STORY ARCS
This page's purpose is to provide summaries and explanations for the different story arcs in chronological order. The beauty of 100 Bullets is that all the stories are inter-connected and everything will add up in the end. Thus it is important to understand what is going on, but these are just summaries and it is still best to read the comics yourself. Since whatever is written here is based on my own understanding, others who know that some info is wrong or know the answers to some of the questions, please do let me know here. Please note that Single Issue stories are not found here.
#1 - #3 "100 Bullets"
What's It About: Recently released "Dizzy" Cordova is met by Agent Graves, who tells her that her husband and child (Hector and Santiago) were murdered by two police officers and not by a 'drive-by' which was previously assumed. Graves gives her the 100 untraceable bullets for her own discretion.
What Happens: Dizzy gets in touch with his mother, friends and most importantly his brother Emilio. Emilio is a gangster with a rising reputation among the different gangster groups Five-Oh, O.G.s, and The Kings. To gain the necessary footing, Emilio took up the offer which Hector refused from the two police officers, so that they could work together for a truce among the groups. Emilio was part of the murder of Hector and his son by supplying information on where he would be and later he started transporting Heroin, and mass-murdering a bunch of O.G.s who were trying to stop him. When the two officers Morgan and Swirski finally decided that Emilio can no longer be trusted, they attempt to kill him. Dizzy uses her sanctioned power to kill the two officers and leave her brother to the cops. Finally, she leaves with Mr. Shepherd.
Perplexing Questions:
1. What did the two officers have to gain from working with either Hector or Emilio?
2. Who bailed Dizzy out when she was arrested in #2?
Quotable Quotes: "You clearly believe in payback -- so settle the god-damn bill." - Shepherd -
#4 - #5 "Shot, Water Back"
What's It About: Lee Dolan, a man who was framed for possession of child pornography, is Mr. Graves' new whipping boy. Mr. Dolan receives his 100 bullets to kill the person who framed him - Megan Dietrich of The Trust.
What Happens: Lee works as a bartender in a small rundown pub. When Graves tips him that Megan Dietrich will be visiting his pub to celebrate her birthday, Lee sees this as his big chance. Despite having the full intention of killing her on that night, Lee instead stole her 'The Trust' brooch which all members of the Trust carry. Lee then goes to Megan, pretending that he is returning the brooch, but later points the gun right at her. Megan uses all her cunning to persuade Lee to forget the revenge and settle for some illegal compensation (pumping up his bank account). Lee Dolan gives up his gun and pays the ultimate price - with his life.
Megan now knows that Agent Graves is still alive...
Interesting Thoughts: It's a pity that Lee didn't know that he could have used the gun and kill Megan anytime he wanted even when other people were around. He'll just be caught and be released again. If that had happened, The Trust would have one less member, but we readers would be deprived of arguably the sexiest babe in the series. These two issues also show the kind of temptation that we might all be subjected to in one time or another. Lee wanted revenge, but also didn't want to get nothing out of it. Megan knew this, and in this case, used money to lure the prey in.
#6 - #7 "Short Con, Long Odds"
What's It About: Chucky, just released from 7 years of prison, has a special skill - the ability to throw dices so that they come up with the numbers that he wants. He is told by Agent Graves that it he was framed by his friend Pony, who is actually the real culprit of the accident - a car accident leading to the death of children.
What Happens: Pony buys Chucky's marker, meaning that Chucky is working under Pony now. However Pony has other plans. He wants Chucky to stop gambling, while spreading news that Chucky 'cheats' (using his skill) to win. It becomes clear that Pony is out to wreck his friend when he steals Chuck's girl - Shantay. In issue #7, Chucky meets Shepherd in a casino where Japanese gamblers are the night's guests. The game gets ugly when Chucky realizes that the Japs are also using the dice trick, and everyone except Chucky dies. Shepherd had left earlier. Chucky finds out Pony is sleeping with Shantay and in a fit of rage he attack's Pony's gambling headquarters. At the end of #7, both Chucky and Pony had a face-off in which one of them dies.
Interesting Thoughts: Pony's betrayal to Chucky underlines that in reality, friendships aren't always good and pure. Back-stabbers lurk in your shadows, ready to pounce. Don't be surprised that it is somebody that you know. This probably applies more to the world of politics and businesses but even simple friendships can turn into a love-hate affair when competition, pride and ego take over.
Perplexing Questions:
1. Why did Shepherd offer to bank the house during the gambling match with the Japs?
2. Who was killed at the end of #7? Chucky or Pony? Or Both?
#9 - #10 "The Right Ear, Left In The Cold"
What's It About: The audience is introduced to Cole Burns, a Minuteman who had his memory wiped clean after the event in Atlantic City (which hasn't yet been revealed). Cole regains his memory and hooks up with his former mentor.
What Happens: In #9, Cole Burns is portrayed as an small-scale ice-cream man in the neighbourhood. However, he also deals in the illegal procurement and sale of cigarettes. He has a sweet and sexy girlfriend, Sasha, whom after #10, will not be seen until #38. As usual, Agent Graves meets him and tells him that his grandmother had been murdered by a man which he partly answers to - Goldy. He confronts Goldy and tries to talk to him, but Goldy is wise to Cole's game, and decides to kill him. At the end of #9, a pawn of Goldy's, clearly under the payroll of Graves, says the magic word - Croatoa.
The first page spread of #10 already provided a clear portrait of what had happened - Cole had killed Goldy and all his men. However Cole was confused by his dual identity. It was then that he met Shepherd, had a flashback scene, and finally, linked up with Agent Graves once again. The issue ends with Cole leaving Sasha in the most insensitive way and under the most painful of circumstances in my opinion. Bitter, not sweet.
Perplexing Questions: So what happened in Atlantic City?
Quotable Quotes: Graves: "So, would you like to know who you are?"
Cole: "What kind of question is that? I already know who I am. I'm Cole Burns. I'm a Minuteman."
#12 - #14 "Parlez Kung Vous"
What's It About: Mr. Shepherd sends Dizzy Cordova to Paris to meet Mr. Branch, an American emigrant who also received the attaché from Agent Graves. He knows much about The Trust and the grand scheme of things.
What Happens: Mr. Branch shows the sights and sounds of Paris to Dizzy, and talks about a lot of stuff, including his philosophy on law and justice, his opinion of Graves and Shepherd, and also what he knows about the Trust. The most interesting part of this 3 issue arc is his re-telling of what happened to him when he snooped too much into Agent Graves' unique bullets and who he is. There's basically much dialogue in this arc and it's wiser to pick up the comics to read.
At the end of #14, Mr. Branch and Dizzy meet Cole Burns. After Cole Burns leaves, Mr. Branch tells Dizzy that she belongs to Graves now. She is just about to become a Minuteman.
Perplexing Questions: Why was Mr. Branch so terrified when he saw Cole that he immediately told Dizzy to shoot him?