Brian Azzarello

[milk114]

Hi all

I've said before and will repeat myself again, I am a trades guy. So I was very happy to read that July will give forth a new Y-The Last Man, Dead Boys Detective, and 100 Bullets Vol. 8: THe Hard Way.

It's been a while since I read vol. 7: Samurai, so I've been looking forward to more 100 Bullets (I've been tempted to pick up the issues but held off, knowing the wait would be worth it). I don't want to know what will happen or anything like that, I have faith that everything will be wrapped up by issue 100 (or Vol. 14 or 15).

The reason I'm writing is to ask what Azzarello has been up to lately? I've read his run on Hellblazer, his Jonny Double and Gangland minis from a few years back. But what is he doing now? Are 100 Bullets coming out on-time every month or are they late? What other books is he writing? Does he write novels, like so many of the writers out there? Is he working on some big, secret project that's been rumored at? I know he wrote a story arc for Batman but is that it?

Not that there's anything wrong with that. If writing one book a month is what's necessary to keep up the quality on said book that's fine with me. But there seems to be a slew of folks, especially at DC these days, writing multiple books and/or novels and other projects at the same time and maintaining quality. I'm thinking Johns, Winick, Rucka, and Morrison. Does Azzarello fit in with these folks or is he something else?

I enjoy the fact that he seems to specialize in a crime fiction genre. So writing Batman makes sense to me. Writing Superman? I don't know if I'll ever read it nor if I could ever really be convinced his niche fits with a guy flying around and shooting lasers from his eyeballs.

I guess this is all a long way of saying what's going on with this guy, what can I expect to see, and why don't we hear more about this great writer (who also has a creative wife too, right?)?

[Mia]

From what I know Az is currently working on some Lex Luthor/Superman book. As for his Superman and Batman runs I have a feeling he did them for the money. I understand that he does not like the superhero genre (and it showed big time in those runs).


I think that Winnick (not my idea of a good writer by the way), Rucka and Morrsion are full time writers. I heard that Azarello teaches, I don't know if that's still the case. So he might not be able to or good at cranking it out on time.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

No idea about Azz,

but if you go and have another look at the first issue of 100 Bullets, you'll see a cameo, of sorts, from one of the characters still left standing at the end of Johnny Double.

And if you want more of his work to pass the time, he did CAGE and BANNER for marvel both in trade.

Alright reads but not as good as his vertigo stuff by far.

[outlander78]

I'm in the minority, but I quite liked his Batman story arc "Broken City" - it was like a 100 Bullets Batman story, which explains some people's dislike for it. This is one of those rare times when I enjoyed a comic that made me think about the plot (usually I read 'em to get to sleep, after all).

If you want to read it, the TPB is forthcoming from DC, and a HC is already out.

[Forsaken_One]

He's currently working on (or at least a comic with him as the writer is coming out) "Lex Luthor: Man of Steel" miniseries, a story of the Man of Steel storyline from Lex Luthor's perspective. I've heard mixed reactions on his Superman run ("For Tomorrow" in trade) but I'm quite enjoying Lex Luthor myself, it's refreshing to see the other side of the fence and humanize the character. It's on the second issue (of eight I think, but you can check DC Comics (http://www.dccomics.com/comics) for the exact number and #3's release date) and while it's been slow and is obviously written for trade it's still a nice book. It's also got stunning artwork.

[rassmguy]

As long as Azzarello NEVER returns to Hellblazer, I'll be happy.

[Mia]

I'm in the minority, but I quite liked his Batman story arc "Broken City" - it was like a 100 Bullets Batman story, which explains some people's dislike for it. This is one of those rare times when I enjoyed a comic that made me think about the plot (usually I read 'em to get to sleep, after all).

If you want to read it, the TPB is forthcoming from DC, and a HC is already out.

Interesting...You thought BC was like 100 Bullets? I thought that it was like a Mickey Spillane novel, with Mike Hammer dressed up as Batman. I found his Batman/Deathblow a bit more closer to his 100 Bullets style. Which was what puzzled me, why his Batman/Deathblow was so good and so closer to Batman. And Broken City was polar opposite. Those issues really felt 'phoned in'-to me anyway.

