sent him there after Loop inadvertantly showed him where they were. Lono was hoping they would all just start shooting each other and take care of his problems. He kind of suspects, I think, what's going to happen with the Trust and he doesn't want anyone in his way. But . . they all take a breath and talk. And I think realize that they're all on the same side. Meanwhile, Augustus and Graves put together a meeting with what's left of the trust to try to figure out their future. In order for the Trust to survive . . it's time to bury the hatchets. Megan, Tibo and Miss D'Arcy are united so they have the voice. They'll let the house of Medici stand but Augustus loses his vote at the table. Essentially, he has no voice. Also they've decided that they need the Minutemen to keep them honest, but . . they don't want Graves to be in charge of them anymore. But, they will let him pick his successor. Once that is decided, they have to figure out what to do with the house of Vasco, now that Javier is dead. They excuse Graves and Augustus, as counsel gives them an idea. When they invite Phil back in they tell him, "In light of circumstances surrounding the house of Vasco . . and compelling arguments put forth by our counsel . . the Trust has voted to reassign the house, a seat at our table, and the responsibility to act in our best interests. Do you accept?" And, since Augustus no longer has a voice, he resigns and cedes control over the house of Medici to his son . . Benito. But, just so Augustus doesn't think that he controls the other half of the Trust, Megan starts cozying up to Benito right away. But, Lono is still on the loose out there with plans of his own. When Lono is screaming at the guys in the hotel, telling them just to shoot each other, there's a guy in his room ready to take him out. I think, as he's listening to Lono, he realizes what a rabid dog he his. Instead of shooting Lono, he ends up shooting himself. And all of this . . . leads into the final issue. I'm not sure how much more can happen in that issue. It seems like everything got wrapped up here . . except for Lono. I guess he's the wrench in the mix. Anyways, another fantastic issue by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso. I love this book, and I'm really gonna miss it. I hope the guys have something else planned because I'll definitely be following their work.

100 Bullets #98 - Vertigo

Now that we're getting near the end, it appears that everything is coming together. Or is it? This chapter is called Five Rook(ed)s. I assume they're taking about who's left of the trust . . Augustus, Graves, Megan, Tibo and Crete. Apparently, they're all getting ready for a sit-down. They feel that it's time to bury the hatchet . . I hope they don't mean literally . . and get their little program back on track. A war just hurts everybody's pocketbook. There is a bit of a problem though. There's still a handful of Minutemen out there . . . Cole, Jack, Loop, Medici, Dizzy, Lono . . I think I'm leaving a couple out. I don't think they've all gotten the word that the war's over . . yet. "The war may be over, but for some fighters, that ain't a reality yet . . . " Cole and Loop are hanging out when they come across Jack by accident. As they're talking they're trying to put together the pieces of what's really going on. They feel like they've all been played. However, they may not have long to think about it because it looks like Lono has sent someone over to take care of all three of them. But I'm not sure who he's working for. You can see him in the shadows, but you can't quite make out who it is. I definitely don't think that this series is going to end the way the Sopranos did. To me, that was a major let-down. But, I guess it did leave them open for a movie, or sequel, or whatever down the line. Hard telling if we'll ever see it though. Anyways, I really think that this series is going to end with guns blazing. The sad part is . . . there's only 2 issues left. I remember this series when it started . . like it was yesterday. Or at least last month. This series had me hooked from the very beginning. Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso have done a terrific job with each and every on of these issues. And they've been there from the beginning, stroking their baby . . keeping with their vision. They've even had Dave Johnson as the cover artist on each and every issue. I'm sure they'll all go on to other things, but this project? I think this is the project that they'll all look back on with fondness . . for years to come. A fantastic series . . from start to finish.

