First published in 1999, yes really that long ago, 100 Bullets is a sprawling 100 issue tale of betrayal, revenge and conspiracy. Written by Brian Azzarello, illustrated by Eduardo Risso and with covers by Dave Johnson; the series has won 4 Harvey’s, one Eisner and a whole pile of critical acclaim during its 79 issue run to date. This month sees the publication of Decayed, the 10th collected volume of the series, which represents the three quarter point in the grander story arc running through it. With all the pieces now in play, the story is building to its ultimate climax and there is no better time to get onboard. So for all those who have thought about giving the series a try, but just weren’t sure what they’d be letting themselves in for, Fractal Matter is here to give a spoiler free overview of the series to date, as published in collected form.
The Premise
100 Bullets is a story of multiple layers, but from its first story arc there exists a recurring theme; introduced to us initially through the story of Isabelle ‘Dizzy’ Cordova. Recently released from prison, Dizzy is approached by the mysterious Agent Graves who presents her with a briefcase. Contained within the case is irrefutable proof against those who have wronged her, a gun and 100 totally untraceable bullets. Dizzy has carte blanche to take whatever action she wishes; what will she do? If you could take revenge on those responsible for your life’s ills with no risk of comeback what would you do? It is this question that repeats again and again through the initial story arcs of 100 Bullets. Each arc sees Graves show up to a different down and out, with another case and another opportunity for them to take their revenge. It rapidly becomes clear though, that Graves is not picking his candidates at random, and that the story is much more complicated than this simple central theme would suggest.
Story Arcs
100 Bullets issues #1-3 – This initial story arc introduces the core concept of Graves and his case. It also introduces us to two other key players in the 100 Bullets series; Dizzy Cordova and Mr. Shepherd. Mr. Shepherd introduces himself only as an associate of Agent Graves at this point, and it is him who Dizzy leaves with at the end of this story arc; once her business at home is finished with.
Shot, Water Back issues #4-5 - In this second 2 issue story line, Graves approaches Lee Dolan, wrongly convicted of child pornography offences, and points him towards the woman responsible for his misfortune; one Megan Dietrich. During this arc it becomes clear that Megan and Graves have a history, and that Graves is not picking his candidates at random. It also becomes clear that Megan is part of a larger organization, one that also has a history with Graves. Simultaneous to Megan’s face off with Dolan we see another mystery man in a Hawaiian shirt stealing drugs, gunning down helicopters and generally causing chaos.
Short Con, Long Odds issues #6-7 – A two issue arc about two childhood friends and gamblers Pony and Chucky. Pony has just left prison, where he was residing due to Chucky setting him up. While both Shepherd and Graves become involved in Chucky’s quest for revenge on his once friend, it is not clear why they would be interested in the two gamblers, or indeed whether Chucky and Pony are alive by the end of the arc; a question to be answered later perhaps?
Day, Hour, Minute…Man issue #8 – This single issue story reveals a significant amount of new information and also reveals the identity of the Hawaiian shirted killing machine from issue #5. The thug in question is named Lono and was trained by Graves, both of whom were part of an organization known as the Minutemen. Neither has seen each other for 7 or 8 months since an unknown event in Atlantic City, which left them as the only surviving Minutemen; as far as Lono is aware. We also learn that a group known as The Trust is responsible for the destruction of the Minutemen and that Lono believes that Shepherd, who acted as liason between the Trust and the Minutemen, set them up. Graves reveals that Lono’s version of things may not be quite accurate, and unbeknown to both of them they are being bugged by Shepherd. At the end of the story Graves reveals to the waitress, Sophie, and her boyfriend, Carlo, that Lono is leaving with 2 million dollars in his boot.
The Right Ear, Left in the Cold issues #9-10 – Graves provides the case to recently released convict, and ice cream salesman, Cole Burns. During Cole’s confrontation with his target he hears the word Croatoa and blacks out. When he awakens everyone in the room is dead bar himself, and he has a whole new set of memories, ones of an organization to which he belonged, an organization called the Minutemen. This is the first story arc in which we see some sketchy details of what went down in Atlantic City, and it is the first time that we get conformation that the Minutemen are alive, hidden and waiting to be activated by Graves.
Heartbreak, Sunnyside Up Issue #11 – a single issue story that sees Graves provide a small town wife with the truth about the reason her daughter ran away and the chance to revenge herself and her daughter on the man responsible; her husband.
