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100 Balas #8
100 Bullets, Vol. 8: The Hard Way
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).
Collecting Issues #50-58.
Collecting Issues #50-58.
224 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2004
12 people are currently reading
719 people want to read
About the author
Brian Azzarello
1,288 books1,105 followersBrian Azzarello (born in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American comic book writer. He came to prominence with 100 Bullets, published by DC Comics' mature-audience imprint Vertigo. He and Argentine artist Eduardo Risso, with whom Azzarello first worked on Jonny Double, won the 2001 Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story for 100 Bullets #15–18: "Hang Up on the Hang Low".
Azzarello has written for Batman ("Broken City", art by Risso; "Batman/Deathblow: After the Fire", art by Lee Bermejo, Tim Bradstreet, & Mick Gray) and Superman ("For Tomorrow", art by Jim Lee).
In 2005, Azzarello began a new creator-owned series, the western Loveless, with artist Marcelo Frusin.
As of 2007, Azzarello is married to fellow comic-book writer and illustrator Jill Thompson.
information taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Az...
Azzarello has written for Batman ("Broken City", art by Risso; "Batman/Deathblow: After the Fire", art by Lee Bermejo, Tim Bradstreet, & Mick Gray) and Superman ("For Tomorrow", art by Jim Lee).
In 2005, Azzarello began a new creator-owned series, the western Loveless, with artist Marcelo Frusin.
As of 2007, Azzarello is married to fellow comic-book writer and illustrator Jill Thompson.
information taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Az...
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
May 16, 2023
Back to the core story as another Minuteman is reactivated; this sees the mysteries around The Trust become less entangled. Wylie needs to pick a side? Returning full pelt into the core story line sees the series back to its best 8 out of 12, Four Stars.
2011 and 2017 read
2011 and 2017 read
January 7, 2009
Going backwards in a series as tightly-written as this – 100 Bullets being more of a serialized novel in graphic form than anything else – makes me a little unnerved. But as I couldn’t get my desperately grubby hands on a copy of volume eight due to there only being one measly copy in the entire Seattle Public Library system, I had to venture forth and consume volumes nine through twelve without having read this one. Which, it turns out, is pivotal point in the entire one hundred issue narrative.
The Hard Way begins with issue fifty – which is not only the exact middle of the series, but is double-sized in length. And, oh, what a glorious issue this is. In this beautifully-wrought stand-alone issue, I finally got my heart’s desire: the revelation of the mysterious origins of the thirteen families of the Trust, their involvement with the ill-fated Roanoke Colony (a real-life mystery that I first heard back in my high school American History class), and the significance of the word Kroatoa that awakens the long-dormant Minutemen in the present 100 Bullets story-line.
After this long-overdue back-story, the rest of this volume – except for the last stand-alone issue that ends it – is devoted to Wylie, one of the remaining Minutemen who has been waylaid in the Big Easy. Without spoiling anything, this first story-arc that begins the last half of the series has some surprising twists and turns that clearly point us in the direction of where plot of 100 Bullets is heading. Which is no doubt to a very gruesome and cathartic end, by my reckoning.
As the tipping point in this series, we the readers are finally able to gaze upon the summit upon which Azzarello and Risso have been leading us to with The Hard Way. And the view is breath-taking, indeed.
The Hard Way begins with issue fifty – which is not only the exact middle of the series, but is double-sized in length. And, oh, what a glorious issue this is. In this beautifully-wrought stand-alone issue, I finally got my heart’s desire: the revelation of the mysterious origins of the thirteen families of the Trust, their involvement with the ill-fated Roanoke Colony (a real-life mystery that I first heard back in my high school American History class), and the significance of the word Kroatoa that awakens the long-dormant Minutemen in the present 100 Bullets story-line.
After this long-overdue back-story, the rest of this volume – except for the last stand-alone issue that ends it – is devoted to Wylie, one of the remaining Minutemen who has been waylaid in the Big Easy. Without spoiling anything, this first story-arc that begins the last half of the series has some surprising twists and turns that clearly point us in the direction of where plot of 100 Bullets is heading. Which is no doubt to a very gruesome and cathartic end, by my reckoning.