100 Bullets #97 - Vertigo

Honestly, this book reads like one of the chapters of the Godfather. We have the Trust, the Minutemen and the Houses all scrambling for control of whatever it is they have left. Everybody wants a piece of the pie, but nobody wants to give anything up. Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso truly have a masterpiece on their hands here. The part that I liked the most about the story was that while all of this turmoil and backstabbing is going on, the Houses and the Trust are quietly making a move against one another. There's 2 shooters out there. One is sitting in a hotel room, quietly passing the time, enjoying some brandy or wine or something. He's patiently waiting for the right moment to strike. The other, as we go through the story, is making his way to the top of an office building . . I assume. As we go through the rest of the story, we quietly see him obtaining his position, within some abandoned offices, as he is also patiently waiting for the moment to strike. As I said, I think that one is gunning for the trust, while the other is aiming at the 2 remaining houses. Actually there's 2 more, Vasco and Medici, but they were prepared when none of the rest of them were. So they can stand alone. The other 2 have absorbed the rest, so they now control 8. Also, surprisingly, Lono make it off of Javier's estate. But it wasn't for the lack of them trying. He's seriously messed up by the time he makes it over the wall. And on the final page . . we see the shooter's target. Well . . not exactly. We see the hole through the glass . . and the spraying of blood. We don't know who actually got hit . . yet. I love this book. I can't believe we only have 3 issues to go. But I assume that's going to be the end of the story. It's all coming to it's inevitable conclusion.

100 Bullets #96 - Vertigo

I can't believe that this series is almost over. How am I going to get my 100 Bullets fix every month. Especially now that this series and the Sopranos are finito. Not to mention, what will Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso be doing? They're both crazy talented, so I imagine that they probably already have gigs lined up. But, it just won't be the same. We've been following this series for almost 10 years now, but pretty soon . . it just won't be . . no more. However, unlike the Sopranos . . this series is going to go out with guns blazing and the wrath of god reigning down. It appears that Lono is on a mission to take out all of the Heads of the Houses, the Trust and most of the Minutemen. Although that'll be painting a mighty big target on himself. But I really don't think he cares. However, at the end of this issue, it's an ally that ends up shooting him in the face . . Benito. I think he's mad at Lono for what he's done to Dizzy. This was a fantastic issue. Non-stop action from cover to cover . . even if some of that action was just Graves and Lono yelling at each other over the cell-phone. We still have 4 issues left, so really . . anything can happen. But I think Lono's going to try to go for the whole she-bang . . the trifecta . . Graves, Agustus and Javier. The guys got balls . . I'll give him that much.

100 Bullets #95 - Vertigo

Synchronicity! The succinct order of events that lead to an inevitable conclusion. That's what this issue was all about. A series of events that bring about the release of 2 more soldiers. But, had anything been changed, or made different, the conclusion would've been altered and one, or both, would've survived. Azzarello and Risso have done it again. They've put out an issue that stands alone yet, with it's story, wraps up so many other plot threads. These guys are genius! I can't believe there's only 5 issues to go. This title is going to leave some huge shoes to fill on the comic racks. Anyways this entire issue takes place at the Northwestern Hospital in Chicago. Last issue, in his zeal to complete his job, Remi got both of his hands blown off. In the 3 days since then he's been knocked out and doesn't even know it yet. That is until he wakes up and finds Wiley waiting next to his bed. Right from the beginning I knew this guy was gonna be takin' out . . either by Wiley or by himself. But, one way or the other, I just knew this was going to be the end of Remi. What I didn't see right off the bat was the other factor that was playing into the mix. His brother came to town to see him. I assume Wiley called him. Anyways, he's on the way to the hospital from the airport when his taxi is cut off by a banger' on a crotch-rocket. He tells the driver to go after him. They catch up to the guy, and he shoots him off the bike, but then the driver looses control of the car and they crash. This leads him to being taken to the hospital and wheeled in as Remi and Wiley are standing on the roof, smoking, looking down. This leads Remi to making the comment that if he had the shot he'd take the guy out of his misery before the Doc's tried to stitch him back together. Wiley is distracted for a moment and, I'm guessing, Remi decides that while he can't hit him with a bullet he does have something else . . he jumps over the edge aiming himself for the gurney. On the final page of this book 2 things cross my mind. First I wonder if Remi realizes, or sees, that it's his brother before he his him. Secondly, with the look on Wiley's face, I'm wondering if he's thinking, "Heh! The guy just did my job for me." Because he definitely didn't look like he had any remorse. Oh yeah, and I was also thinking about the synchronicity of the whole thing. What a fantastic issue. The boys really outdid themselves with this one.

