... to the Choir, Episode 2 - Preacher #2 (1995)

... to the Choir, Episode Two

Preacher #2 (May, 1995)

"And Hell Followed With Him"

Writer - Garth Ennis

Art - Steve Dillon

Colors - Matt Hollingsworth

Letters - Clem Robins

Cover Art - Glenn Fabry

Edits- Rottenberg, Moore, Berger

Cover Price: $2.50

On-Sale: March 28, 1995

Happy Halloween, everybody and welcome back to ...to the Choir!

This time out, Dave and Chris get into all the gestalty goodness of Preacher #2.  We see the "softer" side of Sheriff Root, meet his soon-to-be comics famous son, and bear witness to the grandest reveal in comics history... wherein we find out that a member of our cast might just be a vampire!

All, that plus our usual nonsense - a look into USENET postings of the day, Garth Ennis's sorta-kinda petulant missive from Preacher #1's "Gone to Texas" column, listener mail, shout-outs, and much much more!

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... to the Choir, Episode 1 - Preacher #1 (1995)

... to the Choir, Episode One

Preacher #1 (April, 1995)

"The Time of the Preacher"

Writer - Garth Ennis

Art - Steve Dillon

Colors - Matt Hollingsworth

Letters - Clem Robins

Cover Art - Glenn Fabry

Edits - Rottenberg, Moore, Berger

Cover Price: $2.95

On-Sale: February 28, 1995

Welcome to a new ongoing series here at the channel!

"... to the Choir" will be an issue-by-issue look at the legendary DC Comics/Vertigo series, Preacher!  Join a Preacher newbie (Chris) and a Preacher veteran (Dave) as we kick off this exciting new project!

For this first episode, we will be talking about when we discovered the character, and what our initial impressions were.  In addition to chatting up the entire first issue, we will also be diving into the pre-historic Internet reaction from back in the day, when we dip into the dicey ol' USENET BBS's!

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this title - as well as your thoughts on the "envelope pushing" within!

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Hitman #34 (1999)

Hitman #34 (1999)
"Of Thee I Sing"
Writer - Garth Ennis
Pencils - John McCrea
Inks - Garry Leach
Letters - Patricia Prentice
Colors - Carla Feeny
Separations - Heroic Age
Editor - Peter J. Tomasi
For - Archie
Cover Price: $2.50

I've undoubtedly asked this before, but... you ever come across an issue in the wild that you are completely positive that you own... and are shocked when you learn that you don't?

That's kinda where I'm sitting right now.  I had planned to cover the next chapter in our "To Catch The Predator" series... and, I was 100% sure I owned the issue we were going to discuss... I've seen it dozens of times, and have always left it behind because I was sure I already had it!

Well, I don't... and that's why we're discussing a random issue of Hitman today!

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We open atop a building in Gotham City where Tommy's all staked out, and reading a copy of Newstime Magazine.  Imagine his surprise when, moments later, he realizes he's been joined by the cover fella of that very same edition... Superman!

Superman, polite as ever, asks if it's okay for him to be there... he doesn't want to just loiter on top of his building.  Tommy waves it aside like "Are you kidding me?  You're Superman!"  He even lets fly with a "friggin" which he immediately apologizes for.  Superman tells him it's fine to talk however he pleases... so long as there are no women or children present.

Tommy assumes that Superman is in Gotham to hang out with Batman... and he's not entirely off-base.  It's just not that there's any mission they're supposed to be on... it's that Superman came to Gotham to talk... because on this night... he failed.

He decides to spill his tale of woe to Tommy... ya see, that night a spacecraft headed from Earth to Mars (using time-saving experimental atomic engines) had some troubles.  Lucky for them, Superman happened to be on Monitor Duty at the JLA Watchtower... and so, he hops over to check in.

He learns that, due to intense heat from the atomic engines, their Commander (Kennedy) died trying to reach their lander... and so, Superman immediately hops to getting the job done so their mission can safely continue.  He presses the safety shield into the fire of the engines so the astronauts can board the tiny vessel.

Just then, and just before the entire thing goes boom... Superman notices that Commander Kennedy isn't dead (yet), however, there is no time to save him!