Parlez Kung Vous issues #12-14 – This three issue story arc sees us catching up with Dizzy, who has been sent to Paris to visit one Mr. Branch. Branch is a journalist who was given the case by Graves, but who rather than follow a vengeful path began investigating the Trust, the Minutemen and their story. It is in this arc that we learn that The Trust are a criminal organization and that the Minutemen, under the sole command of Graves, existed to ensure law was followed amongst the lawless.
Hang Up on the Hang Low issues #15-18 – This 4 issue arc introduces another important character in the series; Lewis ‘Loop’ Hughes. Loop is given the case by Graves, the target being his absentee father Curtis. When Loop confronts Curtis though, rather than kill him he makes peace with him and father and son are reunited; for a while at least. We also learn that Sophie and Carlo ran Lono over to steal his money. By the end of the story Loop is a killer, and Lono is arriving in town.
Epilogue for A Ground Dog issue #19 – This single issue follows directly on from the previous story arc. Graves is sniffing around Loop again, while Lono is in town to track down the money that was stolen from him. It’s during Lono’s quest that it begins to become clear just what a psychopathic animal the man is, and exactly how far he will go to get what he wants. We learn that both Graves and Lono had a massive amount of respect for Loops father Curtis, and at the end of the tale Graves has Loop sent to prison, almost certainly as part of his larger plan.
The Mimic issue #20 – Another single issue story, which occurs completely within central park. Shepherd meets with a young man called Benito. It is clear Benito is connected to The Trust via his father, who would appear to be nominal leader of the organization. This entire issue acts to muddy the water surrounding Mr. Shepherd. Who is he working with? Who is he working for? What does he want? It remains unclear at this point what his personal aims actually are. It is clear though that he has a good relationship with Benito.
Sell Fish & Out To Sea issues #21-22 – This two issue story focuses on Jack Daw. When we join him he has already received his case from Graves and is getting high while recounting his tale to his junkie friend. Jack has lost his job, his girl and his respect for himself, his family hates him and rightly so. By the end of the story we find out that Jack has been putting his Bullets to use, but that he’s saving one for the man who’s to blame for his woes.
Red Prince Blues issues #23-25 – This three issue arc is the first time we see The Trust, as they meet in Atlantic City. Benito’s father, Augustus, appears to have orchestrated the destruction of the Minutemen so that he and The Trust could police themselves. It is obvious that there is history and resulting friction between Benito and Megan, that Benito is almost crushed beneath the weight of his Father’s reputation and position, and that Shepherd’s position is very precarious. This story arc represents a turning point in the series as Grave’s begins to escalate his war on The Trust.
Mr. Branch and the Family Tree issue #26 – Another single issue story in which we return to Paris and Mr. Branch. We find him drunk, recounting his tale to a prostitute. This issue essentially acts as a recap on the main players and what we have learnt about them up to now. It is nicely put together using splash pages of the main players each illustrated by a different guest artist.
Idol Chatter issue #27 – Graves delivers his case to a bandaged man in hospital. While there he meets one of his past case bearers and we get a flash back of the rather famous shooting that resulted.
Contrabandolero issues #28-30 – This three issue arc has us following Dizzy and Mr. Shepherd to El Paso, Texas. There Shepherd has Dizzy go to great lengths to assist a fairly clueless gas station assistant, Wylie Times, as he gets caught up in events way out of his normal comfort zone. Dizzy is continuously mystified as to what their interest in such a loser might be, and it isn’t until the end that it becomes clear to us what that interest is.
The Counterfifth Detective issues #31-36 – The largest of the 100 Bullets story arcs to date and enormously convoluted, this tale sees us return to the bandaged man who received the case during issue #27. The man in question, Milo Garret is a hard drinking hard fighting private eye. This story is a classic noir detective tale that sees multiple characters’ stories, from the prostitute in Paris through to Megan and Lono, weave through each other and that of Milo. I can’t say much more without ruining the plot, but boy is this arc worth the effort.
On Accidental Purpose issue #37 – as is common with this series a long story arc is followed by several single issues focusing almost entirely on 1 conversation. The focus here is Graves and Shepherd as they discuss and somewhat disagree over their plans for the remaining Minutemen and for Dizzy.
Cole Burns, Slow Hand issue #38 – another single issue character study where we get to see exactly what Cole Burns is capable of.
