Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

100 Bullets

100 Bullets is an American crime noir comic book series written by and illustrated by Eduardo Risso, published by DC Comics under its Vertigo imprint from August 1999 to April 2009 across 100 issues, followed by the sequel miniseries Brother Lono (2014–2015) and the announced 2026 continuation The U.S. of Anger. The central premise follows Agent Graves, a enigmatic operative who approaches individuals wronged in their past, providing photographic evidence of the perpetrators' betrayal along with an attache case containing a and 100 untraceable bullets, thereby granting them the means and impunity for without repercussions. Unfolding through interconnected standalone stories that gradually reveal a larger conspiracy involving the —an elite cadre of agents formerly in service to the Trust, a shadowy of thirteen families exerting covert control over the —the narrative explores themes of vengeance, loyalty, and moral ambiguity in a gritty, stylized world. Critically acclaimed for its intricate plotting, sharp dialogue, and Risso's high-contrast black-and-white artwork, the series garnered multiple , including Best Continuing Series in 2002, Best Penciller/Inker for Risso in 2002, and additional honors for serialized stories and coloring. In October 2025, DC Comics announced a continuation titled The U.S. of , reuniting Azzarello and Risso to extend the saga focusing on the character .

Publication History

Development and Influences

conceived 100 Bullets as a crime series for DC Comics' Vertigo imprint, with the pitch leading to its debut issue in 1999. The core premise revolves around untraceable revenge opportunities, structured around episodic tales that build into a larger conspiracy, drawing from pulp fiction's emphasis on gritty moral dilemmas and film 's fatalistic tone. Azzarello's writing incorporates influences from noir authors such as Jim Thompson and David Goodis, whose works explore psychological decay and criminal underbellies, while integrating historical conspiracy motifs like the CIA's program to drive elements of induced amnesia and institutional betrayal. This approach privileges causal mechanisms of power retention in secretive organizations, akin to real-world intelligence operations documented in declassified records. Eduardo Risso, an Argentine artist, was selected for his high-contrast, style that amplifies the series' shadowy intrigue, influenced by noir forebears and José Muñoz in their use of stark blacks and expressive distortions to convey tension. Risso's technique, rooted in Latin American comic traditions with European publication exposure, aligns with aesthetics by prioritizing atmospheric depth over , enhancing the depiction of hierarchical crime dynamics where visual opacity mirrors informational asymmetry in syndicates.

Serialization Details

100 Bullets was published as a monthly series by DC Comics under its Vertigo imprint, spanning 100 issues from August 1999 to April 2009. The first issue went on sale June 2, 1999, establishing the core creative team of writer and artist Eduardo Risso, who remained consistent throughout the run without changes in primary personnel. This uninterrupted collaboration contributed to the series' steady production, adhering to Vertigo's mature-audience format focused on crime narratives. The serialization concluded with issue #100 in April 2009, marking the end of the planned 100-issue arc after a decade of monthly releases. No significant delays or hiatuses were reported during the run, reflecting reliable scheduling typical of Vertigo's longer-running titles at the time. Commercially, the series sustained publication long enough to become Vertigo's fourth-longest ongoing title, behind only , , and Fables, indicating consistent reader interest and sales viability within the imprint's niche market.

Collected Editions

The series was originally collected in thirteen trade paperback volumes published by Vertigo between 2000 and 2010, with volumes typically compiling 4 to 9 issues each. The first volume, First Shot, Last Call, gathers issues #1–5 and was released in September 2000. Later volumes include Split Second Chance collecting #6–14 and Hang Up on the Hang Low compiling #15–19. DC Comics issued five deluxe hardcover editions from 2011 to 2014, presenting larger segments of the series in oversized format. These editions divide the 100 issues across volumes as follows:
VolumeCollected IssuesRelease Year
Book One#1–192011
Book Two#20–362012
Book Three#37–572013
Book Four#59–802014
Book Five#81–1002014
Paperback versions of select deluxe content have appeared, including the 2025 edition of reprinting issues #20–36. Under the imprint, two omnibus s were released in 2021 and 2022. Volume 1 assembles issues #1–58 alongside the "Merry , Bitches!" from Vertigo: Winter's Edge . Volume 2 includes issues #59–100 and the 2014–2015 sequel miniseries 100 Bullets: Brother #1–8. A standalone deluxe of Brother followed in 2024.

Artistic and Narrative Style

Eduardo Risso's Visual Approach

Eduardo Risso's artwork in 100 Bullets features high-contrast black-and-white interiors characterized by heavy ink spotting and dramatic lighting, which create deep shadows that emphasize the series' aesthetic and the moral ambiguity inherent in its characters' choices. This technique, drawing from traditions, renders urban environments with gritty realism, using elements like neon glows and muzzle flashes to heighten atmospheric tension without sanitizing depictions of violence. Risso's layouts innovate to build , employing varied perspectives such as vertical compositions for descent motifs or horizontal strips for standoffs, often mimicking cinematic camera techniques to disorient readers and reflect narrative instability. These experimental arrangements, including occasional circular panels or integrated background motifs like recurring "100" symbols, prioritize dynamic visual flow over grid uniformity, enhancing the perception of causal unpredictability in violent confrontations. Risso sustained this visual consistency across all 100 issues, serialized from August 1999 to April 2009, fostering a cohesive tone that immerses readers in the story's escalating intrigue. Color covers, painted by Risso with coloring by Mulvihill, introduced selective hues—such as muted grays or stark accents—to thematic elements like or , contrasting the monochromatic interiors to underscore key symbolic revelations.

