Seduction of the Innocent

Hey guys, Slacksy here. And yup, this post has an all new title! I wasn't too crazy about the initial "Comic Book Confidential", and hey, if Marvel can change the titles of their X-Men books whenever they like, I figure I can do the same. But I digress....

The book I'd like to shine a light on this time is 100 Bullets by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso. Now it's not as if this comic hasn't received a lot of attention - it's received plenty. But because it's in its final arc and everything is coming to a close, it feels like the perfect time to introduce those new to the series to the greatness that is 100 Bullets. Basic plot synopsis: The mysterious Agent Graves finds people whose lives have been disrupted and destroyed and provides them with an attache case containing the evidence concerning the person who has ruined their life , a gun, and 100 untraceable bullets. He leaves them (seemingly without motive) with the choice of what to do with their newfound information, weaponry, and carte blanche. First off, this is a perfect example of a comic that transcends its genre. What at first appears to be a simple (well...not exactly) crime story (albeit a great one) becomes so much more. Best way to explain it: it's the greatest crime movie never made. Brian Azzarello gives every ounce of the story weight - nothing (and I mean nothing) is insignificant and every word spoken and every panel has a point and foreshadows what comes later. The lives of the massive cast of characters all intertwine one way or another, and the conflict becomes bigger and bigger as the story goes on, which leaves the reader entertained for a long time.

What also makes the book so great is the teamwork of Azzarello and Eduardo Risso. Risso's artwork fits the story perfectly, not only because of his dark and 'gritty' style, but because of how he complements Azzarello's storytelling methods. Risso's artwork is extremely attractive and draws the reader into the story, which is important because every detail needs attention paid to it. His use of the color black captures the eye and draws attention to crucial details in a surprisingly subtle way, and makes the reader want to decipher clues in each panel while also understanding clearly what is happening. The unique ways he builds scenes is also very interesting, from his almost cinematic point of view angle from inside a washing machine to his depiction of characters from the reflection in a tea kettle...well, you may have to see it to get what I'm talking about. Anyways, the perfect pairing of Azzarello and Risso makes for some amazing and intriguing storytelling. I literally read all of the available trades over the course of about 4 days and the story not once became even the slightest bit boring. No joke.

And of course, the entire 100 Bullets series is available at Comic Book Jones, so I really urge you guys to check it out. Trust me, if you hang out in the lounge and read the first volume, you'll end up buying all of the trades. Be sure to let me know what you think!

Slacks