John Wick Vol. 1: Book of Rules

Years before the first film, young John gets out of prison with a list: the Three Bills, Pecos, Buffalo and Billy, killers who wiped out a Mexican village twelve years earlier while hunting him. The hunt pulls him fully into the world of professional assassins. He meets Charon, checks into the Continental El Paso, where no business is allowed, and learns the rules the hard way. Maria, who gave the Bills their orders, apologizes and offers him work, and John turns her down. Along the way he learns the massacre was started by Calamity, a feral killer. John takes out all three Bills and Calamity, but revenge has a price: he ends up in Maria's debt, forced to work for her.

1. Behind the scenesKeanu gave his blessing

   Editor Anthony Marques said the comic had the blessing of the film's creators, including writer Derek Kolstad and Keanu Reeves himself.

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2. ReferenceA Continental in Texas

   The assassins' hotel chain shows up at a new branch: the Continental El Paso. The rules match the films: no business on the premises.

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3. ReferenceCharon before the films

   Charon, the Continental's concierge played by Lance Reddick, already crosses paths with young John. But Why Tho?'s review praised how well the comic nailed his voice.

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4. Behind the scenesTwo artists, two years

   The 5 issues came out from November 2017 to February 2019. Giovanni Valletta drew the first two, and Matt Gaudio took over for issues 3 to 5.

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5. Behind the scenesSienkiewicz covers

   The purple-and-black look mimics the films' neon. Variant covers came from two veterans: Bill Sienkiewicz and Denys Cowan.

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