Superman's story continues... he came to Gotham to tell Batman about his failure, and received the same procedural "business only" responses from his World's Finest Pal.  Tommy lights a cigarette and suggests Superman take a vacation... he's riding himself way too hard.

Superman suggests that there's more to it.  It's not just the events of the evening, but what they represent.  He uses the look in Commander Kennedy's eyes to, more or less, poke holes in the entire concept of "Superman".  When people see Superman, they know they're safe... they know everything is going to be okay.  But, as always... Superman can't be everywhere.  He goes on to say that people understand that Superman won't be everywhere... but, in their heart of hearts, they know Superman will be there for them.  This is really well done.

Then Tommy tries to assuage Superman's guilt by... going on a rant about everything that's wrong with America?  I mean, I get some of what hes driving at... but, this kinda feels shoehorned in.  Like this page was the catalyst for the entire issue.  Superman says... "I've never really thought of it like that before", which I'm going to assume is just him being polite for taking up this odd man's evening with his stories... because nothing Tommy says here is really all that novel.

Tommy then points across the way.  Through an opened window we can see Figs Kernahan... a bad dude responsible for a bunch of the rackets in the "Cauldron" neighborhood of Gotham City.  He uses Figs being a free man to show Superman not to be so hard on himself, after all, we've all got a long way to go.

Superman thanks Tommy for his time (and ear) and prepares to head off... not before Tommy sheepishly asks for an autograph though!

Superman takes off... and Tommy gets to the real reason he'd been camped out on the roof.  He pulls out his sniper rifle (which, you'd figure Superman would've been able to "see")... and takes aim on Figs...

... then, so touched by his evening (and heart-to-heart) with Superman... he takes pause, and ultimately... lowers his gun.  Nah, just kidding... he blows Figs' brains out.

We wrap up the issue with Tommy making a call and making plans to grab a bite to eat... and bragging about his chance encounter that night.

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I liked this issue a lot.  Never been all that big on Hitman, the concept, character, or series... but, this was a really enjoyable story!

I like the idea of Superman just unloading his burden on a perfect stranger... it makes you wonder just how many times this might have happened "off panel" with just some rando in Metropolis or Central City or something.  Because, I mean... it didn't take all the much prompting for Superman to start spillin' his beans.

Since the astronaut story didn't take place in any of Superman's books... it also makes you wonder about the number of missions he goes on "off panel"... what's more, how many of them ended in complete (or partial) failure.  This is really well done.

My only misgiving, and if you read the synopsis this won't be any surprise, is that odd bit about America (which wasn't even really anti-American or anything)... which segued into talking about Figs.  That just didn't feel organic... it felt to me like, when you're in the shower and you come up with (what you think is) a great talking point, and you spend the next several days trying to twist any conversation you're in in such a way where you can drop your "genius" line.

That's how I feel about Tommy here.  The only way this could've felt less organic would have been if he premised with "Can we change the subject for a moment, there's something I've been dying to say...".  Superman, ever polite, tells Tommy that he's opened his eyes... which, c'mon, that's gotta be a gag.  Nothing Tommy said was new or novel, and it's certainly nothing that hadn't been said to or by Superman.

The art here... really works for Tommy and the city, but McCrea's Superman (outside of the excellent cover) doesn't really work for me.  He's too "butt-faced" and looks uncomfortable in his own skin.

The sorta-kinda "twist" at the end, really made the issue though.  Tommy just played therapist for the greatest superhero in the universe... then, splatters a bad dude's brains all over the place.  Great juxtaposition... made even more darkly funny when you imagine Superman flying off thinking about what a "nice guy" he'd just met.  Though, really... Superman should've started the issue by asking, "Hey, what's with the sniper rifle?", right?  Ehh, whattayagonnado?

Overall... great little issue here, well worth the read.  If you're a Superman fan, this provides a great opportunity to see him in a totally different environment.  This issue is available digitally.