100 Bullets #94 - Vertigo

I'll say it again, and it won't be the last time, I think Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso are genius'. This series is absolutely perfect. I love every panel of every page. This issue Graves, Augustus and Javier decide to have a meeting because they're trying to figure out who took out Rothstein. He was supposed to be off limits to everybody. Unfortunately, I think they've gotten a little out of contact with the actions of their soldiers. If they dig deep they might be able to figure out who did it. There's also some drama unfolding outside as Dizzy and Lono are waiting for their respective bosses. When Dizzy tells him her name, he puts it together that she's the one that Shepherd was talking about when he killed him. So then they start duking it out by the pool. We don't really know the outcome, but the issue ends with the 3 in the basement hearing gunshots coming from outside, and Augustus and Graves realizing that they left Lono and Dizzy to their own devices. A bad decision by both sides. By the way, I've gotten quite a few visitors, but not to many answers to my survey. I just think that some songs fit some books perfectly and by playing them, when I'm reading, I get a completely different feel for the book than if I just read it in silence. While I'm reading this one, I'm listening to the Stones. Sympathy for the Devil, to be specific. I think it's the perfect song for this book. With only 6 issues to go, I can't wait to see how this series ends. It should be exciting.

100 Bullets #93 - Vertigo

This one kind of reads like an in-between issue. Or . . maybe the set-up for another chapter. I feel like we just have the beginnings of a couple plot-lines here. First of all Grave and Augustus are meeting at Javier's. Graves has brought Dizzy for back-up, and Augustus has brought Lono. I'm not sure what's going on, it's almost like they're having a summit or something. However, even with that . . Graves still has other irons in the fire. They're meeting on the west coast, but back east he has Remi staking out D'arcy's penthouse. "I've been waiting for her to show up to her Gold Coast digs for a few days . . . all by your book . . stake out and eventually who yer after will walk into the bullet meant for them." But you know what they say about . . 'the best laid plans'. No sooner does he get off the phone with Graves than his Aunt calls from his mother's house to tell him that she's had a stroke. He still going to go through with the plan . . . but he's a bit reckless. And he's in a hurry . . he wants to get to his mother. He goes through all the bodyguards like a knife through butter, but while he's at it, D'arcy's main guy, Coop, has gotten him and her to the Panic room. Remi's done his work and set a charge on the transformer to cut the power, but the room still has a heavy door. The issue ends with Coop slamming it on Remi's arm and cutting off both of his hands. Gruesome! Like I said, it kind of feels like an in-between chapter. Like all hell's gonna break loose next issue. Another fantastic installment by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso. I'm really getting sad that there's only 7 issues left. Say it isn't so! To all things there is a season. It appears that this book is in it's 'winter'. . . . . . . . . . . . but it still kicks ass!

100 Bullets #92 - Vertigo

Last issue ended with Jack, Cole and Loop at the diner. Loop had just gotten a call from Graves who told him to take out Cole before he could get to him. Well, the way this issue starts, obviously Loop wasn't fast enough. Why? Because Jack and Cole are driving up through the countryside, and Loop is lying in the trunk beaten up. At the same time there appears to be some tension between Augustus, Graves and Javier . . . the three originators. It seems that just because you rise to power together, doesn't mean that you'll remain friends once you get there. And in our little street story, Leon has asked Keen to take out his best friend Pip. Anyways, it ends up that Jack takes out Loop . . and then he takes out Cole. I kind of thought something might be up when he said it was a nice day out . . but, I wasn't sure. To me it seems like this story is showing that there's the same stress and tension and mistrust at all three levels of the organization . . . at the street level, with the soldiers and with the bosses. Basically they're all dealing with the same thing, even though they're all coming at it from different perspectives. Which reinforces many axioms, including . . ' Cream rises to the top' and 'Only the strong survive'. Oh, and we can't forget . . 'What doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger' . . which is quite literal in this book.