Brian Azzarello's Writing Techniques

employs non-linear storytelling in 100 Bullets, incorporating time jumps and backstory flashbacks within individual arcs to reveal character motivations gradually, which underscores the cognitive distortions arising from deception and misplaced trust. This approach, evident in arcs like Cole Burns' past in issue 38, compels readers to piece together fragmented perspectives, mirroring how real-world participants in conspiracies often operate with incomplete information and self-serving rationalizations. Unreliable narrators emerge through characters' hinted motives and omissions, such as Graves' ambiguous agenda, requiring to discern underlying deceptions rather than explicit exposition. Azzarello's dialogue is characteristically sparse and profane, drawing from observed street vernacular to evoke the terse, coded exchanges of criminal elements, as in the African American Vernacular English phrasing "Sixty-Tray. All Day" in issue 1. Influenced by hard-boiled authors like and Raymond Carver's minimalist prose, it prioritizes authenticity over verbosity, using slang, double meanings, and rhythmic interruptions to heighten tension and reflect the guarded of underworld figures. Examples include curt greetings like "S’up smoke" and "S’up weed," which capture raw interpersonal dynamics without narrative padding. The series' pacing transitions from self-contained attaché case vignettes—such as Dizzy Cordova's rapid revenge setup in the opening issues—to an escalating conspiracy involving the and the by around issue 20, rewarding persistent readers with interconnected revelations. This deliberate escalation, rooted in an initial revenge premise expanded into a 100-issue , builds through implication over declaration, as subtle clues like Graves' unexplained appearances accumulate to expose broader machinations.

Synopsis

Overall Plot Structure

The narrative of 100 Bullets revolves around Agent Graves, a mysterious operative who identifies individuals victimized by profound injustices and equips them with an attache case containing a , 100 untraceable bullets, and irrefutable photographic evidence pinpointing those responsible for their suffering. This setup affords recipients the opportunity—and legal —to pursue without fear of detection or prosecution. Early installments adopt an episodic format, presenting discrete stories that probe the psychological and ethical ramifications of accepting or rejecting Graves's proposition, often culminating in acts of violence or restraint. Over time, these self-contained vignettes coalesce into an expansive, interconnected , exposing the protagonists' plights as threads in a larger tapestry of , institutional corruption, and intergenerational vendettas. At the core lies a decades-spanning antagonism between The Trust—a shadowy alliance of crime families wielding monopolistic control over underworld activities—and the , a cadre of operatives once employed as their ruthless enforcers. Graves, revealed as a pivotal figure in this dynamic, maneuvers events to rekindle old loyalties and exploit fractures within the , driving the plot from isolated moral quandaries toward a labyrinthine escalation of betrayals and power realignments. The structure layers present-day machinations with historical retrospectives, methodically unpeeling the causal origins of the conflict while maintaining ambiguity around ultimate resolutions.

Key Revelations and Twists

In the mid-series arc spanning issues #50-58, collected as 100 Bullets: The Hard Way, the narrative pivots with the exposition of the Trust's origins and their entrenched control over the United States, revealing how thirteen European crime families divided the nation into exclusive territories in the 1850s, maintaining influence through proxies in government, law enforcement, and organized crime while suppressing rivals like the Minutemen via induced amnesia and relocation programs. This disclosure reframes earlier attaché distributions as targeted disruptions to the Trust's equilibrium, escalating isolated revenge plots into coordinated challenges against institutional power structures. Subsequent twists in issues #80 and beyond expose fractures within the Minutemen, including betrayals orchestrated by Agent Graves to advance his vendetta; for instance, issue #80 depicts Graves manipulating Dizzy Cordova into a confrontation that underscores his long-term scheme to dismantle the from within, building on prior revelations of the group's historical massacre of the in 1976. These developments highlight causal links between personal loyalties and systemic betrayals, as surviving like and Hughes navigate shifting allegiances amid escalating internecine violence. The finale in issue #100 culminates these chains in a siege on Medici's villa, where Graves' assembled forces confront the Trust's heads, tying disparate vendettas—such as those of Dizzy and the reformed —to the organization's core corruption, resulting in the deaths of nearly all principal antagonists and protagonists in a barrage of gunfire and explosions that leaves only a handful, including Dizzy, alive. This resolution empirically demonstrates the attachés' role in precipitating the Trust's collapse, as accumulated actions from prior issues converge to shatter their centuries-old monopoly.

Characters

The Minutemen

The Minutemen constitute an elite cadre of seven enforcers, led by Agent Philip Graves, tasked with policing and protecting the clandestine organization known as the Trust through targeted acts of violence and intimidation. Formed to execute the Trust's directives with precision, the group exemplified brutal efficiency, employing specialized skills in , , and territorial control to neutralize threats and enforce compliance among the organization's rivals. Their operations adhered to an internal code emphasizing unwavering execution of orders, yet this structure masked underlying tensions arising from members' personal drives, which could precipitate defections based on individual assessments of self-interest over institutional loyalty. Key members included , designated "The Dog" for his feral aggression and propensity for sadistic excess, which rendered him both a formidable asset and a volatile liability within the team's dynamics. Other operatives, such as Cole Burns ("The Wolf") and Wylie Times ("The Point Man"), contributed complementary proficiencies—Burns in predatory tracking and Times in strategic marksmanship—fostering a collective capable of dismantling opposition through coordinated, overwhelming force. Echo Memoria, often operating in shadowy intelligence roles, added layers of subterfuge, leveraging her enigmatic presence to gather leverage and execute discreet interventions. From a causal standpoint, the Minutemen's interventions perpetuated cycles of retribution and instability, as their ruthless suppression of dissent often amplified underlying grievances rather than eradicating them, highlighting the limitations of coercion in sustaining long-term allegiance. Individual agency proved pivotal, with members like Graves demonstrating strategic autonomy in reinterpreting mandates, underscoring how personal calculus could fracture even the most disciplined enforcer units. This interplay of loyalty and betrayal reflected broader realist dynamics, where enforcers' effectiveness derived not merely from skill but from navigating the precarious incentives of power structures that rewarded obedience while punishing perceived disloyalty.