[Forefinger]

As long as Azzarello NEVER returns to Hellblazer, I'll be happy.
I thought that he wrote the best Hellblazer ever. I dropped the title after he left it. He set the bar too high IMOP for the next writer. It was a bit of nonsense at times, but I enjoyed his "Broken City" arc in Batman as well. I collect 100 Bullets monthly, it's one of my favorites.

[rassmguy]

I thought that he wrote the best Hellblazer ever. I dropped the title after he left it. He set the bar too high IMOP for the next writer. It was a bit of nonsense at times, but I enjoyed his "Broken City" arc in Batman as well. I collect 100 Bullets monthly, it's one of my favorites.

I have to respectfully disagree with you. He didn't even have a bar, let alone one that was too high -- for him, horror came down to rednecks, blowjobs from dogs, and Chesshire grins instead of real storytelling and characterization. His run on Hellblazer was almost entirely forgettable. Until his run, the series had always been about John Constantine. It ceased to be once he came aboard.

[outlander78]

Interesting...You thought BC was like 100 Bullets? I thought that it was like a Mickey Spillane novel, with Mike Hammer dressed up as Batman. I found his Batman/Deathblow a bit more closer to his 100 Bullets style. Which was what puzzled me, why his Batman/Deathblow was so good and so closer to Batman. And Broken City was polar opposite. Those issues really felt 'phoned in'-to me anyway.

Keep in mind that I'm not a regular 100 Bullets reader. :)

I meant it was grim, gritty, and had similar sentence structure (his use of words, when kept out of the gutter, is the best I've seen in comics). Too many comics are grim and gritty "just 'cause" - this one used those facets and told a good story.

[milk114]

I enjoyed his Hellblazer as "something different" though I read it in trade after reading Moore, Delano, all the Ennis and most of the Ellis in a week's time. I also really enjoyed Richard Corben's art.

Azzarello's married to Jill Thompson, isn't he? She also doesn't seem to be as prolific of late.

[Apathy Boy]

I'm in the minority, but I quite liked his Batman story arc "Broken City" - it was like a 100 Bullets Batman story, which explains some people's dislike for it. This is one of those rare times when I enjoyed a comic that made me think about the plot (usually I read 'em to get to sleep, after all).

If you want to read it, the TPB is forthcoming from DC, and a HC is already out.I loved "Broken City" too. My second favourite Batman story of all-time, after "Year One."

A lot of people were turned off by how "dark" the story was, but I didn't think of it that way at all. In my mind, it offered one of the truest depictions of Bruce Wayne ever, and made him seem more human than he's been in decades. Bruce's final monologue is one of the most beautiful scenes I've read in a comic.

[Lance]

I like Azzarello.

Broken City and Hard Time...

Don't like him writing Superman though

[Matches Malone]

I like Azzarello.

Broken City and Hard Time...



Steve Gerber writes Hard Time, not Azz.

IMO Azz is one of the 3-4 best writers in the biz. I really liked Broken City. Honestly, I felt a lot of the negative reaction to it was from people who started reading Batman during "Hush" and were expecting a followup more in that vein. (Although I agree with Mia that Batman/ Deathblow was better.)

Of course, 100 Bullets is excellent. I liked Banner a lot, too. Haven't read the Superman arc yet; I refuse to pay $50 for the two HC's. When they put out tpbs (probably in '06), I'll pick them up.

What I'm really looking forward to is the "Loveless" western DC's been hyping for some time now.

[stealthwise]

He was probably referring the first Hellblazer arc that Azzarello did, which was called "Hard Time".

[TomGun13]

Hard Time was great. I told Azzarello last summer that it was the book that made me start reading comics again. He jokingly apoligized. lol.

[dancj]

I finished reading Batman/Deathblow this morning. TBH it confused the hell out of me. I have no idea what it was all about.

Would it have helped if I had a clue in advance who Deathblow was?