Hitman #1

Tommy Monaghan bursts onto this cover with both guns blazing, spent shell casings raining through a night sky, while a looming Batman swoops down behind him with fists clenched — it's an immediate visual shorthand for the uneasy tension at the heart of Garth Ennis and John McCrea's series. This Urban Comics collection brings together the opening chapters of one of DC's most distinctive titles, pairing Gotham's grimiest contract killer with the city's most recognizable protector in a story that never quite plays by the rules. If you've been curious about Tommy and the Cauldron, Volume 1 is the place to start.