100 Bullets #91 - Vertigo

Right now, this story's time-line is bouncing all over the place. We start out right in the beginning when Javier, Augustus and Phil were first putting the trust together . . and the Minutemen. Javier makes a comment back then, when they're toasting each other that now, with everything that's happened, seems very ironic . . . "What we've done . . the three of us . . wasn't easy. But what we do . . we do for only the best intentions." There's a few pots simmering in this story, but this one really focus' on them cutting Agent Graves out of the equation. It appears there's been this guy, Rothstein, that's been helping out Graves all along. He's connected to everybody, " . . Local, CIA, FBI . . even higher." He's been the one supplying Graves with the attaches . . the 100 Bullets . . the means for revenge. But now that player . . Graves connection to the whole game . . has been removed. His game is over. He's been taken out of the equation. At least as far as they know. But I'm thinking . . Agent Graves is a pretty smart cookie. I can't imagine that he would put all his eggs in the same basket. So I'm thinking that he's still going to be able to cause this new Trust . . and it's Minutemen . . more problems than they're probably expecting. As usual Brian Azzarello turns in a brilliantly compelling story. And, as usual, Eduardo Risso's artwork just further enhances the mood created by the story. They are truly a match made in heaven. Comic-book heaven. You know the one . . where all the books are free, and everything is illustrated by your favorite artists. Ha-ha! This really is a special book, though. Like I said, I could see it being a movie someday.

100 Bullets #90 - Vertigo

Man this series is intense. We got two stories going on right now, but really they're the same thing, just told from a different perspective. Cole has recently abandoned Remi. He's come to talk to Jack and Loop about switching sides. He thinks maybe he'll come to work for Lono also. At least that's what he's telling him. Right now, it seems that no one knows what his real motives are. At the same time, we're watching this little street kid, Pip, as he's trying to work his way up the ladder, working for Leon. The two stories coincide, in the way they're being handled, so much so that the final couple of pages are all Lono and his crew's conversation, but alternating between panels of both stories. And, actually, it flows seamlessly. Like I said, it's the same story, just told from different perspectives. One from the street, and one from a pool-house in Miami. I think Brian Azzarello is one of the best writers out there. And, he's been truly blessed to have had Eduardo Risso working on this series right from the very beginning. They make an absolutely incredible team. This issue was another cinematic masterpiece from Eduardo. I'll really be surprised if we don't see parts of this story adapted in to a movie sometime in the next 10 years. It would be incredible.

100 Bullets #89 - Vertigo

This issue is the first chapter of this new storyline, so it's a bit difficult to get a handle on everything that's going on. All the players are being moved in to place for . . . something . . but we don't know what that is yet, so we don't know how everything fits. But, this is how I perceive it. Agent Graves is working on taking down the Trust. At the same time, he's thinking back to the 60's, of when he had a hand in assembling it. Actually, he's not trying to take it down entirely, just how it currently stands. But this issue, one of his agents . . Burns . . has decided to flip sides. Which could be a bad thing for Graves. But, I'm guessing, that this old guy ain't no dummy. I'm willing to bet he saw this coming, and handled Burns in a way lately that he won't be able to hurt him. He may think he can, but I'm betting that whatever he thinks he has on Graves is just so much smoke & mirrors. But it's still enough to piss off Agent Graves. Meanwhile, we see another story unfolding about a teenage boy who's trying to become a man by taking a larger roll in the drug operation that he's currently a part of. Right now he's just a corner soldier, but he has bigger aspirations. But you know that old saying, "Be careful what you wish for." He's definitely in for more than he bargained for. He's young and cocky, so he thinks he knows everything. But he's also to young to know what he don't know. Somehow this story-line is a parallel for what's going on with Agent Graves, but I haven't figured all of that out yet. Anyways, it's official, this is the start of the final storyline. Issue #100 will be the final issue of this book. To me, that's incredibly sad. I've really enjoyed this book right from issue #1. To me, Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso are genius', and masters of their craft. But I don't want to start lamenting to soon, because we're still going to get another 11 issues out of them. I'd prefer to just enjoy it while I can. Also, if this doesn't end up in a movie in the next 5 years, I'd be really surprised. It would be perfect for it. We'll just have to wait and see.

