100 Bullets - Split Second Chance

Written by Brian Azzarello
Art by Eduardo Risso
Colours by Grant Goleash
Letters by Clem Robins
Covers by Dave Johnson

Out now, published in the UK by Titan Books, priced £12.99
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This is the second collection of Azzarello and Risso's 100 Bullets comic book. The series has won almost universal acclaim and, quite frankly, anyone picking this book up will quickly understand why.

Everything about this dark, gritty, tragic, sometimes harrowing, occasionally grimly funny collection is strong. 100 Bullets just kicks the crap out of its competitors. It is not Tarantino-like; there is no casual violence and swearing, no overly clever 'stuff'. There is no casual anything. Every word, every pencil stroke has a reason for being there.

There is a lot of very precise violence, and a lot of very exact swearing, sex, corruption, exploitation and double-crossing. There is a very big conspiracy that is hinted at in every one of the five stories in Split Second Chance, and the hint that a lot of disparate elements and desperate people all have something very dangerous in common.

The essence of what is happening is that a man, calling himself Agent Graves, wanders the seamy-side of US handing out briefcases and secrets. Each briefcase contains an untraceable gun and the titular 100 bullets. Each case comes with a story and a chance for an individual to exact vengeance, or to take control of their lives in a destructive act with seemingly no consequences.

Following close behind Graves is the equally mysterious Mr. Shepherd, and a shadowy group known as The Trust. Who's who, what's what, and why the Hell are never more than hinted at, but it's going to be a great time finding out.

Do it. Now! 9/10

Iain Lowson