Eduardo Risso

This is the first 100 Bullets installment—though, to be honest, it's 100 Bullets adjacent at best—that doesn't earn a 5-star from me.

The art is still up to the usual calibre, the colouring is glorious, and the writing is sharp and witty. Unfortunately, in this one, the story is a somewhat tired one that's been used time and time again. It doesn't help that Lono was never even close to my favourite character from the group that ran through the series. I always found him a bit more of a caricature than a character.

Still, we see Lono trying to, if not atone for his sins, at least leave them in his rearview. So, of course you know that resolve is going to be tested. I think, for me, the thing that was missing was the agonizing over falling back into that old lifestyle. If he really wanted to change, we should have seen more struggle at falling backward.

Just me, though.

Overall, a vicious yarn, and quite cinematic, but it didn't seem to hold the same crackle as the main series.… (meer)

This is the end
Beautiful friend
This is the end
My only friend, the end
Of our elaborate plans, the end
Of everything that stands, the end
No safety or surprise, the end
- The End, The Doors

And, after 100 issues, collected into (fittingly) 13 trades, the story of the Trust and the Minutemen comes to an end—well, aside from the Brother Lono coda that I'm about to start—and I'm impressed, I'm elated, I'm exhausted, and I'm bummed.

I will say, the convoluted twists and turns in the last couple of collections do get a bit confusing, but this one lays it all out and explains it all. And, even better?

I knew how this was all gonna end. Absolutely had it nailed.

And, in one final, impressive stroke, they pulled one final twist on me...because it did not end as I expected.

This is very likely my favourite graphic novel series, ever.… (meer)