Hitman: 10,000 Bullets [Paperback]

Garth Ennis (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A run-of-the-mill assassin gets bitten by some kind of demon, and instead of being dead, the attack left him with telepathy and x-ray vision, making him an even better hit man. That's Tommy Monaghan's story, and from there it gets better and better. The second collection of Hitman comic books is much stronger and much more consistent than the original volume. 10,000 Bullets is a tale of vengeance and honor. Writer Garth Ennis has a kind of magic in which he takes characters who live firmly outside of the conventional and then infuses them with a heightened morality. In Tommy Monaghan you'll find a character you can both cheer for and feel sorry for, because he's not a stereotyped killer--he's a three-dimensional human being. This book's only real limitation is that some of the characters, specifically Monaghan's new girlfriend, are introduced in the previous collection. Nevertheless, 10,000 Bullets is an exciting read even for newcomers to Ennis's work. --Jim Pascoe

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics; illustrated edition edition (March 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563894041
• ISBN-13: 978-1563894046
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,711,624 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More Ennis fun, July 16, 2001

By 

Ron Tothleben ([e-mail]) (Tilburg, Netherlands, Europe) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hitman: 10,000 Bullets (Paperback)

Tommy Monaghan is a Hitman with a conscience who's blessed with x-ray vision, telepathy and one hell of a skill-level. He'll shoot any meta-human you want (he doesn't take contracts on regular people because 'where's the sport in that') as long as you bring the money, AND he HAS to see the target as 'bad people'. Otherwise, no deal. In this book (which collects Hitman #4-8) the tables are turned when a mob boss from Tommy's past wants revenge and puts a price on HIS head. A hitman, who sees himself as the best in the world, called Johnny Navarone takes the job. Meanwhile Tommy himself, who doesn't suspect a thing so far, takes on a contract of his own. He's supposed to kill of a corrupt vigilante named 'Nightfist' (which is really meant as a mocking of superhero-comics) for the price of $10.000. The assignment turns out to be a set-up and Tommy gets in a world of trouble. Navarone then does something he really shouldn't have. Now IT'S PERSONAL ! From here the story turns into a kill-fest. Finally the book concludes with #8 which is a "Final Night" tie-in. The guys spend a night hanging out but when they realize the sun isn't coming up, and Superman's on the news, they decide to stick together in the bar to wait for the end of the world. They pass the time by telling each other about the time they came closest to death.

Compared to the previous Hitman collection (the one that hasn't got a name) this one contains a lot less one-liners and a heck of a lot more action and graphic violence. Off course there ARE still one-liners and the humorlevel is up to score (it IS a Ennis title after all) but you just have to look harder for it (just LOOK at the characters, it's a blast). It's a great addition to the Hitman series and people who like the typical Ennis' humor, and don't neccesarily need a story to be too complicated will have a lot of fun with it. That's mainly what going on, action and humor and it works out very good. The one downside this book has though is that it relates a lot to the previous collection, so you should really get that one first or at least read it prior to this one (or you'll miss out on things here and there). But that's also a good book so that's not a waste either.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece, October 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hitman: 10,000 Bullets (Paperback)

By far, this is one of the greatest stories I have ever read. Comic book or otherwise. Action, heart, humour, and some of the best dialogue ever written. The scene with the bathtub... my God... it almost ripped my heart out. Garth Ennis is truly one of the greatest writers of the 20th century.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars And You Thought Tarantino Was Violent..., May 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Hitman: 10,000 Bullets (Paperback)

Even if you've never read Hitman before in your life, this boook is still great. From the introduction by Kevin Smith of Clerks and Chasing Amy fame, to the final chapter which offers an unconventional tie-in to your standard DC "end of the world" crossover, this book is great. If the first three pages don't make you laugh, this book might not be for you... but if you're in the mood for Siamese twin mosters whose other halves are dead, a motherlode amount of blood and killing, funny-as-hell war stories, the world's stupidest superhero and the only gangsta in America who doesn't swear, this book is for you. Ennis shows what he can do when freed from the high intellectual lofiness of Preacher (that's sarcasm, son.)