By Azzarello & Risso
Publisher: Vertigo
ISBN: 9781401245061
I’d originally presumed this was a prequel, or at the very least a parallel tale, to the main 100 Bullets story arc, but Lono appears to be bearing many physical and emotional scars at the beginning of this book, one of which directly links to the bloody conclusion of Azzarello and Risso’s modern masterpiece.
Lono has holed up in Mexico, taking stock, healing, and reflecting on his actions. To some degree he’s found a kind of peace, and a balance that works for him, which combines living in the outbuilding of an orphanage, confiding in a priest, and embarking on a begrudging friendship with the local sheriff. The latter offers him a free bed in the cells following a night on the town, which Lono regularly takes up, and so, for many months, a strange sense of calm settles on his life.
Naturally, things aren’t going to stay that way. A local drug cartel is sinking its hooks into the church and orphanage, while from across the border a nun arrives to work who may not be everything she first appears to be. Plus there’s a killer on a long leash, working for the cartel, who’s guaranteed to make you squirm. Wait until you see the head-peeling. As the players make their moves around him Lono looks on and contemplates the fragile peace he’s found and just who he is inside.
Lono was one of the stand-out characters from 100 Bullets, and it’s good to see him back under the original creators' guidance. Typically for Azzarello and Risso, it’s a fantastic blend of blood, hate, greed and vengeance, run through with razor-sharp dialogue and exquisite illustrations. A welcome return indeed.
And if you liked that: Try Azzarello and Risso’s Spaceman
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