Chapter by Chapter: Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson, (Prolouge)

    

The strength of the opening line set the tone of the story for me.  It definitely heightened my interest in this book.  The opening line read, "I've seen Steelheart bleed."
(source: Steelheart; Sanderson, Brandon ; Pg 1)

The narrator who happens to be the main character is a man by the name of David who's father was killed in a bank robbery concocted by Deathpoint that was interrupted by Steelheart as he announced his rule over everyone.  In the process of David's father killing Deathpoint with a gun, the bullet grazed Steelheart's face causing him to bleed.  Steelheart is supposed to be impervious so this revelation of weakness angered Steelheart to no end.  He killed David's father and destroyed the bank as well as anyone else who had seen what happened, except David.

In the prologue we get the first descriptions of what an Epic is as well a couple of their names and abilities.  First mention of Epics, "Most people say you can't tell an Epic from an ordinary man unless he starts using his powers, but they're wrong.  Epics carry themselves differently.  That sense of confidence, that subtle self-satisfaction.  I've always been able to spot them."   (source: Steelheart; Sanderson, Brandon ; Pg 3)

The Great Transfersion:  Steelheart's grand display of power as he turned most of Chicago into steel.

Here's and interesting tidbit: "..every Epic has a weakness.  Something that invalidates their powers, something that turns them back into a ordinary person, if only for a moment. Steelheart  is no exception; the events on that day in the bank prove it." (source: Steelheart; Sanderson, Brandon ; Pg 15-16)

"And i will see him bleed again." (source: Steelheart; Sanderson, Brandon ; Pg 16)