By Cat Wyatt

I can’t believe it, but it’s time for the last issue of No. 1 With a Bullet. In the last issue, we had quite a bit going on, including Nash having a severe reaction and freak out due to her contacts. We know that there is somebody still stalking her and that there’s also somebody killing the people who’ve sought to hurt Nash. Now, presumably they’re both the same people, but one never knows…

The first page is actually pretty alarming, despite how deceptively tame it may appear at first glance. It’s a letter with blood smeared all over it. Okay, blood and tame probably don’t belong in the same description, but compared to everything else that’s happened…Anyway, it appears to be a combined confession and suicide note…from Violet Reynolds. Is anybody else incredibly anxious to get to the end of this issue now? Or was it just me?

Back a little bit in time (I’m assuming), we see the good detective freaking out, likely because he just figured out that Nash has been kidnapped. Also, he can’t seem to find his partner, which isn’t ideal, especially considering the given situation (don’t worry, she’s safe in the trunk of a car, and he finds her pretty quickly).

Meanwhile poor Nash is waking up to darkness. At first, I honestly thought she had done some serious damage to her eyes, but that fear is quickly soothed away. Violet wrapped her eyes after Nash’s scratching fit, so my guess is her eyes are actually fine (thank goodness). Oh what’s that, you’re wondering why Violet is in the room with Nash? Um…well…it’s a bit of a long story.

Now would probably be a good time to mention that Nash is also tied to the bed, supposedly to keep her from removing the bandages on her eyes (anybody else buying this story less and less?). Understandably Nash kind of completely freaks out about being tied up and effectively blind. That is not an ideal way to wake up, especially when you have no idea where you are or what’s happening (and even more so after the week Nash has had).

Like any good conclusion, we need some sweeping monologue but bear with me; there’s a fantastic twist at the end. So it turns out that Nash was wrong about the contacts; she had thought her contacts had been switched out with the Iris Shutter Lenses, but in truth, they were still her contacts. They had just been soaked with a microdose of LSD. No big deal, right? (please notice my sarcasm). That combined with Nash’s anxiety, fear, and stress over the last few weeks significantly increased her reaction and sensitivity to what should have been a minor dose…resulting in her hallucinations and freakouts. So at least all of that is explained!

You’d think after getting that bit of a confession off her chest Violet would be feeling a bit better, but she actually seems to be getting more agitated. Which when one considers the note she is writing sort of makes sense. I can’t imagine the level of stress and other concoction of emotions Nash must have been feeling at this time. It’s pretty clear almost right away that Violet is writing a confession, and maybe it’s just me, but a written confession like this usually feels like it’s going to be followed by a suicide (or other form of death). Having somebody I care about in that position would absolutely freak me out (the combination of betrayal and fear of loss would absolutely be my undoing here).

As if what Violet was doing wasn’t odd enough, her terms of phrase and expressions are odd. I may not know Violet well, but this does not sound like the woman we’ve met through this story. I’m sure Nash would know better than anyone, and she sees freaked out by it too, so clearly it isn’t just me.

While Violet is writing her oddly phrased letter we’re allowed glimpses back into the past of her relationship with Nash. Cute and sweet little moments, intimate moments. Like the time they had to create a safe word…which is pretty useful, since Violet speaks that word out loud while writing this letter.

Take a moment to let that sink in. Nash is blind to what is happening in the room; Violet is writing a long winder and odd sounding confession, followed immediately by her use of their private safe word. That can only mean one thing. I’m sure I don’t need to lay it out any clearer than that.

The following fight and scenes will resonate with anybody who’s ever been willing to fight to protect those they love. Alone Violet or Nash may be easily overpowered and have no real chance against an intruder. But together? Knowing that their failure will result with the other one getting injured (or worse)? That’s all the motivation they’ll ever need to give this fight their all.

I won’t give away everything else that follows, as I believe that this series conclusion should be read the way the creators intended. I will say that I personally loved all the twists and turns this series took, especially as it neared the end. I’m happy that everything got resolved in a believable manner, but that it wasn’t all wrapped up in a pretty little bow (because when does that ever happen in real life?).

This was a fantastic series, one that raised lots of questions and food for thought. I adore series that make me think, especially if they’re the type that could start up a good debate. So this one is a win, as far as I’m concerned. I’m sad to see the series go, but I’m glad they didn’t try and stretch the plot out.

There was a lot of great artwork in this issue. The highlight for me had to be the decisions made during Violet and Nash’s talk, back when Nash still didn’t know what was going on. The images cut back and forth between Violet hunched over a desk in the dark, and Nash’s lips and chin. The amount of dismay and emotion they were able to portray using such a small part of Nash’s face…it was brilliant. And you could still tell that Violet was distressed, even when there was literally no details to her figure or face (being that she was in shadows the whole scene). I was already invested in what was going to happen next, but that scene absolutely enthralled me.

Score: 4/5

No. 1 With a Bullet #6
Image Comics