“On Accidental Purpose”
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artists: Eduardo Risso (p), Patricia Mulvihill (c)
Publisher: DC Comics/Vertigo Imprint
Plot:
Ladies and gentleman. Dizzy’s back in town! Dizzy comes back from wherever she had been and hooks up with her old friends. Where she was is hinted at, but not fully revealed in this issue. Meanwhile Agent Graves meets with another guy, an agent by the name of Shepherd who knows Dizzy. Graves has an assignment for Shepherd but this too is misleading. The assignment has something to do about Lono. Meanwhile Dizzy goes back to her mother’s house and finds that her mother’s been gone from the house for more than six months. An intriguing mystery no doubt.
Comments:
HUH? I know what you’re thinking: “What the hell is he talking about?” To tell you the truth, I don’t really understand it myself. The characters’ actions and dialogue are misleading; their connections remain in shadow. I completed this review after my second reading of this issue. I have been following 100 Bullets since issue thirty-one and each time I read an issue, I have to re–read it because I either don’t fully realize what’s happening or I’ve missed some miniscule detail in the artwork. This comic is on the point of being indescribable. If you haven’t read an issue of 100 Bullets, this is the perfect place to start. The first issue of six, stand-alone one-shots about different people in the 100 Bullets universe. Combining mystery, realistic characters, dialogue and art that transcend any other comic, 100 Bullets goes the extra mile to tell an intriguing well thought-out tale.
From the whimsical title ‘On Accidental Purpose’ (not unlike the film title ‘True Lies’), the story, that being the plot and dialogue, is as strange as the title. What Brian Azzarello creates is witty, misleading dialogue that makes you re–read sentences more than once. You want to because you know you’ve missed something. I don’t know how he does it but Brian Azzarello is the Quentin Tarantino of comic-book scriptwriting. I have never come across anyone who handles misleading storytelling as well as Mr. Azzarello. The characters finish each other’s sentences, they hint at things in the past that haven’t been revealed yet to the reader and they are direct. Never have I read a comic that transcends the standards month after month with its combination of realistic dialogue and clever artwork.
The artwork by Risso and Mulvihill is inspiring. It complements the writing and sets the mood for the story. The artwork in itself completes the storytelling. They make you realize that this is a real world where your actions will have consequences. Fantastic! That’s the only word I can think of to describe the artwork. From the signs on the walls to the clothing and appearances of different characters, the art really comes off as unique and thoughtful.
Final Word:
What more can I say? Do yourself a favor and pick this up. You’ll be amazed at what you can do in this storytelling medium. It is indeed different and unique. Nothing like you have ever read before. It may just be the greatest book published right now. Read and enjoy and tell me what you think.
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