8 The Hard Way (100 Bullets)

Presents the stories of several people who were seriously hurt before being approached by Agent Graves, who offered each a gun, one hundred untraceable bullets, and a convincing story about whomever betrayed them.

Grade 10 Up–Set in sultry New Orleans, this is the story of a young man who tries to find and dispose of the killer of his beloved girlfriend after being given 100 untraceable bullets and a gun. Throughout Wylie's quest through the seedy underbelly of the city, he encounters gritty characters and violent situations. He eventually joins forces with Isabella Dizzy Cordova (both of them are agents for the mysterious Minutemen syndicate) and they learn the shocking truth about who murdered Rose and the identity and origin of the Minutemen. Bullets holds nothing back. The coarse language and brutal scenes help reinforce the mood and setting; and though at times they seem over-the-top, they are integral to the plot. The colorist, Patricia Mulvihill, expertly juxtaposes steamy reds and cool blues to help create the perfect feel for the blues in a seamy bar in southern Louisiana. This volume collects issues 50-58 of Azzarello's series, and while providing an entertaining read, does not serve well as an independent volume. It would best suit libraries with an interest in neo-noir comics series or that own the previous volumes.–Jennifer Feigelman, Plattekill Public Library, Modena, NY
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This Eisner Award–winning series continues its exploration of contemporary American noir through its ingenious gimmick: mysterious Agent Graves offers a gun and 100 untraceable bullets to those who are looking for vengeance. This outing starts in a seedy dive in the French Quarter of New Orleans, a city with dark underbelly to spare. A showdown is brewing between story regulars and one-time allies Graves and Wiley Time, a young man seeking his own, not necessarily firearm-related brand of vengeance. Things rapidly get ugly, and not a little confusing, when Wiley walks into the bar, looking for a way out of the ugly direction his life is headed. Before the story's over, much killing takes place, as a dark cabal that's been in the background since the series began attempts to keep tabs on who's shot whom. Risso's art is the perfect foil for Azzarello's dark, sexy story; sunshine is seen only as a reflection in a puddle of beer on the bar, and beauty is as fleeting as the jazz of an innocent trumpeter who exits the tale in a particularly poignant (and painful) way. Although the complicated back story makes this a hard book to jump into, the glorious, relentlessly dark mood will reward those who stick with it. (July)
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Threads converge in the latest story arc from noir comic 100 Bullets. Steamy New Orleans gets even hotter when Wylie Times, seeking vengeance for the death of his girlfriend, meets up with fellow Minuteman Dizzy Cordova and Agent Shepherd in the Crescent City. Also on the scene is the mysterious Agent Graves, who long ago set things in motion by giving wronged persons briefcases containing an untraceable gun and 100 rounds of ammunition. Getting involved with the patrons of a seedy local bar diverts Wylie from his mission, and then he and Dizzy witness a murder on the banks of the Mississippi. Longtime series readers will be equally engaged by the revelation here of the origins of the Trust, the shadowy organization that once controlled the Minutemen. This gripping arc demonstrates better than ever before writer Azzarello's ability to maintain a convoluted, knotty plot while giving equal regard to characterization and atmosphere. Risso's moody, stylish art--somehow elegant despite the tormented characters and harrowing action--again perfectly complements the grim story line. Gordon Flagg
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