The Trust Families

The Trust is a secretive of thirteen aristocratic families originating from , who relocated to the American colonies during the late 16th and 17th centuries to evade political upheavals and consolidate power. These families secured control over vast U.S. territories through historical pacts, including land grants negotiated with colonial authorities such as the English , enabling them to dominate economic, political, and criminal enterprises without overt governmental interference. Each family presides over a designated region, perpetuating influence via hereditary succession marked by , where leadership passes within bloodlines amid frequent internal betrayals and strategic marriages to forge or fracture alliances. Prominent among the families is the House of Dietrich, based in Los Angeles, led by Megan Dietrich following the unexplained death of her father, Roland, which elevated her to a position of calculated ruthlessness as a key operator in the Trust's web of influence. The , controlling , features Augustus Medici as a central engaging in proposed unions, such as with Megan Dietrich, to consolidate authority, while his brother Benito embodies familial tensions through impulsive actions that exacerbate rivalries. Other influential houses include the Nagel, Peres, Vasco, and D'Arcy families, each wielding regional monopolies on vice and commerce, with figures like Joan D'Arcy maneuvering through covert eliminations to preserve dominance. Inter-family dynamics are characterized by precarious equilibria, where alliances dissolve into vendettas driven by perceived slights or resource encroachments, as seen in disputes over territorial encroachments and disputes that lead to orchestrated assassinations. By the series' midpoint, from these conflicts reduces the active families to nine, intensifying power vacuums and opportunistic betrayals that underscore the fragility of oligarchic hierarchies reliant on loyalty enforced through fear rather than merit. This structure mirrors real-world patterns of entrenchment, where inherited privilege fosters unchecked by external accountability, as evidenced by the families' manipulation of legal and illicit networks to maintain territorial .

Other Recurring Figures

Dizzy Cordova emerges as a prominent recipient, originating from a socioeconomically disadvantaged urban environment marked by involvement. Following her imprisonment for related crimes, she encounters Agent Graves, who provides irrefutable evidence implicating corrupt in the deaths of her husband and child, along with the means for anonymous retribution. Her narrative underscores the tension between immediate vengeance and ethical restraint, as she initially declines to act, reflecting a deliberate weighing of personal loss against broader moral costs. This portrayal avoids reductive tropes by emphasizing her evolving agency and the tangible repercussions of her choices within the series' unforgiving world. Loop Hughes represents another variant among the revenge seekers, a working-class father confronted with systemic failures that harm his family. Presented with documentation of injustices tied to powerful entities, his response illustrates familial loyalty clashing with the allure of consequence-free violence, often leading to unintended escalations that expose vulnerabilities in ordinary lives. Such figures highlight the series' interest in how socioeconomic pressures shape responses to perceived betrayals, without romanticizing or condemning outright, but tracing causal chains of action and fallout. Mr. Joseph functions as a pivotal supporting operative, serving as the Trust's appointed while covertly aligning with Graves' subversive efforts. Tasked ostensibly with overseeing enforcement, he facilitates the concealment of surviving by falsifying their elimination to the and aiding in memory alterations for new identities, thereby sustaining Graves' long-term against the families. This duplicitous role reveals layers of institutional complicity and personal allegiance, portraying not as a mere functionary but as a calculated whose interventions bridge the Trust's hierarchical control with the Minutemen's latent .

Story Arcs and Themes

Major Arcs Breakdown

The 100 Bullets series commences with discrete, self-contained arcs that introduce Agent Graves' methodology of equipping aggrieved individuals with an untraceable handgun and 100 bullets, enabling potential revenge without legal repercussions. Issues #1-5, compiled in the collection First Shot, Last Call (published 1999), center on Dizzy Cordova's encounter with Graves following the murder of her family, setting the foundational pattern of moral dilemmas posed to protagonists from varied backgrounds. Subsequent early arcs, including "The Right " spanning issues #6-8, examine figures like Cole Burns navigating personal betrayals and criminal underworld entanglements, gradually introducing recurring elements such as the operatives. Transitioning into mid-series developments around issues #11-50, the narrative interconnects initial standalone cases, focusing on the reconstitution of the —a cadre of elite agents—and escalating tensions among the shadowy families controlling regional power structures. Arcs like "Out of Gaza" (issues #15-19) depict Minutemen recruitment efforts amid violent clashes, highlighting internal divisions and strategic maneuvers within these organizations. Collections such as Six Feet Under the Gun (issues #26-30, 2003) further this progression by exploring agent loyalties and Trust manipulations through episodic yet linking confrontations. In the later arcs, from issues #51 onward, the storyline accelerates toward open warfare between the and the , unraveling core conspiracies through high-stakes battles and betrayals. "Decayed" (issues #58-66) exemplifies this phase, chronicling factional decay and pivotal confrontations that propel the overarching conflict toward its denouement in issue #100 (April 2009). These arcs consolidate prior threads into a cohesive escalation, published consistently by Vertigo from to across 100 issues.

Core Themes: Revenge, Trust, and Moral Consequences

The premise of 100 Bullets posits as a catalyst for individual agency, with Agent Graves equipping aggrieved parties with a containing a , 100 untraceable bullets, and authenticated evidence of their ruin, thereby testing the resolve to act absent immediate legal reprisal. This setup, originating from Azzarello's conception of a centered on " and ," empirically illustrates revenge's double-edged quality across the series' 100 issues (published from 1999 to ), where initial retributive acts frequently engender cycles of reciprocal violence rather than closure. For instance, beneficiaries like Dizzy Cordova, confronting the orchestrated deaths of her family, find their pursuits entangling them in escalating feuds, amplifying personal grievances into systemic conflagrations controlled by entrenched power blocs. Such patterns reject simplistic triumphalism, as causal dictates that vengeful impulses, unchecked by broader foresight, propagate ; rare deviations toward restraint or redirection appear as outliers amid predominant escalations, evidenced by the Minutemen's recurrent clashes post-amnesia, which perpetuate rather than sever violent loops. Azzarello's thus privileges empirical of human responses—grievance yielding to retaliation—over relativistic justifications, highlighting how , far from liberating, often binds actors to unforgiving trajectories of mutual destruction. Trust emerges as inherently fragile within the series' criminal and institutional milieus, where pacts among the —a cadre of elite operatives—erode upon revelations of exploitation by the , the 13 families wielding governance over American underworlds. Breakdowns stem from causal asymmetries in and , as withheld histories and self-preserving betrayals undermine collaborative structures, paralleling street-level alliances that under analogous pressures of . This underscores the precariousness of contracts in high-stakes domains, where trust's absence fosters isolation and vulnerability, empirically traced through the Minutemen's post-dissolution return to predation after engineered memory loss. Moral consequences receive undiluted scrutiny, with the narrative dismantling the illusion of insulated actions; despite the attaché's promise of , choices ripple outward, drawing participants into conspiratorial machinations that exact unforeseen tolls on personal and communal . Actions beget proportionate reactions in a realist —retribution against the precipitating retaliatory purges, for example—enforcing verifiability that entails enduring fallout, not evasion. By foregrounding these chains without narrative sanitization, the series affirms individual accountability, portraying moral reckonings as inevitable products of causal fidelity rather than abstract ethical debates.