100 Bullets #88 - Vertigo

What a fantastic book. I'm just sad that it's almost over. What? You hadn't heard that? Well, from what I understand, they're either just now into, or getting ready to start, their final story-line. But, you know, from the way Brian puts his stories together, that could still be another 10 or 12 issues. But . . I have a feeling it's not going to be quite that long. Either way, it'll be a sad day when this series disappears off the shelves. But I'm starting to see both of them, Brian and Eduardo, in other places. So I gotta' think that they probably already have the rest of them "in the can", as it were. This issue was actually kind of sad. We see this story where these kids in Seattle just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. One of them gets shot and killed. They catch the killer but when questioned, he says "He was in my way. I didn't know him from the hole in the head I gave him." Anyways, we also see Burns going after the painting. Branch is with him. But while Burns is in getting it, Branch is out sitting on the bench on the boardwalk. When Burns returns, he's dead. I think the parallel is that he was killed, simply, because he was "in the way". I'm not sure what awards Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso have won for this series, but whatever it was . . . it wasn't enough. This series has been incredible, and intense, ever since issue #1. And while there were a couple of issues in the middle that seemed like they kind of wandered a bit . . overall, through this entire run, they have kept up the same emotion and intensity with every issue. This is easily one of the best books on the shelves right now. If you've never picked it up . . your loss. If you have . . you know what I'm talking about. I absolutely love it!

100 Bullets #87 - Vertigo

The reason I like this book so much, is because . . . it's like a movie. A really, really long movie. But . . still . . a movie. I mean that in the sense that the way Brain Azzarello writes these scripts . . they're like different scenes in a very long movie. If you take the scene out of context, it can stand alone. But, usually, in the big picture, it's a set-up for something that's coming. He also has a way of leaving you guessing about just what that coming event is. Like a movie, you don't always see the relevance right away . . but . . later on . . when things start to come together, you look back and say, "Oh . . now I get it! That's why they did . . ." Well when I'm reading this book, I have those revelations all the time. I really could see this book made in to a movie. The only problem would be, where would you cut it up for the different chapters? It would be kind of like Star Wars. This great big long saga would have to be cut up in to 5 or 6 different chapters. But, if someone would be willing to invest the money and the time . . . I could see it. In case you haven't guessed . . I really love this book. I think it's one of the best books on the shelves right now. Plus it's consistent. Brian Azzarello, Eduardo Risso and Dave Johnson have been on this book since it's inception. That's almost 9 years of cinematic, and artistic quality that's been the same month after month after month. And, even 9 years later, I'll read through this book and find my self just stopping on a page and looking at the way Eduardo has crafted a certain panel, or scene. The way he uses his colors and his shadows is just incredible. The last page in this book, tells a story all unto itself. I showed my wife the page and asked her what she got out of it. Not having read the book, and having no idea whats going on in the story . . she could tell me exactly the feeling Eduardo was trying to convey. No words on the page, and she knew exactly how the character felt and what he was thinking about. To me . . that's the sign of a true artist.

100 Bullets #86 - Vertigo

Ok, I apologize. I feel like all I'm doing is complaining about books this afternoon. My bad! Actually, the problem is, this is one of my favorite books. It has been for a long time. I think Brian Azzarello is a genius, and a fantastic storyteller. I also think that Eduardo Risso is a hugely underrated talent. His artwork may not be as flashy, or pop at you, like some, but the details in his work . . . the expressions on his characters faces . . . the way he uses shadows and color to tell a story . . . there's just no one better out there. Also, the angles that he uses for perspective . . . the guys truly one of the best there is. Now, unfortunately, my complaint. Brian's stories tend to be long drawn out epics. I don't think he's had a story line in the series that run for less than four issues. Also, sometimes, even when you think you're done with a story, you find out that it was just actually a small piece of a much larger event. Plus, on top of that, when you look back over the previous 86 issues, you'll find that in some way or another, they're all connected. Everything is a piece of this huge puzzle. Everything has a reason, and everything has it's place. The only problem is, sometimes, as is the case this issue, there's chapters that fall in between events. They seem random, and maybe even senseless, but eventually they serve a purpose. However, in the moment, as when I read this one, I feel like I read the middle of a chapter. I'm not sure how it started. I'm not sure what's going to happen afterwards. All I know is we're given a piece of the puzzle, with no idea what the overall picture looks like. So we just have to remember this issue, and in the future try to realize how what happened here will affect something down the road. Confusing? You better believe it. I don't like the book any less. I just sometimes question the in-between chapters. The overall story sustains me, but sometimes I have to count on the art to get me through some of the less obvious issues.