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Letters Page:

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Hitman #22 (1998)

Hitman #22 (January, 1998)
"The Santa Contract"
Writer - Garth Ennis
Penciller - John McCrea
Inker - Steve Pugh
Letterer - Willie Schubert
Colorist - Carla Feeny
Separations - Heroic Age
Associate Editor - Peter Tomasi
Editor - Dan Raspler
Cover Price: $2.25

Welcome everyone to our Third Annual (third annual???) Christmas on Infinite Earths... in July!  Wasn't sure we were going to discuss any Christmas books this month... but, then I gets to thinking "Am I going to still be doing this (every day) come December?"... smart money's on, prob'ly not.  So, let's just keep up the tradition.

Like last year, this isn't going to be a very organized "blog event"... no set number of books/days... I'll just sprinkle 'em in here and again.

Today we're going to talk about... a book that I never really glommed onto, Hitman!  Might sound like heresy, but... I can't lie to ya.  I've tried getting into Hitman time and again, and just find it kinda... I dunno, empty?

Let's see if this Christmas Special changes my mind!

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We open with a radioactive Santa Claus romping down the streets of Gotham City... but, how did this come to be?  I'm glad you asked.  Ya see, there was once this man named Bob Smurd who worked as a janitor at a nearby nuclear power plant.  On this Christmas Eve, he finds himself knocked into a vat of glowing green ooze.  He lunges outta the muck, and is shocked to see that he has "powers".  He suggests he might be a hero, however, a co-worker suggests he might make a better bad guy.

Bob throws on a Santa Claus outfit and stomps his way through the snow, while... uh, Mr. Burns... and that guy who works with Mr. Burns look on.  They don't want this news to get out... sooo, they decide it's in their best interest to hire a professional.

Speaking of a "professional", we hop across town to Noonan's Bar on Peckinpah Street where Tommy Monaghan and Natt the Hat are drowning their empty-pocketed sorrows in the drink... lamenting that they passed on a "werewolf job" that would'a floated them through Christmas.  Natt also razzes Tommy about dating an ex-cop.

The bar's proprietor, Sean Noonan reminds the fellas that they'd made a promise to do something special this Christmas Eve... and that something special is, caroling with Saint Killian's Orphanage.

During the caroling extravaganza, Tommy gets a call on his cell.  It's Mr. Burns... or that guy who works with Mr. Burns, and they're offering to pay ten-grand for the removal of the radioactive Santa Claus.

Using a Geiger Counter as their guide, the fellas track Bob Santa to a local mall.  They drive straight into the mall, Blues Brothers style until they find their man.

After getting his attention, he attacks... Tommy stops short sending Santa crashing into a wall... he then swaps pedals, from brake to gas... and plows right into the radioactive baddie.

Santa then proceeds to beg for his life... he also claims to now understand and appreciate the true meaning of Christmas.  Tommy briefly pauses, before visions of $10,000 start dancing in his head.  He then blows Santa's brains out... repeatedly.

After cashing-in and some very late Christmas shopping, we rejoin Tommy and Natt back at Noonan's.  They exchange gifts... with Tommy getting a "Junior Cop" playset.

We wrap up with a special message which basically reads... don't be a jerk on Christmas!  Now, there's a sentiment we can all get behind!

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Well... still not my favorite book, but this was a pretty enjoyable issue.  Can't quite shake that feeling of emptiness... maybe even detachment, though.  I guess Hitman might just go down as a book that "isn't for me".  Can't deny its quality, it's just not for me.

That said... there isn't a whole heckuva lot for me to say about it!  I suppose there is a bit of charm in seeing Tommy Monaghan singing with a church choir... but, I mean, the juxtaposition is sort of the point, right?  I mean, it's like the "rapping grandma"... it's not supposed to be a thing that we see, and so it's a novelty.  It isn't particularly funny... or even anything we want to see, it just "is".

I dug some of the back and forth between Tommy and Natt... and, I suppose, the radioactive Santa Claus isn't the worst baddie for this book.  Still, it doesn't make me want to read more.  Maybe someone out there can point me to an issue of this series that might!  Can't help but feel I'm missing out on some "inside joke" here.  I just don't get it.

Overall... if you're a fan of Hitman, I bet this issue will be right up your alley.  This issue is available digitally.

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Letters Page:

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