As the tipping point in this series, we the readers are finally able to gaze upon the summit upon which Azzarello and Risso have been leading us to with The Hard Way. And the view is breath-taking, indeed.
July 3, 2023
A solid story that we go deep into Wylie turf as we learn about his past and why he's so fucked up. Also Shepard and Diz become big factor into his storyline. The whole storyline feels a bit disjointed but the ending is pretty fucked up yet somehow happy. Then we get one final issue, that you'd think is disconnected from this storyline but it is the topper and man oh man is it fucked up. Good stuff to end on for sure for the Omnibus.
June 7, 2015
#50-58
Over 50 issues in, and we get one of the true 'Oh Shit!' moments in the series.
Over 50 issues in, and we get one of the true 'Oh Shit!' moments in the series.
January 29, 2025
One of the highlights of the series.
Serial layabout and screw up Wylie times ends up in new Orleans with the attache and some ghosts of his past.
He find dizzy, shepherd, and a whole lot of trouble.
Fantastic character development brilliant pacing. Heart wrenching twists and turns. Superb dialogue laugh out loud banter. And tremendous evocatice art dripping with atmosphere like the louisiana swamps themselves.
Serial layabout and screw up Wylie times ends up in new Orleans with the attache and some ghosts of his past.
He find dizzy, shepherd, and a whole lot of trouble.
Fantastic character development brilliant pacing. Heart wrenching twists and turns. Superb dialogue laugh out loud banter. And tremendous evocatice art dripping with atmosphere like the louisiana swamps themselves.
December 22, 2023
A pivotal volume, particularly the 50th issue, where the origin of the Trust and the Minute Men is discussed. The connection between various characters is starting to become more clear and the series now feels like a whole rather than an anthology of short stories featuring briefcases full of bullets. I’m hooked!
May 12, 2024
All those great side characters, with their sad stories. New Orleans is such a location, it comes with it’s own soundtrack.
November 12, 2020
Couldn't sleep last night so finished Vol 7 to 13 overnight. I only finished because I kept thinking "there's a reason this is so well-regarded and I'll find it at any time. Nope. Hard to keep people straight when there are 'main' characters introduced and dead before the one issue they're in is over. and the plot? I don't even know what the actual plot was other than by the end I didn't care anymore. weird morality plays and double and triple crosses that just made you want the story to be over but you're on book 67.
It's still good to look at but the story itself was definitely lacking.
And if I get started on specifics it's going to be spoiler and since I didn't take notes on which book was which I can't be bothered to find it out. All of the reviews will be the same both for words and score.
It's still good to look at but the story itself was definitely lacking.
And if I get started on specifics it's going to be spoiler and since I didn't take notes on which book was which I can't be bothered to find it out. All of the reviews will be the same both for words and score.
December 17, 2018
I only care about the grand mystery, which is thankfully the focus of this volume (for the most part). It also starts to get a bit confusing in this volume, though, because we’re meant to be keeping track of all these different characters, some of whom don’t know who they are themselves, and there aren’t very many references back to anyone. There are so many subplots and side characters introduced only so they can be killed in a ridiculous way, and it muddies what might otherwise be a decent series.
October 4, 2011
Shit goes down. Croatoa. . . enough said.
October 31, 2016
The over-arching plot was expanded much more in this collection, and I enjoyed that development.
September 17, 2018
Great music can come from very unexpected sources. Bear traps are dangerous.
May 3, 2022
(Zero spoiler review for the omnibus this story arc collects) 4.5/5
I was really looking forward to this. I was holding this one back for a rainy day. One of those reads that you just know you're going to love, so you don't want to burn it too quickly. Once read, it can never again be read for the first time. Now, over the last year or so since its release, there were plenty of times I began to doubt Azarello's ability to deliver on this, for I've read some absolute stinkers from him. Though it wouldn't be the first time that someone was really good at writing a down and dirty crime noir, yet didn't have the chops to deliver, say, a long run on a female superhero...
But on to 100 Bullets. I know when I'm absolutely on board with a comic, when rather than read at my usual pace, I linger on panels, pages. I read things over and over again, not because they're ridiculous or don't make sense, but because they're so bloody good. Because I'm completely immersed in the story, or maybe because there is a rather fetching young lady featured on the page (and there are quite a few of those featured throughout).