100 Bullets #85 - Vertigo

The families are being threatened by the Minute-Men. They have been for a while now. Like Benito puts it, " . . . we are being threatened . . our families . . by men that used to protect us from each other. Why? Because they were stronger at handling our business than we were. We gave that to them. And when we decided we could take care of it ourselves? . . . of course they were threatened. What I wonder . . . is if we can be meaner than they can. You know I like to gamble. I never sit at a table with the intention of protecting my stake. I'm there to take everyone else's. I think lying in the weeds is ill advised. Letting the other players know I play strong makes them think they're weaker. And once they do? They are. Our families are losing head after head after head . . . it's time we made the headhunter watch his back." And that's really what this whole issue is about. We see that this issue when a couple of guys step into a gym for a workout. A woman who works there happens to recognize one as a man who raped her. She slips some Nambient in his drink, and then while he's in the sauna, some Ammonia over his rocks. She nearly kills him, but, she doesn't want to be like him. "I promised myself I'd kill you, given the chance. I needed to show you that I could. I'm not like you, but you are like me . . . . you're vulnerable." Which shows us that any of these people, no matter how strong or invincible they think they are, can be gotten to. Some how. Some way. Man I love this book. It's got the whole package, story, art and depth. Some day this books going to be considered a classic. If it isn't already.

100 Bullets #84 - Vertigo

This book is fantastic. I love everything about it. Dave Johnson has been doing the covers . . since issue #1. And Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso have been the creative team since issue #1. Not a single fill in issue for any of them. I don't know if I'm the first to say it, but I think that they can beat Bendis' and Bagley's record over on Ultimate Spider-man. That's 111 issues. Only 27 more to go for these guys . . . actually 28 to beat it. Do you think they can do it? I sincerely hope so. They deserve the recognition for all their hard work. And the end result shows that they love what they're doing. I believe that all 3 of these guys put their heart and soul into this book. And I just wanna say "Thanx!!". Anyways, with all that being said, I gotta admit, sometimes when I pick up and read the new issue, I really have a hard time following, or remembering, where we left off last issue. That doesn't affect my enjoyment of this book. It's just that there's so many family involved with this Trust. And so many supporting characters. Sometimes I just have a hard time figuring out where we are exactly. A while ago I blasted my Marvel books for putting the recap in the beginning of so many of their books. It aggravates me, because to me, I think Marvel is assuming that the intelligence of most readers is such that they can't keep up with the stories from issue to issue. So they think they need a recap, to bring them up to date, before they start reading the current one. I don't know about you, but I just feel really degraded, or talked down to by that. But then you have a book like this. A book that has the 13 families of the Trust. Plus all the Minutemen. Not to mention their bodyguards, chauffeurs, acquaintances, etc., etc. This book, above all else, could really use a recap page. Or some kind of score-card. Or you know what? How about an Annual, where they go through and do like a family-tree of everybody and what their relationship is to each other. We bring in a new family this issue, which to my recollection I had't even heard of before. A Mr. Rhone. He owns a Casino, among other things. We see a day in his life. An example of his power and influence. But then, by the end of the issue, he and his whole family are dead. Shot execution style. But even though we've just witnessed a horrendous scene . . . the final page of the book is breathtaking. Now what I'm confused about is how this all fits in to the story and what's been going on. I assume this is another of the 13 families, and they've just been knocked off for someone else to come in and assume power. But the picture probably won't become clear until next issue, or maybe even the one after that. But even with my confusion, I stand by my statement that this is one of the best books on the shelves right now. Not just for this genre. But, period! It's fantastic. It's well written, well drawn, and just a fantastic read. But seriously, think about my suggestion for that annual. I think it would help everyone out a bit.

