Writer: Garth Ennis Pencils: John McCrea #20 and Steve Pugh #21
$2.25, November and December 1997

Hitman (the only DC comic I regularly read) ends the six part "Ace of Killers" storyline with issue #20. It's a decent read I tells ya, with varying quality of art by McCrea. That guy can sure draw swell violence but he needs to work on drawing beautiful women; Catwoman doesn't look like her normal self. It was a fine ending to an otherwise great storyline that featured the return of the Mawzir, introduced the bizarre superhero club Section Eight, and made Etrigan the Demon all the more powerful. Pick up all six issues, you won't be disappointed.

Score: 6 out of 10

Hitman#21

Issue #21 is a nice follow up to the long story and surpasses that issue in enjoyement. Guest artist Steven Pugh impressively illustrates a tale of romance between Tommy Monaghan and his sorta-girlfriend Tiegel, a GCPD officer. Their passionate night draws the question of whether Tommy is simply out for the score or whether he truly loves the woman. It promises for a developing tale over more issues and I know I'll be picking it up. The second half of the story deals with the results of a miscommunication between the hitman and some local drug dealers. A humorous, Tarantino-esque showdown occurs thus balancing out romance and violence in an all around good comic. My only complaint is DC's refusal to let Ennis use the F-word. An otherwise perfect comic is ruined by one too many street toughs saying, "Motherlovin!" and "Freaking!" far too much. It kinda destroyed the mood Ennis normally paints so well. It's not code approved, so let Ennis do what he knows best. Either that or make it a Vertigo book. I dunno.

Score: 7 out of 10