I had minimal experience with Risso's artwork before this, although despite him being very much a love him or hate him type artist, I was instantly on board with his style. It suited the story and Azarello's writing down to a T. This only grew as the run continued, and the guy's chops and style improved. Some of the artwork and colouring in the final runs collected here were stunning, causing more of those lingering stares. And yeah, the guy knows how to draw a seedy, yet sexy looking woman, that's for sure.
Whilst a few issues towards the end certainly weren't as good as the opening salvo's, and the prevalence and quality of the dialogue wasn't as strong at the end of the book as the beginning, but nearly sixty issues of quality street level noir with the same artist is something I can't quite accurately describe how happy it makes me. If this didn't live up to my expectations, I would've been crushed. But thankfully, 100 Bullets is one of the greatest collections I've had the fortune to read thus far, and absolutely and unequivocally belongs on every respecting comic book fans shelf. If you've never read it, stop what ever you are doing (probably reading this review) and get it. When it goes OOP, can't imagine it will get a reprint anytime soon. 4.5/5
OmniBen.
I was really looking forward to this. I was holding this one back for a rainy day. One of those reads that you just know you're going to love, so you don't want to burn it too quickly. Once read, it can never again be read for the first time. Now, over the last year or so since its release, there were plenty of times I began to doubt Azarello's ability to deliver on this, for I've read some absolute stinkers from him. Though it wouldn't be the first time that someone was really good at writing a down and dirty crime noir, yet didn't have the chops to deliver, say, a long run on a female superhero...
But on to 100 Bullets. I know when I'm absolutely on board with a comic, when rather than read at my usual pace, I linger on panels, pages. I read things over and over again, not because they're ridiculous or don't make sense, but because they're so bloody good. Because I'm completely immersed in the story, or maybe because there is a rather fetching young lady featured on the page (and there are quite a few of those featured throughout).
I had minimal experience with Risso's artwork before this, although despite him being very much a love him or hate him type artist, I was instantly on board with his style. It suited the story and Azarello's writing down to a T. This only grew as the run continued, and the guy's chops and style improved. Some of the artwork and colouring in the final runs collected here were stunning, causing more of those lingering stares. And yeah, the guy knows how to draw a seedy, yet sexy looking woman, that's for sure.
Whilst a few issues towards the end certainly weren't as good as the opening salvo's, and the prevalence and quality of the dialogue wasn't as strong at the end of the book as the beginning, but nearly sixty issues of quality street level noir with the same artist is something I can't quite accurately describe how happy it makes me. If this didn't live up to my expectations, I would've been crushed. But thankfully, 100 Bullets is one of the greatest collections I've had the fortune to read thus far, and absolutely and unequivocally belongs on every respecting comic book fans shelf. If you've never read it, stop what ever you are doing (probably reading this review) and get it. When it goes OOP, can't imagine it will get a reprint anytime soon. 4.5/5
OmniBen.
December 20, 2017
Back to the main plot with the trust and the minutemen.
We get the back story for the whole organization, for its fist inception, at the age of the kingdoms and before the Americas and that was great and interesting!
The revival of the lost souls and the big twist at the end... great stuff! :)
I think one of the best or maybe the best volume so far.
We get the back story for the whole organization, for its fist inception, at the age of the kingdoms and before the Americas and that was great and interesting!
The revival of the lost souls and the big twist at the end... great stuff! :)
...Kingdoms come and go and the only way to last forever is to not ever exists. See a king may rule but the real power is in the hands A those who can make or break 'em. That's been the way it is FOREVER
Croatoa
I think one of the best or maybe the best volume so far.
June 10, 2023
Con este arco me ha pasado que de repente todas las cosas empezaron a tener sentido y fue literalmente un "pará, pará, pará". Apenas lo terminé releí los otros tomos y al fin descubrí la forma en que Azzarello viene escribiendo la historia y es increíble.
El autor nos estuvo dando toda la información todo el tiempo, pero claro, la daba suelta, toda desconectada, con lo cual era imposible seguirla. Ahora con lo que sabemos todos los eventos y comentarios que anteriormente parecían al pasar, cobran nueva relevancia.