100 Bullets #83 - Vertigo

Every time I read this book I'm awed. And every time I review it, I probably sound like a broken record. But Brian Azzarello is easily one of the best writers out there right now. The nuances and feeling that he puts in to a book is just incredible. I mean look, Shepherd was killed a few issues ago, but he was one of the best characters. And we haven't quit hearing about him yet. For the last couple issues, Graves has been reminiscing about how he recruited him. He even took his ashes to the b-ball court that he used to play on, where Graves always found him, to spread them there. Quite touching actually. And don't even get me started on Eduardo Risso. I don't know where this guy came from, before he started doing 100 Bullets, 83 issues ago, but his style is incredible. I love the way he uses shadows and colors. I mean on page 3 where he has the 2 gunmen under the arch with the shadow of the city in the background, is truly a piece of work. Or the scene on page 15 where he's talking to Claudio in the shadow of the pillars. Seriously, you could take that right out of the book and frame it. His style really is that good. And what I really like is that even though they've each taken on separate projects, over the course of the 83 issues, they've always kept the creative team in tact. So the book has had the same feel over the whole course of the run. Fantastic! Oh, and is case I forgot, Dave Johnson has been turning in stellar covers since day 1. This whole series is something to be treasured. If you haven't been buying the books, at least go out and try out 1 of the Trade Paperbacks. You won't regret it.

100 Bullets #82 - Vertigo

The thing that I really like about this book is that there's so many twists and turns, that you don't really know what's going on, or who's on who's side until the very end. Take the beginning of this particular issue. Ronnie has gone to Italy to buy a rare painting. But then, Echo, the girl he's buying it from, seems to double cross him and take off with the painting and his money. He thinks that she gave it to this other guy, Claudio, so he chases him down. Turns out, they're both after the same thing, and Claudio claims that Echo double crossed him also. Echo actually seems on the up and up, but she also seems to be trying pretty hard to seduce Ronnie. So, she's obviously up to something. But, she does still have his money and is offering to give it back to him. Meanwhile, Claudio, who actually does have the painting, is buying it for some Japanese buyers and is having a meet with them at the Coliseum. Ronnie goes, ends up with the painting, but it appears that the Japanese buyers have killed Claudio, and are willing to do the same to Ronnie to get the picture. That's where the issue ends, with him on the ground and all guns pointed at him. We're also getting some background story on Shepherd. For some reason we're going all the way back to his youth, when Agent Graves was following him for a murder that he was sure that he committed. I don't know what the gist of this whole flashback thing is yet, but it's interesting. Another fantastic story by Brian Azzarello, with art by Eduardo Risso. This book was fantastic when it first came out, and it's come a long way since then. I really wouldn't be surprised to see some kind of movie adaptation of this someday. There's a lot of material to work with.

100 Bullets #81 - Vertigo

I know I've said it before, but I just really dig this book. I like the whole "gangster" genre. And I really think that Brian Azzarello does such a great job with these stories. Also Eduardo Risso's moody, shadowy, dark art is perfect for this book. We got a couple of different plot lines going on this issue. We got Rome in Rome, ironic huh?, going to collect a painting for an investigator. But I really don't think he's ready to deal with the big city crowd. First they send a girl to meet with him, Echo, who is just a knockout. Meoww!! And her dress is short enough to distract him. She takes him out to dinner, before business, to gain some trust and confidence from him. She then takes him back to her flat for the business part of the evening. The problem is he has a bum leg, and walks with a cane, and she lives on the third floor with no elevator. So she takes off upstairs, and then someone passes him on their way down with his briefcase and a gun. The other plot line has Graves and Dizzy in a jazz club. Dizzy is working for him, but she still has loyalties to Shepherd, even though he's dead. So he decides he's going to tell her the story about how he found him, and how he got him to work for him. It's really not the story you expected to hear. But that's what I like about Brian's stories. He really pulls you in, and helps you get to know all the characters. And this book has a lot of them. His character development, and then interaction, is just incredible. Luckily I've been reading this since the beginning, so I don't have to buy the TPB's. But, if you haven't been, you should pick them up, and get a look at this book from the beginning. Actually, I think they're doing a thing on the Vertigo website, where there showing all the first issues of every Vertigo title. It might be worth a look see if you haven't read it before.