Analysis of Violence and Power Dynamics

The violence in 100 Bullets is depicted with stark , emphasizing the physical and psychological toll rather than spectacle, as characters face immediate and lasting consequences that deter romanticization. For instance, assaults by the Minuteman , including brutal beatings and , underscore the raw depravity enabled by unchecked authority, portraying such acts not as empowering but as manifestations of sadistic dominance that erode the perpetrator's humanity and provoke retaliation cycles. This brutality serves as a causal mechanism within the series' hierarchies, where power accrues through coercive monopolies akin to historical syndicates that segmented territories to minimize while extracting from subordinates. The , comprising thirteen ancient families, functions as an elite sustaining control via delegated enforcers like the , who initially suppress uprisings but later embody a fractious —driven by personal vendettas and moral inconsistencies—that undermines collective efficacy against the institutional apparatus. By foregrounding these dynamics, the critiques commonplace portrayals of as inconsequential or heroic, compelling readers to weigh ethical costs such as fractured alliances, survivor , and societal erosion, where acts of retribution often amplify the very imbalances they seek to dismantle. Unlike sanitized depictions, the series illustrates how begets inefficiency and vulnerability, as seen in the Trust's reliance on expendable agents whose breeds , mirroring real-world cartel fragilities exposed in empirical studies of hierarchies.

Adaptations and Media

Proposed Film and TV Projects

In June 2011, was announced as writer and executive producer for a potential Showtime television series of 100 Bullets, with handling production. The project aimed to capture the series' elements but did not advance beyond development. In August 2015, actor partnered with —a subsidiary—to produce and potentially star in a film version, based on a script by Chris Borrelli. Hardy's involvement stemmed from his interest in the comic's gritty narrative, yet the project stalled without entering production. As of July 2024, series co-creator stated he had ceased anticipating any film or television realization, citing the lack of progress despite prior pitches. The adaptation efforts have faltered amid Hollywood's challenges in translating the comic's uncompromised depictions of violence, moral ambiguity, and institutional corruption—elements resistant to mainstream sanitization—unlike adaptations of tamer comic properties such as Watchmen or The Sandman. No projects have reached fruition by October 2025.

Other Merchandise and Spin-offs

The 100 Bullets series generated limited merchandise tied to its era, primarily consisting of apparel such as official t-shirts featuring artwork inspired by the series' characters and themes. These items were marketed through comic specialty retailers to appeal to fans of the crime narrative crafted by and Eduardo Risso. A key spin-off emerged in the form of 100 Bullets: Brother Lono, an eight-issue limited published by Vertigo from August 2013 to April 2014. Written by Azzarello and illustrated by Risso, it centers on the Minuteman seeking redemption in a remote Mexican town four years after the original series' conclusion, introducing new conflicts involving local crime and personal atonement without direct ties to the broader . This standalone extension preserved the parent series' self-contained scope, avoiding crossovers or expansive universe integrations. No additional s or substantial merchandise expansions, such as art books or collectible lines, materialized during this period.

Reception and Impact

Critical Praise

Critics have praised 100 Bullets for its meticulous narrative construction, where disparate character arcs and plot threads converge with causal precision, elevating the crime genre beyond pulp conventions. The series received the 2001 for Best Serialized Story for issues #15-18 ("Hang Up on the Hang Low"), recognizing Azzarello's skill in weaving personal vendettas into broader conspiracies without contrived resolutions. In 2002, it won for Best Continuing Series, Best Penciller/Inker for Risso, and Best Cover Artist for , underscoring the integrated rigor of writing and visuals in sustaining momentum across 100 issues. Reviewers have highlighted the depth of character psychology, portraying protagonists as flawed agents navigating trust and betrayal with unflinching rather than heroic archetypes. Azzarello's , infused with terse, street-level , has been compared favorably to Elmore Leonard's for its in capturing underworld dynamics and ethical erosion. Risso's shadowy, high-contrast reinforces this grit, mastering environmental to imply unspoken threats and psychological strain without overt exposition. The plotting's layered —subtle clues embedded in early arcs that payoff in later volumes—has drawn for rewarding re-reads, transforming initial reads into deeper revelations of interconnected . Outlets describe the result as a cohesive epic of and power, where realism in and consequence distinguishes it from stylistic excess in contemporaries.

Criticisms and Controversies

Critics have pointed to the graphic depictions of violence and in 100 Bullets, particularly the scene in issue #19 where the character assaults , as potentially exploitative and sensationalistic. Some reviewers argue that such scenes prioritize shock value over narrative depth, contributing to perceptions of in Azzarello's writing. However, defenders contend that these elements underscore the series' unflinching , portraying violence and its perpetrators without romanticization to highlight causal consequences rather than endorse them. The pacing in the later arcs has drawn complaints for slowing considerably after the initial episodic structure, with the expansion to 100 issues—arbitrarily set by Azzarello—allegedly diluting momentum as the conspiracy plot unfolds. Readers have noted that this shift from tight, self-contained stories to broader intrigue led to filler-like segments and reduced tension, contrasting the breakneck pace of early volumes. Controversies also surround the ending's unresolved plot threads and perceived , with some interpreting the ambiguous conclusions and high body count as unsatisfying plot holes or a that "everyone dies and it was all for nothing." Others defend this as intentional mirroring real-life , where actions yield irreversible outcomes without tidy resolutions, rejecting in favor of stark .

