What Am I Reading?

Hidy ho, neighbourino!

I realize June was a little bit thin in the blog department, but I do have a life, you know? -- at least I'm trying to.

Yesterday I completed, (reading, not writing -- I wish), book #11 of what is, in my opinion, one of the best graphic novels of all time, bar-none, "100 Bullets."

For those of you not in the know, "100 Bullets" is an ongoing saga, (now over, though not yet for me), penned by the master crime-noirist, (my term), Brian Azzarello and illustrated by his supremely awesome other half, Eduardo Risso. Honestly, where one ends and the other begins in this Heaven-sent collaboration, I shall never dare speculate.

Book #11, entitled, "Once Upon a Crime", encompasses issues 76-83 of the increasingly complicated saga, (don't come in on this one, newbies, you'll be lost), and sports a killer introduction by none-other than Tom Fontana, (no slouch in his own right). The guy created one of my favourite show of all time, (Oz), along with a little show called Homicide: Life on The Street, not to mention a few others.

The series was always intended to go 100 issues, (or 'bullets'), which means I have only two more culminations to devour before saying goodbye to Agent Graves, Dizzy Cordova, Lono, Loop, Mr. Shepperd, (technically already dead, but still popping up on occasion), and the rest of The Trust and The Minutemen. Boy will that be a sad day.

But I digress.

Book #11 delves deeply into the origins of Mr. Sheppard, who met with an ugly, (and extremely cool), demise a few books back, along with the building showdown between the Minutemen and The Trust, which I've been waiting for since...well, at least Book #4 or 5. Not that I'm complaining. That would be like begrudging a spectacular meal cuz it wasn't the rich creamy desert. Speaking of which, Italian temptress, Echo returns in this installment, looking sexy as ever. I know she's a drawing but this girl makes Jessica Rabbit look like...well, still hot too, but a little on the plain side, if you ask me. I can't wait to see where her and her myterious painting fit in to the final picture. But if I've taken anything away from this masterpice of art, literature and pure pulpy goodness, it's that patience is the name of this game.

And it's one well worth playing.

But be warned, you may get a bit dirty.

D.A.