100 Bullets Vol. 1: First Shot, Last Call by Brian Azzarello
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Book Reviews of 100 Bullets Vol. 1: First Shot, Last Call
Book Review: Not exactly what I thought it would be
Summary: 2 Stars
I had this recommended to me and the premise of the story is quite appealing. The execution and the characters were less than appealing though. My first gripe is that I absolutley can't stand the characters. They're all hood rats and there's plenty of "knowumsayin'" in the text bubbles. I can't stand the ghetto, hip-hop speak and that alone made me not to want to read this again. The art is so-so. I've seen better. I found myself rooting for the bad guys so I wouldn't have to read another, "knowumsayin'" or "homey this, homey that" UGGGHHH!Book Review: Sucks you in like a black hole.
Summary: 5 Stars
WOW. What can I say about this book? It's GREAT. The cover is great, and was probably the reason I decided to pick it up. I'm glad I did, because it's a fantastic story that had me hooked from the first page. The art inside isn't as impressive as the cover art, but it's still quite good, and not so cluttered that you can't understand what's happening in a panel, which is great because like I said, the story is the star of the show. I would liken this to something else, but I don't think I've encountered anything similar. Basically, if you enjoy street justice, moral dilemmas, conspiracies, and the main subject of a storyline NOT always winning, then this is definitely the book for you.Book Review: It's only 51 Bullets not 100.
Summary: 3 Stars
This is an okay work; mildly entertaining. The language appears forced and not natural. This doesn't compare to a Gaiman or Moore work.Book Review: great new series
Summary: 5 Stars
100 Bullets is a great new series, though I've read the books not included here, and I think it might have been better as a mini-series. Nice artwork, interesting and original storyline, though not one that coudl be continued indefinitely. Still, good stuff, if only the first volume. Legendary.Book Review: Noir in a Graphic Novel
Summary: 5 Stars
An explanatory note to begin with: the Five star rating is an anticipatory rating. I say that so that readers will not be misled into thinking Volume One is "all there is."
Taken by itself, First Shot, Last Call" is an entertaining story (two stories, actually) about individuals empowered to take justifiable revenge. They can be read and enjoyed on their own terms, but by themselves would not have risen to the top of my reading objectives. Perhaps I would have read on in the series; perhaps not. There is, after all, so much to read.
Fortunately for me, I had heard of 100 Bullets and picked up two mid-story issues to see what it is like. I was hooked. In those issues, aspects of the story were opaque to me, but I got a clear exposure to the interweaving threads in the tapestry that Azzarello and Risso have conceived. It is those threads, the plots within plots, the twists and treacherous actions of significant characters, that transform 100 Bullets from the fairly simply stories of revenge that readers encounter in First Shot, Last Call into a noir epic that has earned my attention (and anticipation of the chapters not yet written).
On its face, the story line of 100 Bullets seems to be the opportunities given to Dizzy Cordova (parts 1-3) and Lee Dolan (parts 4 and 5) to obtain revenge on the bad guys whose actions resulted in the death of Dizzy's husband and daughter, and resulted in framing Lee, leading to his divorce and bankruptcy. The bad guys deserve what the reader senses they are about to get. A shadowy figure, Agent Graves, appears and offers Dizzy and Lee a pistol and 100 untraceable bullets, allowing them, reluctantly at first, to pursue vengeance.
So far, so good, but not in itself an action line that would sustain itself for 11 (and counting) volumes. Had I not read some issues deep in the story line, I would not sense the depth the series has. Without giving too many clues on where the story is going, let me suggest that at the end of the first volume, First Shot, Last Call, the reader should ponder the following: What is the real purpose of Agent graves? When Dizzy has avenged her family is her story concluded? Why does she get in the car with Shepherd? What is the relationship of Shephard and Graves: "associate," co-worker, ally, friend, rival, opponent? Does Graves have a personal reason for sending Lee against the head of Dietrich Securities? Does XIII have a special significance? What about the events in the building across the way and will we see more of the man in the Hawaiian shirt? And, of course, who is the man with the dog?
Some suggestions on how to read 100 Bullets for maximum enjoyment:
1) Remember that it was written in monthly installments. I find it hard to discipline myself to stop at the end of each monthly episode and not immediately continue with the action, but the story was written that way, and the suspense is enhanced if you allow at least several days to elapse before continuing. That relates to the next point.
2) Read each episode several times. The writing style is lean and Spartan and the nuances are easy to miss the first time through. (Remember this was written as a monthly series).
3) Look at the art, especially the background art. Details of the art take on initially missed significance in subsequent readings. My pleasure is certainly enhanced by multiple readings (before I know what the next installment will bring).
4) Trust no one.