Show notes
"It was a different time." That seems to be the motto for this month’s episode of Collecting Issues.Join Michael and Benjamin as they crack open the briefcase on 100 Bullets: First Shot, Last Call. Published in 1999 by Vertigo Comics, this multi-Eisner and Harvey Award-winning series by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso was hailed as a gritty crime revolution. But does it hold up in 2026?We dive deep into the first two story arcs, discussing the intriguing "John Wick-style" premise: If you were given a gun, 100 untraceable bullets, and proof of who ruined your life, would you take revenge?In this episode, we discuss:The Premise: Agent Graves and his devil’s bargain.The Art of Eduardo Risso: Noir shadows, distinct silhouettes, and the "Risso Grin."A Product of the 90s: Why the dialogue, racial depictions, and female anatomy feel like a time capsule of "grim and gritty" 90s media (comparisons to Sin City and Pulp Fiction included).The Story Arcs: Dizzy Cordova’s return to the streets and the Black Mirror-esque tragedy of Lee Dolan.The Verdict: Is the overarching conspiracy enough to keep us reading despite the "cringe" factor?Next Month’s Read: We are cleansing the palette with Absolute Martian Manhunter Vol. 1 by Deniz Camp & Javier Rodríguez and diving into the source material for Ryan Murphy’s The Beauty.Follow the Podcast:Join the Discord and read alongRead Our SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TiktokWatch us on YoutubeIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps more than you know!Time Stamps:00:00 Introduction to Jim Steranko's Influence00:54 Welcome to Collecting Issues01:47 Trigger Warnings and Spoilers Ahead03:01 The Eisner Awards and 100 Bullets03:58 Personal Context and 90s Comic Culture07:37 The Neo-Noir Influence13:10 Exploring the Anthology Format19:53 Eduardo Risso's Distinctive Art Style28:54 The Intriguing Premise of 100 Bullets32:18 Exploring Narrative Tropes in '100 Bullets'32:49 Dizzy Cordova's Tragic Story34:35 Agent Graves and the Devil's Bargain35:28 Critique of Eduardo Rizzo's Art and Dialogue36:33 Dizzy's Return and Family Dynamics37:11 Setting and Cultural Depictions43:38 Moral Dilemmas and Storytelling Mechanics46:00 Introduction to Meghan Dietrich48:09 Lee Dolan's Downfall57:22 Comparisons to Sin City59:00 Final Thoughts and Future Reads Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
