Hitman #32

Part four of five in the "Tommy's Heroes" arc finds Hitman #32 radiating a gritty, war-movie swagger, with John McCrea's cover depicting Tommy Monaghan — sunglasses on, cigarette dangling, weapons at the ready — flanked by a ragged crew of heavily armed soldiers, spent shell casings scattered at their feet. The assembled squad, each member sporting their own cigar or cigarette and battle-worn gear, gives the whole image the feel of a hard-luck platoon bracing for one last push. Garth Ennis, McCrea, and Garry Leach were clearly firing on all cylinders by this late-1998 chapter, and this penultimate installment promises the kind of grounded, character-driven action the series does so well.