World Famous Comics: 100 Bullets Vol. 1: First Shot, Last Call
100 Bullets Vol. 1: First Shot, Last Call
By: Brian Azzarello Publisher: Vertigo Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Vertigo Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 128 Publication Date: February 01, 2000 Release Date: February 01, 2000
Product Description: What would you do if you were given the opportunity and the means to get away with murder, scot-free? Thats the question posed in 100 Bullets, a new graphic novel that combines elements of hard-boiled crime stories and paranoid espionage thrillers. The mysterious Agent Graves offers his clients a gun and immunity from prosecution, enabling them to get revenge against those who ruined their lives. Suggested for mature readers.
Amazon.com Review: Suppose that you're given incontrovertible proof that you've been wronged by someone--seriously, grievously wronged. And then suppose that you're also given a handgun, a hundred bullets, and complete assurance that however you choose to use this information--and this gun--you won't be held accountable, won't go to jail, won't pay any price for exacting revenge.
Throw in a secret society, some low-life gamblers, a couple gangland executions, and a healthy dose of Thai boxing, Gracie jujitsu, and other assorted violence (not to mention sex) and you've got one of DC's most compelling comic-book series to come along in years. This trade paperback collects issues 6 through 14 of Vertigo's 100 Bullets series, so you might want to check out the first collection, First Shot, Last Call, if you haven't already. Fans will be happy to find that Split Second Chance clears up some of the questions surrounding the mysterious Agent Graves and the equally enigmatic Minutemen. But as one of the Trust's pawns later learns, "Asking questions is free... but the answers--they can cost you your life." --Paul Hughes
100 BULLETS I'M A STUDENT IN VICTORIA MORSE'S CLASS AND THIS IS A REVIEW OF A BOOK SHE BOUGHT FOR THE CLASS. THE TITLE OF THE BOOK IS 100 BULLETS FIRST SHOT, LAST CALL. THIS IS A BOOK ABOUT A DIZZY WHO JUST GETS OUT OF JAIL AND IS GOING TO GET REVENGE FOR MURDER OF HER FAMILY. THIS STORY TAKES PLACE IN THE CITY. THE MAIN CHARICTER OF THE BOOK IS A 23 YEAR OLD GIRL NAMED DIZZY AND HER PROBLEM IS HER FAMILY WAS KILLED BY SOME CROOKED COPS. THE THING I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK IS IT GETS STRAGHT IN TO THE ACTION AND IT SHOWS THE STRUGGLE OF A STRONG GIRL.
Superb storytelling and Characterization, Strong emotions, Conspiracies, and some killer Twists I've read through Volume 8 without writing a review. I've enjoyed every trade paperback volume, mind you, but last night, reading THE HARD WAY, I was blown away. It's that good!
For those unfamiliar with the series, the title is the starting point: A man named Graves comes into the life of assorted characters with a briefcase containing a gun, bullets, an insightful and personalized dossier, and carte blanche to the case's receiver to do wht they see fit with the weapon and ammo--with full immunity. No cops. No prosecution. Full out "get away with it" revenge, if they want. The dossier gives the proof to the, "This is the person that done you wrong." The bullets and gun say: "Go kill em. You got the all clear."
The targets of Mr. Graves particular attention may seem unconnected at first, but as the tale progresses, those lives--of those who live, anyway, through their tale--come to intertwine in with a deepening background story arc of epic proportions.It all starts to weave together.
Before this volume, we've seen snatches of what is going on behind the scenes, the complex nature of what Mr Graves is involved with. It's a long historical thing with far-reaching consequences. There are powerful and wealthy families, secret vows, enforcers, backstabbings and betrayals, changes in system, and it can be headily confusing at first.
In THE HARD WAY, we begin with a seemingly unrelated little criminal tale that has a seedy, anxious feel and serves as a wonderful set-up--a prologue, if you will, or a tone setter-- for what's to come. One character, who has served as a sort of narrator during the story, advises us that all good stories end in tears. We're about to find that out firsthand.
The whole conspiracy theory set-up (including the hilarious Snapple theory in the initial bar scene) is a brilliant set-up to the uber-conspiracy theory that is the next, meatier tale. We move into a story that gives us the past and the core of Wylie and his woe (and it's BAAAAAAAAAAAAD GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD stuff). Wylie's been in previous volumes.
Set in New Orleans for a good chunk and including some interesting secondary characters (but everything is woven together gorgeously, viciously, movingly, bloodily, tragically), we finally learn the background of the Minutemen and the deeper significance of the important term Croatoan.
The twists are just too good to even mildly spoil. So, no hints and no more plot info. Just get ready to get your throat clenched and head whiplashed around by a story that just gets darker and wilder and better.
Man, I'm impressed. Not just by the story. I've been loving the visuals of this all along, and in this one, visuals and story seem to continue that amazing coherence and slickness. It's potent stuff. I'm so glad I have Vol 9 and 10 to read today. :)
Mir
The perfect comic book Every time I re-read an issue of 100 bullets i get something out of it that I didn't quite get the last time around. This first volume is probably the weakest in the series, but it is necessary reading in order to follow the rest of the excellent story. 100 bullets has visuals, characters and a plot that only get better with each issue. Start by ordering the first two volumes. The first will leave you satisfied, but thinking that the series is over-hyped. The second volume will get it's hooks in you, enough that you will order the next two. If you read three and four, you will read it to the conclusion. Once Azzarello and Risso really get churning, they come up with a comic so good that it might ruin most other comics for you, that's exactly what it did to me.
100 Bullets Volume 12 Dirty I have been following this series for a while and have ended up really enjoying the graphic novels that are a reprint of the comic books. This volume covers 100 bullets numbers 84 through 88, and has been delayed, most fans are annoyed by this, but the waiting for the TPB was well worth it. The book is a lot of fun to read, and while adds nothing new to the comic books; this is a great way to follow the story line without having to purchase the comic books. TPB's also hold up a little bit better than comic books, meaning you can open the pages and get a better idea of the art work which is very good.
100 Bullets is a story line about the Trust, and volume 12 covers members of the Trust that are falling in the war against Graves and his soldiers. One family of the trust reaches out to a semi-retired Minute man to help win the war, but Graves is making a valiant attempt at total control, the question is can the Minute man help stop the coming final battle?
What is interesting though is the premise that Graves allows a person to have revenge against a person who has wronged them. He also gives them full immunity against any charges that might happen for the act. This is what makes the series 100 Bullets in general very compelling, who would not want revenge? Who would turn down the chance to right the wrongs that had been personally committed against them, and this is where the Trust comes in, they must stop Graves because the deal is too compelling. Few if any would truly ever turn Graves down.
Volume 12 continues the story line, and is worth getting, 4 of 5 stars though, as you can also get the comic books if you are interested in seeing what is happening in the story line. The comics are already up to number 96 (at time of writing the review), and it looks like the series is starting to wrap up nicely. Let us hope that Vertigo does not make us wait too long for the other volumes that are coming.
Amazing series Truly amazing series for comics lovers... Won't read comics? You are missing out with 100 Bullets.
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