While the DC Comics character Hitman may be relatively unknown, he is one of DC's best forgotten heroes. More than just a mere killer, he possessed powers and, just as importantly, a sense of morality. His time in the DC universe was relatively short, only lasting most of the '90s and a bit of the 2000s. But during that time he became a well respected hero in the metahuman and superhero community, as he teamed up with many famous heroes in his comic book run. He's unfortunately gone under the radar, but is certainly due for a comeback.
Hitman's real name is Tommy Monaghan, and he is a Gulf War veteran who eventually became a hitman when he returned home from the war. Monaghan was introduced in 1993's The Demon Annual #2 created by famed comic book writer Garth Ennis and artist John McCrea, which was part of the controversial DC arc Bloodlines. In the issue, he eventually gains his powers by getting bit by an alien parasite named Glonth, which activates his metagene, and grants him telepathy and x-ray vision. After the events of his origin comic, he ultimately decides to cater to killing metahumans, neutralizing supernatural threats, going on more dangerous jobs, and properly utilizing his new powers. He would go on to have two further arcs in The Demon Vol. 3 before getting his own comic in 1996, written by Ennis and drawn by McCrea simply titled, Hitman. It went on to run for 61 issues until 2001. In addition, he got a tie-in comic for the DC One Million event, as well as a JLA tie-in comic in 2007.
Related: Peacemaker's New Origin Story Will Be Told in His Own Comic By Garth Ennis
Being created by one of the most prolific comic book writers of all time, Hitman was a complex character with an intriguing personality and backstory. Despite being a hitman, he always had a twisted sense of goodness to him, never killing a good person or an innocent. The people he kills are irredeemably bad, but unlike many comic vigilantes he does not delude himself into thinking he is "doing good." He knows he is a bad person, and decides to work with the hand that he was dealt. Despite this, he is still able to earn the iration of heroes like Superman, who commended his courage in extreme situations and ired his skills.
His telepathy and x-ray vision fit his character and do not detract from his humanity. His powers are not like Superman's, in that they do not make him a paragon of perfection and therefore a less interesting character. At the same time, he's not just a regular guy, like the Punisher or Vigilante. He is pretty much a slightly higher level human. This ties into Ennis' writing style, as he has never been a fan of superhero characters, but Hitman does not veer into the territory of satireThe Boys. Monaghan is capable of being a serious character, but not so serious that he is boring. He also isn't constantly quipping and making jokes. He is able to ride the fine line of being deep without appearing clichéd, and mature without being too "edgy." His series is well-written with a beginning, middle and an end.
While on the surface Hitman might appear to be a product of his time, but he had a depth and relatability that sets him apart from some of the other "extreme" characters who were so common in the 1990s. With just one 61-issue series and a few crossovers, Hitman will forever be the greatest DC Comics character nobody's ever heard of.
Next: DC Comics Honors Daniel Johnston with Special Variant Covers
