Garth Ennis’s Hitman (1996-2001)

by Julian Darius | part of the Continuity Pages | complete as of 2 December 2011

10 months after the cancellation of The Demon Vol. 3, Hitman was spun into his own ongoing series. The series was helmed by his creators, writer Garth Ennis and artist John McCrea.

While Hitman never sold fantastically, its timing was right: Ennis had begun Preacher through DC’s Vertigo imprint, and its success led many to try Ennis’s other ongoing series. Hitman had much of the same violence and humor as Preacher, only toned down and set firmly in the DC Universe.

Ennis and McCrea were able to conclude Hitman on their own terms, after just over five years, and the title did not continue following their departure. In this, Hitman seemed closer to a long-form Vertigo series (e.g. Ennis’s Preacher, Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman, or Grant Morrison’s The Invisibles) than a typical DC series.

In late 2007, Garth Ennis and John McCrea brought Hitman back for the two-issue Justice League / Hitman. The story, which took place before the conclusion of the original series, essentially tied up plot threads left by League members’ past interactions with Hitman. It was one of the best Hitman stories.

Collections of the series began in late 1996, the same year the series debuted, but then began running behind the monthly issues. To the consternation of fans of the series, DC stopped the collections with five volumes, collecting a little less than half the overall series.

This same page is available with an expanded version of the following table (5 more items and 5 more images).