Awards and Industry Recognition

100 Bullets earned recognition through multiple Comic Industry Awards, the premier honors in American comics. In 2001, the series won for Best Serialized Story, specifically for issues #15–18 titled "Hang Up on the Hang Low," written by and illustrated by Eduardo Risso. In 2002, it secured the Eisner for Best Continuing Series, alongside individual awards for Risso in Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker–Writer and for cover artist Dave Johnson in Best Cover Artist. The title repeated as Best Continuing Series winner in 2004. The comic also received Harvey Awards, voted on by industry professionals. In 2002, 100 Bullets won for Best New Series, with Azzarello honored as Best Writer and Risso as Best Artist. These awards underscored the creative team's peer validation within Vertigo's imprint at DC Comics, where the series contributed to the publisher's strong showing in that year's ceremonies.

Cultural and Thematic Legacy

100 Bullets exerted a notable influence on the crime comics genre, helping drive its resurgence in the 2000s by prioritizing moral complexity, nonlinear storytelling, and gritty noir aesthetics over simplistic heroism. This impact is evident in subsequent series such as and Sean Phillips's Criminal, which echoes the emphasis on flawed protagonists navigating personal vendettas and institutional betrayals, shifting the medium further from superhero dominance toward introspective examinations of criminality. The series' layered conspiracies and character-driven arcs inspired creators to explore similar depths, as acknowledged in analyses of comic noir's evolution, where 100 Bullets stands alongside works like Miller's Sin City in revitalizing pulp traditions with postmodern twists. Thematically, the work's legacy lies in its raw depiction of human agency amid entrenched corruption, portraying a world where elite cabals—the —exert control through manipulation and violence, yet ultimate outcomes hinge on individual decisions rather than systemic inevitability. Agent Graves's offers of untraceable retribution force recipients to weigh vengeance against self-destruction, highlighting causal chains of personal choice without excusing them via broader societal failings. This framework critiques power as a dominated by hereditary oligarchs who erode public through covert operations, a motif drawn from historical conspiracies like referenced in the narrative. Its enduring relevance stems from parallels to contemporary dynamics of institutional and elite overreach, where eroded faith in governing bodies mirrors the Minutemen's fractured loyalties and the Trust's shadowy dominance over American undercurrents. By foregrounding and moral reckoning over collective salvation, 100 Bullets offers a counterpoint to deterministic views of , resonating in discussions of in fractured social contracts. The narrative's refusal to romanticize redemption underscores a realist appraisal of power's corrupting logic, influencing ongoing genre explorations of versus .

Sequel and Recent Developments

The Coulson Family Series

Brother Lono, a five-issue published by Comics' Vertigo imprint from September 2016 to January 2017, extends the narrative of 100 Bullets by examining the aftermath of the Trust's downfall through the lens of surviving Minuteman . Written by and drawn by Eduardo Risso, the creators of the original series, it maintains continuity by delving into post-event power vacuums and personal reckonings among former enforcers of the shadowy organization. The story relocates to a remote in , , where attempts monastic redemption, only for local criminal elements to reignite cycles of retribution reminiscent of the original's vendetta-driven arcs. Central to the plot is the resurgence of violent hierarchies, as confronts threats tied to regional crime families challenging established authority, paralleling the Trust's internal fractures and the Minutemen's role in upholding them. Azzarello's script preserves the aesthetic with terse, profane dialogue and moral ambiguity, while Risso's stark black-and-white visuals amplify the tension of inevitable relapse into brutality. This setup addresses unresolved threads from the 2009 finale, such as the fates of peripheral power brokers and the enduring cost of unchecked agency in narratives. The series was collected into a trade paperback edition in August 2017, compiling all five issues, and later reissued in a deluxe hardcover format under to align with mature reader reprints of the core series. Reception highlighted its fidelity to the source material's tone and thematic depth, with reviewers noting how it substantiates the original's open-ended conclusions on loyalty and consequence without fully resolving the broader universe. Critics from comic outlets appreciated the extension as a taut that avoids dilution, though some observed its contained scope limits expansion of the Trust's remnants compared to the sprawling main run.

2025 Reprints and 2026 Relaunch

In 2025, DC Comics released 100 Bullets Book Two, the second installment in a planned five-volume trade paperback collection reprinting the entire original 100-issue series by and Eduardo Risso. This edition collects issues #20 through #36, continuing from Book One (issues #1-19) and focusing on escalating conflicts within the Trust's power struggles and Agent Graves' manipulations. The reprints aim to make the series more accessible to new readers through remastered collections under the Vertigo imprint, preserving the original artwork and narrative without alterations. At on October 9, 2025, announced a 2026 sequel series titled 100 Bullets: The of Anger, reuniting Azzarello and Risso to continue the story. The series centers on the character Lono's return to the , where he reignites widespread chaos by exploiting the country's underlying violent tendencies and social fractures. Set to launch in 2026 as part of 's revived Vertigo imprint, it expands the canon by exploring post-original events without revisiting or contradicting the 2009 series finale's resolution of the and arcs. Azzarello described the tone as emphasizing "a lot of blood" amid America's darker impulses, signaling a direct extension of the original's themes of revenge, loyalty, and institutional corruption.