Ambitions Audition issue #39 –This single issue story sees Shepherd putting on his other face in a meeting with Augustus Medici. We also see him cement his relationship with Benito further.
Night of the Payday issue #40 –The focus here is Shepherd and Lono, as they meet to discuss business. Shepherd however has ulterior motives, and by the end of the issue Lono is heading off to prison.
A Crash issue #41 – As a number of The Trust families become disturbed by Augustus Medici’s increasing power they meet with Graves in an attempt to broker a deal.
Point off the Edge issue #42 – this final single issue takes us back to El Paso where it is Graves who comes to visit Wylie Times. As is usual Graves is there to provide his case, the identity of the man inside though is as much a surprise to the reader as it is to the Wylie himself.
Chill in the Oven issue #43-46 – we’re back with Loop in this three issue arc, and we find him not really enjoying his stay in prison. Help however is at hand in the form of a new inmate, Lono. Shepherd’s plan for Lono and Loop comes into focus during this story arc as we see they have been placed together in prison so that Lono can train Loop as a replacement Minuteman. Again we are left further confused as to whose side Shepherd is on; perhaps just his own?
In Stinkedissue #47-49 - Back with Jack Daw and his junkie buddy Mikey, we find the two racking up quite the body count as they make their way toward Atlantic City.
Prey for Reign issue #50 – The half way point of the series and one that finally provides an origin story for The Trust and the Minutemen. We are also introduced to another Minuteman, Victor, one who Graves activated prior to visiting Dizzy in the very first issue of the series. Does Shepherd know about Victor, what has Victor been doing all this time?
Wylie Runs The Voodoo Down issues #51-57 – another massive sprawling story arc, which sees us flash back and forward through time over several days and years to learn Wylie’s story. At the end of the arc Wylie, now an activated Minuteman, leaves with Shepherd and Dizzy. This story arc is full of more tiny pieces of the larger picture, but fails to provide any full answers.
Coda Smoke issue #58 – an epilogue to the last 7 issue story, one with a twist you’ll never see coming.
The Calm issue #59 – Loop and Lono are out of prison and hitting the city of Chicago. Armed with Shepherd’s files, and now also with Victor, Lono seems to be putting his own plan into action, or is it Shepherd’s plan, or Graves’?
Staring at the Son issue #60-63 – this 4 issue arc is low on action, but heavy on set up. We see that Graves and Augustus Medici are still in contact, that even Augustus fears for his position, that Megan really has no idea what is going on, that Benito is frustrated by always being kept out of things and that Burns and Branch have hooked up. All this is revealed through conversations between these main players, but throughout is interweaved another story of Spain, a drug dealer first seen way back in issue #20, and a local boy Tino. It’s a really well written piece of dark comedy relief that perfectly breaks up the more continuity heavy parts of the issue.
The Dive issue # 64 – back in Atlantic City with Jack who is now a bare knuckle fighter, this issue sees Graves pay Jack a visit. The face of between the two men is intense, and in the end leaves nothing resolved as Graves seems determined to have Jack overcome some unknown hurdles before bringing him into play.
New Tricks issue #65-66 – this two issue story arc provides us with a chance to see Lono in action, and learn some of his background. It becomes obvious that Lono is now working for the Trust, or at least Augustus Medici, directly. Victor and Loop are also part of Lono’s crew and appear to be bonding as they work to hit out at a surprising member of The Trust.
Love Let Her issue 67 – the final issue to have made it to trade paperback at this point. This single issue story takes us to Mexico, where Wylie and Dizzy are currently residing. Also in town are Benito Medici and Mr. Branch, both looking for Dizzy. An invisible, unidentified narrator who obviously cares for Dizzy tells a large part of the issue. By the end of the issue the implication is that all three men, Wylie, Branch and Benito are united under Dizzy. For what purpose we don’t know.
The Main Players
The Trust - Group of 13 criminal families who laid claim on America during the Elizabethan era.
The Minutemen - An organization of seven highly trained killers who exist to police the activities of the 13 Trust families.
Agent Graves - Graves was head of the Minutemen up until an event in Atlantic City, the details of which are still unclear, which resulted in the apparent death of all of the Minutemen. In reality Graves had them all hidden and is now gradually reactivating them, although to what end we don’t know.
