100 Bullets Vol. 8: The Hard Way [Paperback]

Brian Azzarello (Author)

Book Description

Series: 100 Bullets | Publication Date: August 1, 2005

100 BULLETS VOL 8: THE HARD WAY continues to unravel the tangled mystery of the Trust as Wylie Times becomes the latest Minuteman to be reactivated by the Trusts onetime enforcer, Agent Graves. But which side will he choose? And what kind of game is Mr. Shepherd playing between the two? Includes an introduction by crime novelist Jason Starr (Twisted City, Tough Luck, Hard Feelings).

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

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)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

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
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Vertigo (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401204902
• ISBN-13: 978-1401204907
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 0.6 x 10.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #405,710 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is what Brian Azzarello was born to do., June 7, 2006

By 

Robert P. Beveridge "xterminal" (Lakewood, OH) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 100 Bullets (Paperback)

Brian Azzarello, 100 Bullets: The Hard Way (Vertigo, 2005)

Every time I pick up another Brian Azzarello book, I finish it thinking "there's no way he can top that." And, so far, every time I've been proven wrong.

The Hard Way takes us into the second half of Azzarello's epic 100 Bullets, and it contains his finest creation to date: Gabe, a little man with a very big trumpet. Gabe is not a main character, but he ends up being, from the standpoint of the book's quality, its most important asset.

What the book is actually about is the mission given to Wylie Times at the end of Book 6, the one that caused every 100 Bullets reader's jaw to hit the carpet. This mission puts Wylie back into close contact with Dizzy, and much of the book's pace comes from the back-and-forth between the two of them, the secrets they need to keep from one another, what they choose to reveal, and the times in which they find themselves forced into partnership. Gabe is just a part of the scenery, most of the time, a kid who finds himself in a complex relationship with Wylie, the only person who ever stood up for him.

The first three-quarters of the book is setup; as with all of 100 Bullets, though, the setup is always fun, as Azzarello is capable of keeping the reader interested with a minimum of verbiage, letting Eduardo Risso's wonderful artwork do much of the talking. Then, once the dominoes are set up, Azzarello gives them a nudge, and everything comes toppling down in a design that looks nothing like what you expect it to-- but that ties everything up anyway.

The Hard Way is more than just an installment in a series of graphic novels (or comic books, depending). Where 100 Bullets has often been passed off as a genre noir title-- and in a number of cases, it's simply been satisfied to rise to that level and float-- The Hard Way transcends both graphic novel-dom and noir, in the same way Watchmen or the best issues of Love and Rockets did. The Hard Way is good, solid literature. There are a number of excellent entry points into the world if graphic novels, if you've dismissed them as "just comics" up to this point; while I'm not sure 100 Bullets is one of them (because of the series' weaker volumes), once you've got a few Watchmens, Sandmans, and Preachers, under your belt, tackle 100 Bullets. When you get to The Hard Way, you'll be able to experience it in all its glory. I envy you the chance to experience it for the first time. **** œ

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb storytelling and Characterization, Strong emotions, Conspiracies, and some killer Twists, January 31, 2009

By 

Mir (North Miami Beach, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: 100 Bullets Vol. 8: The Hard Way (Paperback)

I've read through Volume 8 without writing a review. I've enjoyed every trade paperback volume, mind you, but last night, reading THE HARD WAY, I was blown away. It's that good!

For those unfamiliar with the series, the title is the starting point: A man named Graves comes into the life of assorted characters with a briefcase containing a gun, bullets, an insightful and personalized dossier, and carte blanche to the case's receiver to do wht they see fit with the weapon and ammo--with full immunity. No cops. No prosecution. Full out "get away with it" revenge, if they want. The dossier gives the proof to the, "This is the person that done you wrong." The bullets and gun say: "Go kill em. You got the all clear."

The targets of Mr. Graves particular attention may seem unconnected at first, but as the tale progresses, those lives--of those who live, anyway, through their tale--come to intertwine in with a deepening background story arc of epic proportions.It all starts to weave together.

Before this volume, we've seen snatches of what is going on behind the scenes, the complex nature of what Mr Graves is involved with. It's a long historical thing with far-reaching consequences. There are powerful and wealthy families, secret vows, enforcers, backstabbings and betrayals, changes in system, and it can be headily confusing at first.

In THE HARD WAY, we begin with a seemingly unrelated little criminal tale that has a seedy, anxious feel and serves as a wonderful set-up--a prologue, if you will, or a tone setter-- for what's to come. One character, who has served as a sort of narrator during the story, advises us that all good stories end in tears. We're about to find that out firsthand.

The whole conspiracy theory set-up (including the hilarious Snapple theory in the initial bar scene) is a brilliant set-up to the uber-conspiracy theory that is the next, meatier tale. We move into a story that gives us the past and the core of Wylie and his woe (and it's BAAAAAAAAAAAAD GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD stuff). Wylie's been in previous volumes.

Set in New Orleans for a good chunk and including some interesting secondary characters (but everything is woven together gorgeously, viciously, movingly, bloodily, tragically), we finally learn the background of the Minutemen and the deeper significance of the important term Croatoan.

The twists are just too good to even mildly spoil. So, no hints and no more plot info. Just get ready to get your throat clenched and head whiplashed around by a story that just gets darker and wilder and better.

Man, I'm impressed. Not just by the story. I've been loving the visuals of this all along, and in this one, visuals and story seem to continue that amazing coherence and slickness. It's potent stuff. I'm so glad I have Vol 9 and 10 to read today. :)

Mir

5.0 out of 5 stars The greatest chapter of Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso's crime epic, September 27, 2008

By 

Will Carper - See all my reviews

This review is from: 100 Bullets Vol. 8: The Hard Way (Paperback)

After teasing readers for 50 issues, creators Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso finally reveal the origin of the Trust and the Minutemen. From there, the volume tells the story of Minuteman Wylie Times, a man who has lost everything he ever loved and simply doesn't care anymore. When Wylie is reactivated by Agent Graves and remembers his dark, tragic past as a killer, his world begins to fall apart even more than it already has, forcing him into action. Wylie's story is truly heartbreaking, the best yet of all the Minutemen. Although capable of extreme violence, Wylie has a heart of gold and a strong sense of right and wrong. Loyal to his friends and his code, Wylie is a tragic character, unable to forgive himself for one terrible act he committed long ago.

"The Hard Way" also features a character by the name of Gabe. A short, disfigured jazz trumpeter, Gabe just wants to be treated with a little respect. He provides the story's heart and what happens to him both drives the volume's final act and tears at the reader's heart strings.

100 Bullets is an original modern crime epic like no other. The series' many conspiracies and unique characterization set it atop the list of Vertigo's current titles. Azzarello's knack for witty dialogue and Risso's inventive artwork make this series an irresistible read, rife with mystery and intrigue. "The Hard Way" is 100 Bullets' strongest storyline and the rest of the series comes just as highly recommended.