References

  1. [1]
    GCD :: Series :: 100 Bullets - Grand Comics Database
    Publication Dates: August 1999 - April 2009; Number of Issues Published: 100 ... Vertigo (59 issues); Vertigo X (7 issues). Indicia Publishers: DC Comics ...
  2. [2]
    100 Bullets Book One (New Edition) by Brian Azzarello
    This dark and intriguing Eisner Award-winning series, written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Eduardo Risso, is now re-collected in 100 Bullets Book One!
  3. [3]
    100 Bullets: Split Second Chance - theLogBook.com
    Story: Agent Graves continues to offer victims of injustice an opportunity for retribution in the form of a gun and 100 untraceable bullets.<|separator|>
  4. [4]
    Classic Comic of the Week: 100 Bullets, Vol. 1 - First Shot, Last Call
    Apr 4, 2022 · Presents the stories of several people who were seriously hurt before being approached by Agent Graves, who offered each a gun, one hundred ...
  5. [5]
    "Croatoa": The Brutal History of 100 Bullets' Minutemen - Screen Rant
    Sep 27, 2023 · In the world of 100 Bullets, America is secretly ruled by a criminal cabal known as the Trust, a group of thirteen criminal families.
  6. [6]
    2002 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards - The Hahn Library
    100 Bullets #27: "Idol Chatter," by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso (DC/Vertigo); Optic Nerve #8: Bomb Scare," by Adrian Tomine (Drawn & Quarterly). Best ...
  7. [7]
    "100 Bullets" Makes Awards Salvo at 14th Annual Eisners
    Aug 7, 2002 · The critically acclaimed title captured the awards for Best Continuing Series, Best Penciller/Inker (Eduardo Risso), and Best Cover Artist (Dave ...
  8. [8]
    DC Vertigo: 100 Bullets US Of Anger by Brian Azzarello & Eduardo ...
    Oct 10, 2025 · 100 Bullets returns as The US Of Anger, reuniting Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso at DC Vertigo. · Lono is back in America, igniting violence ...
  9. [9]
    DC relaunches 100 Bullets with original creators - Popverse
    Oct 9, 2025 · DC relaunches 100 Bullets with original creators. The original creative team of Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso are back in place for Lono's ...<|separator|>
  10. [10]
    Brian Azzarello's 100 Bullets Runs Out of Ammo - WIRED
    Apr 14, 2009 · Brian Azzarello's gritty comic book series 100 Bullets has been dishing out pulpy, postmodern noir for nearly a decade.Missing: pulp MKUltra
  11. [11]
    Flashback: Brian Azzarello's 100 Bullets: An Appreciation
    Jul 13, 2014 · The look of 100 Bullets comes from the mind of Argentinean illustrator Eduardo Risso, whose drawings mirror Azzarello's story perfectly. It's ...Missing: influences pulp MKUltra
  12. [12]
    Exploring the cinematic storytelling of 100 Bullets - Facebook
    Apr 25, 2023 · Style exploration. One of my favorite comic book artists of all time is Eduardo Risso, his book "100 bullets" is an almost unrivaled masterpiece ...What did you think of 100 bullets?Has anyone read this comic book?More results from www.facebook.com
  13. [13]
    "100 Bullets" revisited, Part 1 of 3: Croatoa, MK Ultra, and the ...
    Jul 16, 2021 · This particular review looks at something a bit different – the critical plot device of the induced amnesia of some of the key characters.Missing: influences pulp film
  14. [14]
    Eduardo Risso, More Than Hundred Bullets
    Jul 17, 2006 · Risso began his career in 1981, and since then he has enlarged his curriculum with works of great quality published both in the European and ...
  15. [15]
    Batman Breaks His 'No Guns' Rule in a BIG Way in 100 Bullets ...
    Mar 16, 2024 · Risso is a master of black-and-white linework, and this Batman/100 Bullets piece highlights his stunning talent. Risso's chiaroscuro approach ...Missing: European | Show results with:European
  16. [16]
    100 Bullets (DC, 1999 series) #1 - GCD :: Issue
    $$2.50On-sale Date: 1999-06-02 ; Colors: Dave Johnson (signed as JØHNSØN ) ; Publisher's Brand: Vertigo; DC Comics ; Indicia / Colophon Publisher: DC Comics ; Indicia ...
  17. [17]
    100 Bullets (1999—2009) - DC Database - Fandom
    100 Bullets is an Eisner and Harvey Award-winning comic book written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Eduardo Risso. It is published by DC Comics under ...
  18. [18]
    100 Bullets (Volume) - Comic Vine
    May 28, 2023 · 100 Bullets » 100 issues ... Volume » Published by DC Comics. Started in 1999. ... 100 Bullets. Vertigo's 4th longest series after Hellblazer, Swamp ...
  19. [19]
    100 Bullets TPB (2000-2009 DC/Vertigo) comic books - MyComicShop
    4.9 113 · $12.95 deliveryVolume 1 - 1st printing. "First Shot, Last Call!" Collects 100 Bullets (1999) #1-5. Written by Brian Azzarello. Art by Eduardo Risso. 100 Bullets follows ...Missing: ISBN | Show results with:ISBN
  20. [20]
    100 BULLETS DELUXE EDITION BOOK ONE - DC Comics
    The first of five oversized, hardcover collections of the Eisner Award-winning 100 BULLETS collects issues #1-19 of the crime series!Missing: trade omnibus
  21. [21]
    100 BULLETS BOOK TWO - DC Comics
    6–7 day delivery Free 30-day returnsIn these stories from issues #20-36, Agent Graves presents an attaché case with a gun and 100 untraceable bullets to Milo Garret, a small-time private dick.<|separator|>
  22. [22]
    100 BULLETS BOOK THREE - DC Comics
    These stand-alone stories from issues #37-57 of the Eisner Award-winning series spotlight the major players in the story. Plus: the final fate of Loop Hughes!Missing: contents | Show results with:contents
  23. [23]
    100 BULLETS DELUXE EDITION BOOK FOUR - DC Comics
    In this new deluxe edition collecting 100 BULLETS #59-80, the Houses of the Trust are warily circling each other, looking for the right angle to take in ...Missing: issues | Show results with:issues
  24. [24]
    100 Bullets The Deluxe Edition Book Five - Amazon.com
    30-day returnsThe conclusion to Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso's critically acclaimed 100 BULLETS. How far would you go for revenge? If you were given a chance at ...
  25. [25]
    100 Bullets Book Two (2025 Edition) by Brian Azzarello
    Free delivery over $20 30-day returnsThis second of five volumes reprinting all 100 issues of writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso's 100 BULLETS collects issues #20-36 of their acclaimed ...
