100 Bullets #86

100 Bullets #86, released in 2007 as part of the Vertigo imprint's long-running crime noir series, serves as a crucial chapter in the concluding arc of the saga. Created by writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso, the series emerged from the postmodern landscape of 1990s and 2000s creator-owned comics, blending gritty urban thriller tropes with a conspiratorial narrative centered on the mysterious Agent Graves and his signature briefcase. By the time this issue was published, the series had established itself as a critical darling known for its stark aesthetic and non-linear storytelling.

The visual identity of issue #86 is deeply rooted in Eduardo Risso’s signature style, characterized by heavy use of high-contrast chiaroscuro lighting and bold, jagged ink work. His design choices were intended to mirror the moral ambiguity and tension of the plot, favoring mood and character expression over traditional comic book spectacle. Upon its release, the issue was well-received by the established readership for maintaining the series' momentum as it moved toward its definitive conclusion, further solidifying the collaboration between Azzarello and Risso as a benchmark for contemporary noir comics.