A Rage in Arkham
*“Hitman” (written by Garth Ennis, with art by John McCrea), from Batman Chronicles* #4 (Mar 1996), occurs here**
	Hitman #1#83
	“A Rage in Arkham, Part One” -- 24 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea Tommy Monaghan is hired to kill the Joker cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Apr 1996
	Hitman #2#84
	“A Rage in Arkham, Part Two” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea features Batman cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated June 1996
	Hitman #3#85
	“A Rage in Arkham, Part Three” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea features Batman and the Joker cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated July 1996
Ten Thousand Bullets
	Hitman #4#86
	“Ten Thousand Bullets, Part One” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea Johnny Navarone is hired to kill Hitman cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Aug 1996
	Hitman #5#87
	“Ten Thousand Bullets, Part Two” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Sept 1996
	Hitman #6#88
	“Ten Thousand Bullets, Part Three” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea cover erroneously states this as “part 4 of 4″; cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Oct 1996
	Hitman #7#89
	“Ten Thousand Bullets, Part Four” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Nov 1996
The Night the Lights Went Out
	Hitman #8#90
	“The Night the Lights Went Out” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea ties into The Final Night cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Nov 1996
Local Heroes
	Hitman #9#91
	“Local Heroes, Part One” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Dec 1996
	Hitman #10#92
	“Local Heroes, Part Two” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea Green Lantern Kyle Rayner appears cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Jan 1997
	Hitman #11#93
	“Local Heroes, Part Three” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea Green Lantern Kyle Rayner appears cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Feb 1997
	Hitman #12#94
	“Local Heroes, Conclusion” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea Green Lantern Kyle Rayner appears cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Mar 1997
Zombie Night at the Gotham Aquarium
	Hitman #13#95
	“Zombie Night at the Gotham Aquarium” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Apr 1997
	Hitman #14#96
	“Zombie Night at the Gotham Aquarium, Part 2″ -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated May 1997
A Coffin Full of Dollars
	Hitman Annual #1#97
	“A Coffin Full of Dollars” (broken into three parts) -- 52 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by Carlos Ezquerra and Steve Pugh participates in 1997′s “Pulp Heroes” theme; cover by Laurel Blechman; $3.95; cover-dated 1997
Ace of Killers
	Hitman #15#98
	“Ace of Killers, Part One” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea features Catwoman cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated June 1997
	Hitman #16#99
	“Ace of Killers, Part Two” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea features Catwoman and Jason Blood cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated July 1997
	Hitman #17#100
	“Ace of Killers, Part Three” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea features Catwoman and the Demon cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Aug 1997
	Hitman #18#101
	“Ace of Killers, Part Four” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea features Catwoman and the Demon cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Sept 1997
	Hitman #19#102
	“Ace of Killers, Part Five” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea features Catwoman and the Demon cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Oct 1997
	Hitman #20#103
	“Ace of Killers, Conclusion” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea features Catwoman and the Demon cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Nov 1997
Kiss Me
	Hitman #21#104
	“Kiss Me” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by Steve Pugh Tommy Monaghan and begin a relationship with Tiegel the only issue of the main title not illustrated by John McCrea; cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Dec 1997
The Santa Contract
	Hitman #22#105
	“The Santa Contract” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Steve Pugh cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Jan 1998
Who Dares Wins
	Hitman #23#106
	“Who Dares Wins: Part One” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach S.A.S. soldiers are sent to kill Hitman and Natt for their “friendly fire” killing of British soldiers during the Iraq War (Desert Storm) cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Feb 1998
	Hitman #24#107
	“Who Dares Wins, Part Two” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Mar 1998
	Hitman #25#108
	“Who Dares Wins: Part Three” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Apr 1998
	Hitman #26#109
	“Who Dares Wins: Part Four” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated May 1998
	Hitman #27#110
	“Who Dares Wins: Conclusion” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated June 1998
	Hitman #28#111
	“Door into the Dark” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea Tommy has nightmares after the events of “Who Dares Wins” cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated July 1998
Tommy’s Heroes
	Hitman #29#112
	“Tommy’s Heroes, Part One” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach Tommy, Natt, Hacken, and Ringo enlist as mercenaries in African cover by John McCrea; $2.25; cover-dated Aug 1998
	Hitman #30#113
	“Tommy’s Heroes, Part Two” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Sept 1998
	Hitman #31#114
	“Tommy’s Heroes, Part Three” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Andrew Chui cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Oct 1998
	Hitman #32#115
	“Tommy’s Heroes (Part 4 of 5)” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Dec 1998
	Hitman #33#116
	“Tommy’s Heroes, Part Five” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Jan 1999
To Hell with the Future
	Hitman #1000000#117
	“To Hell with the Future” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea Tommy is transported into the future by kids who think he was a super-hero ties into DC One Million cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Nov 1998
Of Thee I Sing
	Hitman #34#118
	“Of Thee I Sing” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach Hitman talks with Superman before doing a hit celebrated as one of the best Hitman stories cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Feb 1999
“How to Be a Super-Hero!”, the Sixpack story (written by Garth Ennis, with art by Nelson Dicastro) in Superman 80-Page Giant #1, (Feb 1999) occurs here
Katie
	Hitman #35#119
	“Katie, Part One” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach begins the story of Tommy Monaghan’s mother Kathryn “Katie” Monaghan cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Mar 1999
	Hitman #36#120
	“Katie, Part Two” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach Tommy continues to learn about his mother cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Apr 1999
Dead Man’s Land
	Hitman #37#121
	“Dead Man’s Land, Part One” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated May 1999
	Hitman #38#122
	“Dead Man’s Land, Part Two” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated June 1999
For Tomorrow
	Hitman #39#123
	“For Tomorrow, Part One of Four” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated July 1999
	Hitman #40#124
	“For Tomorrow, Part Two of Four” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Aug 1999
	Hitman #41#125
	“For Tomorrow, Part Three of Four” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Sept 1999
	Hitman #42#126
	“For Tomorrow, Part Four of Four” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach and John McCrea cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Oct 1999
	Hitman #43#127
	“The Morning After, The Night Before” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach and John McCrea an epilogue to “For Tomorrow” cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Nov 1999
Fresh Meat
	Hitman #44#128
	“Fresh Meat, Part I” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach and John McCrea cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Dec 1999
	Hitman #45#129
	“Fresh Meat, Part 2″ -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach and John McCrea cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Jan 2000
	Hitman #46#130
	“Fresh Meat, Part 3″ -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach and John McCrea Tommy and Nat defend Gotham from the dinosaurs cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Feb 2000
The Old Dog
	Hitman #47#131
	“The Old Dog” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Mar 2000
	Hitman #48#132
	“The Old Dog” (part two) -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Apr 2000
	Hitman #49#133
	“The Old Dog” (part three) -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated May 2000
	Hitman #50#134
	“The Old Dog, Epilogue” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated June 2000
Super Guy
	Hitman #51#135
	“Super Guy, Part One” -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated July 2000
	Hitman #52#136
	“Super Guy, Part Two” -- 36 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Aug 2000
That Stupid Bastich
	Hitman / Lobo: That Stupid Bastich #1#137
	“That Stupid Bastich” -- 38 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by Doug Mahnke cover by Doug Mahnke; $3.95; cover-dated Sept 2000
On the Darkside
	Justice League / Hitman #1#138
	“On the Darkside, Part One” -- 44 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea the JLA needs information on people who survived the Bloodlines outbreak, so Batman captures Hitman and brings him to the JLA headquarters another wave of Bloodlines aliens, stronger than the first, arrive on the moon first issue; cover by John McCrea; $3.99; cover-dated Nov 2007
	Justice League / Hitman #2#139
	“On the Darkside, Part Two” -- 44 pages written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea with the JLA powerless and the Bloodlines aliens in the Watchtower, Hitman saves the day in a way the JLA finds unacceptable final issue; cover by John McCrea; $3.99; cover-dated Dec 2007
Closing Time
	Hitman #53#140
	“Closing Time: 1″ -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Sept 2000
	Hitman #54#141
	“Closing Time: 2″ -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Oct 2000
	Hitman #55#142
	“Closing Time: 3″ -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Nov 2000
	Hitman #56#143
	“Closing Time: 4″ -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Dec 2000
	Hitman #57#144
	“Closing Time: 5″ -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Jan 2001
	Hitman #58#145
	“Closing Time: 6″ -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Feb 2001
	Hitman #59#146
	“Closing Time: 7″ -- 22 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach cover by John McCrea; $2.50; cover-dated Mar 2001
	Hitman #60#147
	“Closing Time” -- 30 pages written by Garth Ennis; pencils by John McCrea; inks by Garry Leach final issue; in the letters column, Ennis and McCrea offer comments on the end of the series; cover by John McCrea and John Beatty; $3.95; cover-dated Apr 2001

The Demon:

Garth Ennis’s Hitman (1996-2001)

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