  26. [26]
    100 Bullets Omnibus Vol. 1 by Brian Azzarello
    In stock Free deliveryThis first of two volumes includes issues #1-58 of the award-winning series as well as the short story ``Merry Christmas, Bitches'' from Vertigo: Winter's Edge ...
  27. [27]
    100 Bullets Omnibus Vol. 2 by Brian Azzarello
    In stock Free delivery 30-day returnsThis second volume omnibus collects 100 Bullets #59-100! See More. Related Genres. Comics. Product Details. ISBN9781779514868. Published onJun 28, 2022.
  28. [28]
    100 Bullets: Brother Lono The Deluxe Edition - Amazon.com
    100 Bullets: Brother Lono: The Deluxe Edition collects the complete eight-issue series in oversized hardcover for the first time ever.
  29. [29]
    100 Bullets Deluxe Hardcover Editions Review | Insightful Jan
    Apr 27, 2025 · Each volume clocks in around 420 to 500+ pages, collecting roughly 19–23 issues each (the entire 100-issue run is neatly divided into five books) ...
  30. [30]
    100 Bullets (DC Vertigo) | LOGO Comics Wiki | Fandom
    ... comic book industry for its unique blend of crime, noir, and pulp fiction elements. Over its run, the series evolved from individual tales into a sprawling ...Missing: MKUltra | Show results with:MKUltra
  31. [31]
    Undemocratic Layout: Eight Methods of Accenting Images
    May 25, 2018 · In 100 Bullets, Eduardo Risso centers pairs of circular panels drawn in a contrastingly less detailed style and in a single color on a multi- ...Missing: cinematic influences
  32. [32]
    Some Careworn Hustler's Tomorrow — 100 Bullets Omnibus Review!
    Feb 22, 2021 · Sometimes slowly, sometimes all at once, Azzarello adds conspiracy, intrigue, machinations, and even straight-up McGuffins. All of which ...100 Bullets Omnibus Vol 1 · The Case · V. Fiction And Nonfiction
  33. [33]
    Interview with comic book author Brian Azzarello - Acid Logic ezine
    Dec 1, 2006 · An in-depth interview with the comic author behind 100 Bullets, Cage, El Diablo and Johnny Double.Missing: pitch | Show results with:pitch
  34. [34]
    100 Bullets | Research Starters - EBSCO
    The success and notoriety of Risso's European style helped lead to more non-American artists on Vertigo titles, including Riccardo Burchielli, Werther Dell ...
  35. [35]
    100 Bullets: Everything You Need To Know About The Twisted ...
    Oct 18, 2021 · The premise of 100 Bullets begins as a simple idea: a grizzled old man simply known as “Graves” walks up to a young woman, Dizzy Cordova, and ...
  36. [36]
    100 Bullets Volumes 1-13 (Graphic Novel Quest) - Faked Tales
    Feb 10, 2022 · The first meeting of Graves and someone for his 'game' in the series. 100 Bullets is primarily a question of morality, shown in different ways.Missing: premise | Show results with:premise
  37. [37]
    Comics We Love: Vertigo's '100 Bullets' By Brian Azzarello ...
    Oct 17, 2011 · The first three major story arcs, collected in the first Deluxe Hardcover from Vertigo, take the conceit of the untraceable bullets and begin ...<|separator|>
  38. [38]
    100 Bullets – Now Read This!
    Betrayed Minutemen commander Agent Graves didn't take his dismissal lying down and has been manipulating events and people to rectify that injustice ever since.
  39. [39]
    100 BULLETS #80 - DC Comics
    Dizzy Cordova has been through two lifetimes of pain. And Agent Graves, the man who pulls her strings whether Dizzy knows it or not, has one more for her to ...Missing: motivations twist
  40. [40]
    Recall Reviews – 100 Bullets #76-88, The Wicked + The Divine #13 ...
    Aug 13, 2015 · First up, I'll be talking about one of my favorite series of all time, 100 Bullets. This article will focus on issues #76-88, with the ...
  41. [41]
    Dust To Dust: 100 Bullets Fires One Last Shot With Issue #100
    Jan 20, 2023 · The series concluding on its centenary issue. In the grand finale all the surviving characters descend upon the villa of master antagonist Augustus Medici.Missing: resolution | Show results with:resolution
  42. [42]
    100 Bullets: Who Survived the Final Issue? - Screen Rant
    Oct 15, 2023 · The majority of 100 Bullets' cast didn't make it past the final page, with the issue itself containing the deaths of nearly all the remaining major characters.
  43. [43]
  44. [44]
    Characters in 100 Bullets - TV Tropes
    A member of the Trust who promoted Graves to agent of The Minutemen in the sixties. Better to Die than Be Killed: Swallows a handful of pills after Vasco ...
  45. [45]
    Lono - 100 Bullets Wiki - Fandom
    Lono is an ultra-violent, sadistic man prone to enjoying committing such cruelties as torture and rape in the process of pursuing his own ends.
  46. [46]
    Echo Memoria (100 Bullets) - DC Database - Fandom
    Echo Memoria (100 Bullets) ; Gender. Female ; Eyes. Green ; Hair. Black ; Universe. 100 Bullets ; Creators. Brian Azzarello · Eduardo Risso ...
  47. [47]
    "The Most Successful Cartel in History": Who are the Trust in 100 ...
    Dec 29, 2023 · Unbeknownst to the Trust, however, the Vasco family at some point decides to work with the Medici, and Agent Graves to divide and conquer the ...
  48. [48]
    Megan Dietrich (100 Bullets) - DC Database - Fandom
    Affiliation. Member of the Trust ; Identity. Public Identity ; Citizenship. American ; Marital Status. Single ; Occupation. Femme Fatale · entrepreneur ...
  49. [49]
    The Trust (Team) - Comic Vine
    Jun 3, 2023 · A secret society composed of thirteen families which can only be described as "very old, very powerful and very dirty" It's origins go back ...
  50. [50]
    100 BULLETS BOOK ONE - DC Comics
    In the opening chapters, Dizzy Cordova is given the chance to avenge her family's murders, and a downtrodden bartender receives the opportunity to exact revenge ...Missing: Minutemen | Show results with:Minutemen
  51. [51]
    100 Bullets Vol. 6: Six Feet Under the Gun - Amazon.com
    Book details ; Part of Series. 100 Bullets ; Print length. 144 pages ; Language. English ; Publisher. Vertigo ; Publication date. October 1, 2003.
  52. [52]
    Amazon.com: 100 Bullets Vol. 10: Decayed eBook
    30-day returnsThe noir masterpiece continues in 100 BULLETS VOL. 10: DECAYED, collecting issues #68-75 of the acclaimed Vertigo series. Following Lono's ascension to ...Missing: arcs Ear Gaza
