The Festo - A Cache with 100 Untraceable Bullets and Legal Imuunity? No Big Deal......And Other Stories

So, I recently finished the acclaimed graphic novel series entitled, 100 Bullets, written by Brain Azzarello and illustrated by Eduardo Risso, and if I may say so, it was brilliant, start to finish, with gritty, realistic writing from Azzarello and in-your-face, harrowing art from Risso.

The story is based on a single premise: you've been terribly wronged in your life, and you don't quite know why, yet a man comes to you with a briefcase in hand and years of anguish marked on his face in wrinkles and sobriety. He tells you that he knows why your life has gone to shit. He tells you that in his briefcase is proof. He tells you that one person is responsible for your hardship. And in that briefcase is a handgun and 100 bullets that are entirely untraceable. So, do you take his briefcase, exact your revenge, and attempt to rebuild your life? Or do you deny the opportunity, live with the knowledge for the rest of your life, and rebuild honorably, thinking karma may be a major player?

These are some of the major themes of 100 Bullets, yet as you read, we are shown how deep this world truly goes, with backstabbing, drugs, murder, and mayhem as its cornerstones. We are introduced to a war between families that reaches back centuries and tells us our suited man and briefcase may not be as noble as initially represented. And we see players on both sides of the war, with differing motives, styles, and most notably, temperaments.

I'd recommend this read for anyone who'd be interested in a true-to-form crime drama, built on the foundations of stellar characterization. The graphic novels are sold in 13 installations, although the original series was released as 100 individual comics. I'd say go get yourself one of the graphic novel collections first (it doesn't have to be the first edition; I myself read the 7th installation first and found it even more intriguing because I only knew a small piece of the puzzle). Anyway, certainly go grab yourself a copy, dive in, and be prepared for a nonstop ride full of bloodshed, innuendo, and intrigue and two-timers, gangsters, and suits, all with a stake in the game and the trigger finger to exact their agenda.

Otherwise, I've started on the graphic novel series, The Sandman, by Neil Gaiman, which is another critically acclaimed story with some seriously dark undertones. Other recommended reading at this point would be anything from Charles Bukowski, Hunter S. Thompson, and Bret Easton Ellis. In fact, I'm looking forward to reading Ellis' recent release and sequel to Less Than Zero, Imperial Bedrooms. Happy reading to all!