by
Maurice
Harter

It's easy to take the moral high ground when you're comfortably nestled away in the suburbs. It's only when push comes to shove and we're confronted by the unimaginable that our convictions are put to the test. We can speculate until our head hurts about what we'd do in a violent situation. But the truth is, we won't know until such a situation occurs. Perhaps that's why we're drawn to books and movies and comics that give us an opportunity to mentally role play violent scenarios and ponder that critical existential question "What if?"

100 Bullets - Brian Azzarello & Eduardo Risso (DC/Vertigo; monthly, color, 32 pages, $2.50).
The Chicago barrio is a violent jungle, and Isabelle 'Dizzy' Cordova is determined to escape. Recently released from a women's prison, the young Latina gangbanger is awakened to the dangers and seductions and traps of the ghetto. Her husband has quit gang life and things are starting to look hopeful. Until that fateful night when she watches helplessly while her spouse and infant son are senselessly slaughtered in a drive-by shooting. Drowning in despair, her spirit is broken until she's visited by a mysterious government agent who gives her an attaché case containing proof about who was behind her family's murder, a gun and ammunition and carte blanche immunity from prosecution.

Struggling to understand and looking for guidance, she probes behind the surface appearance of the gangland community she thought she knew and uncovers a corrupt web of conspiracy linking cops and criminals. And when she finally learns who was really behind the murders, she's faced with an agonizing decision that will forever change her life.

This gritty noir comic explores a big 'what if?' question: if you could get away with murder, and your intended victim truly deserved it, what would you do?
Writer Brian Azzarello intends to thrust a wide variety of well-meaning, ordinary people into that dilemma in a series of self-contained story arcs that will interlink, gradually revealing a larger tapestry of crime conspiracy. At the heart of the series is the enigmatic Agent Shields. Who is he and what is his motivation? Is he a moral crusader for justice or a psychopath getting twisted kicks by watching others struggle with tough decisions? Is he working alone or a representative from some shadowy government agency? It's too early to render a verdict on this provocative, promising new series which looks to pick up the mantle of the TV show Millennium, exploring the universal themes of Good vs. Evil and right and wrong.

300 - Frank Miller (Dark Horse; 5 issues, color, 32p, $2.95 each). 480 BC. Commanded by King Xerxes, a megalomaniac with delusions of world conquest, the armies of Persia are poised to crush Greece. That tiny nation shines forth like a beacon of sanity, an island of reason and freedom in a world awash in corruption, tyranny and madness. The sheer size of the Persian forces - thousands of deadly, expertly-trained soldiers -- seems to guarantee their victory. But standing between Greece and this tidal wave of destruction is a small band of but 300 warriors.

Undaunted by the breadth of the enemy forces, they are determined to prevail. The strength of their will is powered by the realization that they are not just fighting for their lives, but to preserve a way of life. Led by the cunning Leonidas, the Spartan army plans to make their fateful stand at the Hot Gates, a narrow mountain pass that offers numerous strategic advantages. For three days the battle rages, violent man-to-man combat using spears and arrows to penetrate armor and pierce flesh. Like a bloody tide, the battle ebbs and flows. During periods of retreat, the Spartans pile up the Persian dead into tall towers of wasted flesh, monuments to their steel-eyed resolve, monoliths that strike fear in the enemy. Though they battle with superhuman strength and courage, the end is inevitable and the Spartans are defeated. But in freely giving up their lives, they gain a greater victory. For the story of the Battle at the Hot Gates passes from Greek to Greek, inspiring thousands of young men to join the army, uniting the nation-states into a tremendous force that will eventually and decisively drive out the Persian invaders.

Frank Miller seems to have a love affair with violent comics. He re-established Batman as a combustible creature of the night in the Dark Knight saga. His Ronin graphic novel melded science fiction and samurai action and was one of the first "new wave" comics inspired by Japanese manga. His gritty pulp noir series, Sin City, features seedy characters for whom violence is a normal response to desperate circumstances, yet who still manage to hold onto a spark of humanity. And now in 300, Miller explores violence as a noble crusade. Like the movie Saving Private Ryan, the story asks important questions about the use and justification of violence during times of war. Meticulously researched and impeccably rendered in Miller's dynamic impressionistic style, this comic stands tall as a testament to a pivotal moment in history.

The Trespassers #5: White Cane Diary - Joe Zabel and Gary Dumm (Amazing Montage Press; one issue, b&w, 64p, $2.50).

Delphinia Morgan practices Wicca and offers psychic readings for a living. She and her boyfriend Ray (a writer of crime fiction who's skeptical yet respectful of all things paranormal) enjoy acting as amateur sleuths. One day a blind woman named Mary visits "Finnie" for a Tarot reading. Mary wants to know if a mission she's undertaking will be a success. The cards that turn up -- The Devil, the Tower, The Death Card -- noticeably disturb the visitor who runs out of the room distraught. Convinced that Mary is about to do something violent, Finn follows her, and becomes entangled in the woman's determined attempt to make a political statement on behalf of all handicapped people. In the end another spread of the cards reveals both of their fates.

This is one of the most perfect suspense stories I've read in a long time. It's masterfully written (brief moments of inner reflection paint vivid pictures of what Mary's life has been like) and illustrated with a realistic line style that makes you forget this is a comic. Hitchcockian touches abound. Even the comic's layout has been consciously considered; cliffhanger moments end at the bottom of the right page, and I found myself holding my breath and pausing before continuing. The story asks another age old question -- Can violence ever be justified in pursuit of a righteous cause? -- but offers no answers. Creators Zabel and Dumm have been sporadically publishing an excellent series of well-crafted, single-issue graphic novelettes (Bulletproof; Runaway; Wolf Run; The Green Skull; The Trespassers series) that are shining examples of the mystery comic genre. I congratulate them on their perseverance and labor-of-love efforts.

Also Recommended:
Lone Wolf and Cub (First Comics): A masterless samurai roams feudal Japan with his infant son in an armored baby carriage. Through helping others, he rekindles his sense of purpose. One of the first Japanese manga to embrace American shores, this sophisticated series blends violent action and Buddhist philosophy.

Green Candles (Pocket Books/Paradox Graphic Mystery): The anonymous photos arrive daily in Grace Penny's mail, pictures of a green candle burning down. The images trigger repressed memories of a childhood scarred by ritual satanic abuse. Has her tormentor returned to haunt her and eventually kill her? This riveting graphic novel is one of a series originally published by DC.

The Road to Perdition (Pocket/Paradox): A young boy witnesses a gangland execution, and he and his father wind up facing off against the notorious Al Capone. Penned by mystery writer and occasional comics scribe Max Allan Collins, this sprawling, bullet-ridden graphic novel paints a vivid portrait of life in depression era Chicago, a time when guns, graft, gangsters and guzzlers gin threatened to bring down the city.

A.K.A. Goldfish; Jinx; Torso (Caliber Press and Image Press): These comics are all created by Brian Michael Bendis, whose hard-boiled writing and gritty noir art are helping revitalize pulp detective comics.

Hard Looks (Dark Horse): A collection of gritty comics short stories exploring various facets of child abuse and its violent consequences. These disturbing tales were written by Andrew Vacchs, mystery writer and real life lawyer and advocate for children's rights.

Murder By Crowquill (Amazing Montage Press): Some of comics' finest creators offer 20 diverse mystery stories in this stellar anthology showcase. At ten bucks for 200 pages, with all proceeds going to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, this is a reasonable and worthwhile read. An excellent gift for the mystery fans in your life.