Augustus Medici - Head of the Medici crime family and nominal leader of the Trust, since the Minutemen were disbanded. Initial indications were that Augustus orchestrated the destruction of the Minutemen, however his motivations have recently become clouded.
Mr. Shepherd - Previous liaison between the Minutemen and The Trust. Since the destruction of the Minutemen he seems to have been playing a dangerous game of piggy in the middle, working with both Graves and Augustus Medici; possibly with his own agenda in mind.
Benito Medici - Son of Augustus, and unwilling participant in the games of The Trust. He has a close relationship with Shepherd and is currently in the desert with Dizzy, Branch and Wylie Times.
Lono - the only member of the Minutemen to have officially survived Atlantic City, Lono is an amoral animal. Currently he is working for both The Trust, and Shepherd; although he like everyone else seems to have his own plans and may not be as stupid as his gruff exterior suggests.
Dizzy Cordova - a young latino woman, possibly selected by Graves and Shepherd as a replacement Minuteman. Her exact role in Graves’ grand plan is not known, and she may now be forming her own ideas about what her role should be.
Loop Hughes - a young black man, and another possible Minuteman candidate. He is currently working with Lono and a second Minuteman Victor.
Victor - The first Minuteman to be re-activated by Graves after Atlantic City, his actions since then and his part in things to come remain a mystery.
Cole Burns - Allegedly the most deadly of the Minutmen, and the second to be re-activated. He seems to be steadfastly loyal to Graves.
Wylie Times - The most recent Minuteman to be re-activated, he is currently in the desert with Benito, Branch and Dizzy. Their intentions remain unclear.
Jack Daw - reformed junkie, turned fist fighter, it is likely that Jack is a Minuteman, however Graves seems unwilling to reactivate him as yet.
Mr. Branch - an ex-journalist who has been researching the story of The Trust and the Minutmen for some years. He has a soft spot for Dizzy, and is currently in the desert with her, Wylie and Benito Medici.
Megan Dietrich - the only other Trust member who we have had significant insight into, she seems to have a sexual history with both Benito and Cole Burns. She is currently snuggling up to Augustus in order to protect her position.
The Creators
Brian Azzarello has written Superman, Batman and Hellblazer, amongst others, but it is for his work on 100 Bullets that he is probably best known. With 100 Bullets Azzarello has created something truly coherent, but equally fairly accessible. The sprawling main story arc that runs through the series is huge, complicated and continuity heavy; there’s no denying that. However 100 Bullets is more than just the main players. Almost every arc contains a side story that sees us introduced to a new kind of lowlife, down on his luck average joe criminal. Each of these stories stands alone as a documentation of the shadier aspects of the modern world and each of the characters involved is totally individual, totally believable and almost as entertaining as the stars of the show. What is even more rewarding for the long time reader is that often a throwaway background character will pop up again in 5 or 10 issues time with his own little story. You can’t beat that kind of long term planning for making a story and a universe feel real and engaging.
Azzarello’s writing is only half the equation however. 100 Bullets has run for 79 issues to date and while every one has been written by Azzarello, each has also been brought to life by the same artist, Eduardo Risso. Such consistency in creative team is incredibly rare in today’s comics, but is also incredibly powerful because it grants the series a purity of vision that is almost essential in such a long and involving tale. It has also allowed an incredible working relationship to develop between the two artists, such that Risso’s art on 100 Bullets is almost completely in synergy with Azzarello’s writing. Palpably dark and shadowy in mood, every location oozes almost as much personality as the characters; and what characters. Every individual in 100 Bullets is exactly that, all of Risso’s designs are totally unique, and his use of facial expressions and body language manages to capture the absolute worst and the absolute best in people; usually the worst though.
As an example of a serialized story, grand in scope and full of continuity, 100 Bullets is almost without peer, not because of the writing, or because of the art, but because of both and the way in which they work perfectly together. It is a shining example of how two creators can come together to create something that would be impossible without the other. That kind of synergy between a pair of creators is something unique to the comic book format, and 100 Bullets is as such something of a celebration of that format. If you haven’t already started reading it; start today. You won’t regret it.
Having recently finished a PhD in Immunology Ross is currently working for a UK biotech company. He lives in Cambridge where he reads comics, spends too much money on music and attempts to learn Portuguese. He owns at least 7 lightsabers, yet still manages to have a very attractive girlfriend who he misses very much, thus proving anything really is possible.