  53. [53]
    100 Bullets Summary - eNotes.com
    Eduardo Risso's artwork distinguishes "100 Bullets" with its unconventional perspectives and stylized realism. By incorporating angles rarely seen in comic art, ...
  54. [54]
    100 Bullets, revisited (Part 2 of 3) - Brother Lono (2014)
    Sep 19, 2025 · Brother Lono is a violence-riddled crime story set in Durango, Mexico. · In this postscript story, Mr Azzarello zags when we thought he might ...
  55. [55]
    Showtime Teams With David Goyer For Drama Based On Comic ...
    Jun 20, 2011 · EXCLUSIVE: Comic book/graphic novel adaptation master David S. Goyer is taking on 100 Bullets as a potential TV series.Missing: proposals | Show results with:proposals
  56. [56]
    100 Bullets is "An Important Piece" for Showtime - IGN
    Aug 4, 2011 · Showtime's president comments on their potential TV adaptation of the acclaimed comic book 100 Bullets.
  57. [57]
    Tom Hardy to Star in '100 Bullets' Adaptation for New Line
    Aug 11, 2015 · The project is already down the line in development, having a script by Chris Borrelli, whose credits include the recent supernatural horror ...
  58. [58]
    Brian Azzarello has given up waiting for a 100 Bullets movie or TV ...
    Jul 3, 2024 · Brian Azzarello doesn't let movie & TV adaptations guide him on what comics are successful or not, even 100 Bullets.Missing: techniques | Show results with:techniques
  59. [59]
    100 Bullets T-Shirt (XL) - Westfield Comics
    Out of stockNo Longer Available. Description: The world created by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso comes to light on the new 100 Bullets T-Shirt.
  60. [60]
    'Brother Lono': The '100 Bullets' spinoff offers first look - Digital Spy
    May 24, 2013 · Brother Lono has offered a first look at its artwork. Vertigo has previewed the covers of Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso's follow-up to ...
  61. [61]
    REVIEW: 100 Bullets: Brother Lono #2 - Major Spoilers
    Jul 22, 2013 · After two issues it is apparent that there has been a major transformation from the Lono fans of 100 Bullets knew and the Lono in this spin-off.Missing: details | Show results with:details
  62. [62]
    A review of 100 Bullets: First Shot, Last Call by Brian Azzarello and ...
    Apr 3, 2005 · Brian Azzarello's story is top-notch and is written with a street dialogue that even Elmore Leonard might envy. Eduardo Risso's artwork is ...
  63. [63]
    100 Bullets | The Hooded Utilitarian
    Oct 14, 2008 · In the first place, Eduardo Risso's art is lousy. The figures are stiff, the anatomy is shaky, the layouts are cluttered and confusing, and ...Missing: visual | Show results with:visual
  64. [64]
    100 Bullets: The Deluxe Edition Book I | Slings & Arrows
    Many DC hardback editions are packed with extra features, but that isn't the case here. There are some character design sketches from Risso, but many of ...
  65. [65]
    This is one of my favorite comic books. However, I dont see many ...
    Jul 15, 2021 · 100 Bullets is one of my only remaining classic Vertigo blind spots alongside Peter Milligan's Shade the Changing Man. But Azzarello is very, ...
  66. [66]
    Book review: 100 Bullets: The Deluxe Edition Book IV - Yeah nah.
    Apr 28, 2019 · This volume does seem to up the level of misanthropy, misogyny and nihilism, so I can see that it wouldn't be a welcome read for everyone.Missing: comic | Show results with:comic<|separator|>
  67. [67]
    What'a this sub's take on 100 Bullets? Like if anyone ever read the ...
    Aug 28, 2023 · The hard boiled noir talk meets modern slang can be brutally bad. Damn near ruins the book but somehow doesn't and ends up being worth a read.
  68. [68]
    100 Bullets - Wilt - The Blog of Delights
    Jul 23, 2016 · 100 Bullets ends up as the comic strip ... Meanwhile, hitman Will Slaughter (oh my sides) is trying to dismantle Graves's operation.
  69. [69]
    Finished 100 Bullets. Very confused though (lots of questions ...
    Jun 18, 2015 · Assuming that Agent Graves gave him this information, how did he not regain his memory about being a minuteman? Was it because Wylie didn't ...<|separator|>
  70. [70]
    Awards | 100 Bullets Wiki - Fandom
    Eisner Awards won by 100 Bullets include: 2001 Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story (100 Bullets #15-18: "Hang Up on the Hang Low"); 2002 Eisner Award ...Harvey Awards · Eisner Awards
  71. [71]
    Harvey Award Winners Summary - The Hahn Library
    2002 100 Bullets (DC Comics) 2003 League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill (America's Best Comics/DC Comics) 2004 League of ...
  72. [72]
    DC Comics dominates Harvey Awards - The Oklahoman
    May 10, 2002 · Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso, both of "100 Bullets," won for best writer and artist, respectively. "100 Bullets" was also named best ...
  73. [73]
    Criminal (comics) | Research Starters - EBSCO
    Brubaker and Phillips's Criminal ... 100 Bullets. Thus, Criminal shifts American crime comics away from the continuing influence of superheroes.
  74. [74]
    Crime comics studied in 'The Dark Night Returns' | RIT
    ... influential works like Frank Miller's Sin City, Brian Azzarello's 100 Bullets and Ed Brubaker's Criminal. The author also discusses how the comic noir influence ...
  75. [75]
    DC Unveils Ten Bold New Comic Book Series in Its DC Vertigo ...
    Oct 9, 2025 · DC today revealed the ten DC Vertigo comic book series that will publish in 2026, beginning in February, during its NYCC panel “DC Vertigo: ...
  76. [76]
    100 BULLETS TP (2025 EDITION) (MR) BOOK 02 - Previews World
    This second of five volumes reprinting all 100 issues of writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso's 100 Bullets collects issues #20-36 of their ...
  77. [77]
    NYCC 2025: DC Vertigo reveals lineup and 'A New Beginning ...
    Oct 9, 2025 · Also announced was 100 Bullets: The US of Anger by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso. “A lot of blood, blood, blood,” Azzarello said. “Some ...
  78. [78]
    100 BULLETS: BROTHER LONO - DC Comics
    Official DC Comics page for the Brother Lono miniseries, confirming it as a sequel set in the world of 100 Bullets by the same creative team.