Hitman (1996) 22

Tommy Monaghan, aka Hitman, needs a few dollars for Christmas. Fortunately, a contract comes along and he is able to go after a radioactive super-villain dressed as Santa Claus for Christmas Eve 1998.

Ho, ho, bang.

Hitman owes his existence to Garth Ennis and John McCrea. He was birthed in Demon annual two as part of the Bloodlines company crossover in the summer of 1993.

Following the crossover, Monaghan guested in a couple other DC titles before a Batman appearance launched him in his own book. Hitman lasted 60 issues with one annual.

Following the run, Ennis penned a JLA/Hitman mini-series. Monaghan was entrenched in the DCU having met with most of the powerhouses. This was a continuation of those associations.

Hitman issue 34 won the 1999 Eisner Award for best single issue. Superman co-starred in the one-and-done entitled Of Thee I Sing.

Other than a cameo as a photograph in 2014’s Batman and Robin 27, Monaghan has been silent.