This is the first 100 Bullets installment—though, to be honest, it's 100 Bullets adjacent at best—that doesn't earn a 5-star from me.

The art is still up to the usual calibre, the colouring is glorious, and the writing is sharp and witty. Unfortunately, in this one, the story is a somewhat tired one that's been used time and time again. It doesn't help that Lono was never even close to my favourite character from the group that ran through the series. I always found him a bit more of a caricature than a character.

Still, we see Lono trying to, if not atone for his sins, at least leave them in his rearview. So, of course you know that resolve is going to be tested. I think, for me, the thing that was missing was the agonizing over falling back into that old lifestyle. If he really wanted to change, we should have seen more struggle at falling backward.

Just me, though.

Overall, a vicious yarn, and quite cinematic, but it didn't seem to hold the same crackle as the main series. ( )