Esto me encantó. Verdaderamente me voló la cabeza y me enganchó para continuar leyendo más de la saga.
El autor nos estuvo dando toda la información todo el tiempo, pero claro, la daba suelta, toda desconectada, con lo cual era imposible seguirla. Ahora con lo que sabemos todos los eventos y comentarios que anteriormente parecían al pasar, cobran nueva relevancia.
Esto me encantó. Verdaderamente me voló la cabeza y me enganchó para continuar leyendo más de la saga.
July 22, 2018
Esse volume me deixou de queixo, literalmente, caído. É triste nos despedirmos de personagens que são marcantes, cuja presença sempre nos deixa um gosto forte - seja ele doce ou amargo - na boca. A história realmente avançou muito nesse volume, mas, mesmo assim, e talvez por isso mesmo, nós faça ter cada vez mais vontade de saber onde tudo o que Azzarello e Risso vão nos levar daqui em diante. A arte, como sempre, imersiva e as cores, impecáveis. Este arco está entre os melhores que já li. Não apenas dessa história, mas de muitas outras. Recomendo muito!
May 3, 2019
Everything comes together revealing answers that just leaves more questions. So many great interactions and character moments that just drops my jaw and doesn't let up with the shock and surprises. What started as a noir anthology showcasing the best themes and style isnpired by Will Eisner goes full on epic in this volume as the stakes escalate. Definitely worth the build up from the rest of the series
December 22, 2023
Na na na na, dame 20 estrellas por favor. Una aplanadora. Insoltable de principio a fin. Se revelan unas cuantas cosas y empieza a salir a flote los distintos bandos y las jugadas de poder que están pasando en las sombras. Un lujo de tensión, suspenso, violencia y un Risso dejando todo con Mulvihill creando unos climas impactantes. Es un lujo total.
March 2, 2024
As always top notch, just perfect
Great Great Great. All the volumes so far have been absolutely fantastic. The writing above all is just spectacular. The story the dialogue all of it. The art is also done so perfectly its just to me the perfectly told and so far drawn and everything you can ask for in a comic or any reading material
Great Great Great. All the volumes so far have been absolutely fantastic. The writing above all is just spectacular. The story the dialogue all of it. The art is also done so perfectly its just to me the perfectly told and so far drawn and everything you can ask for in a comic or any reading material
May 23, 2017
The strongest installment in the series, so far, for me. The catchy hook of earlier issues has been put on a bac-k-burner as Azzarello delves deep into the brutal world of the people behind the briefcases, handguns, and bullets.
November 5, 2017
Now how cool was this collection?
Started out with so-so history blabbering, gained momentum so quickly, got so violent and highly emotional and dramatic and left hanging with that cliffhanger. Incredible.
Started out with so-so history blabbering, gained momentum so quickly, got so violent and highly emotional and dramatic and left hanging with that cliffhanger. Incredible.
August 10, 2019
Amazing read, couldn’t stop reading. Slowly but surely, the bigger picture is revealed. A major character dies in this book, but I really felt for what happened to a minor one. All in all, a tight story, bringing elements together from the previous books. The art was magnificent as always.
January 21, 2022
Story is just getting better. I don't if i'm not a good reader or i really loved this, but i really can't find any loose ends on this. Every character mean something. Just loved Gabe, and loved Risso's New Orleans.
March 30, 2025
I never really followed this volume, perhaps because I missed some issues. The storyline is not as deep as I had wanted, and my enthusiasm to read the next issue is diminished. I hope there's redemption ahead.
June 1, 2017
Simply terrifying.
Someone shattered the mast of your ship? Not a problem. Here, take 100 bullets & a handgun, and avenge.
Someone shattered the mast of your ship? Not a problem. Here, take 100 bullets & a handgun, and avenge.
April 2, 2018
Even gorier than most of its predecessors. wonderful New Orleans ambiance, and some interesting new background on the trust.
November 13, 2018
This arc might be my favorite so far. Great twists. Heart wrenching tragedy. Just a fun read.
January 5, 2019
Excelente. Wylie Times, que personaje.
April 5, 2019
HOLY SHIT
September 26, 2022
My faourite volume so far. More emotional than the rest of them.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews