(Hitman #1, 2) - Pat’s friend Hitman Tommy Monaghan gained metahuman powers after being attacked by a space parasite, and shared his secret with Pat. He always looked after Pat, whose mouth often got him into trouble. Sean held his weekly poker night at the bar, with Hitman, Pat, Hacken and Ringo Chen in attendance. They shot the breeze, and Sean advised Hitman to keep away from sports betting, because he kept losing exorbitant amounts of money. The next day Pat hooked Hitman up with crates of shellcases and put him in touch with Gerry McWilliams, who had info on a million dollar hit. The hit was on the Joker, taken out by the grieving father of a child joker had killed, and Hitman took the contract, which led him into conflict with Batman. Hitman was taken into GCPD before escaping, and made his way back to Pat’s apartment, asking him to use wirecutters to get his handcuffs off. Word spread about hitman going to Arkham, and he’d received contract offers from a number of people. Hitman was a bit surprised, but Pat reminded him that just about everyone in Arkham was guilty of an atrocity or two. Pat suggested Hitman join the JLA, saying he could be his partner the Finger. Hitman said all he was interested in was finishing the Joker hit and using the money to move to NYC, offering Pat to come with him.

(Hitman #4-6) - Hitman decided to lay low, staying in motels and hoping to keep Batmain off his trail He woke one night to find hitman Crazy Dick Dunston pointing a gun at his head. Dunston fancied himself an infamous killer, and he was so insulted by Hitman saying he never heard of him he dropped his guard, allowing hitman to shoot him. Hitman knew Dunston had been sent by Moe Dubelz, who still carried a grusge against him. Moe was a conjoined twin, and Hitman had killed both his father and his twin Joe Dubelz. Hitman visited Pat, upset that he was broke after making another foolish bet on the Gotham Black Sox. Pat told him about a $10,000 contract on Nightfist, a vigilante that had angered crooked GCPD cop Nicky Lincoln by taking drugs off the dealers he crippled for himself before Nicky got his cut. Hitman met his old friend Natt the Hat, who helped him kill Black Lotus Ninjas sent by Moe before agreeing to be his backup on the Nightfist hit. Hitman introduced his pal Natt the Hatt to the regulars at Noonan’s. Sean Noonan was pleased to show off his new billiards tables, and Sean, Hitman, Natt, Pat, Ringo and Hacken settled in for a night of games. Natt mentioned that he became friends with Tommy during their service in the Gulf War, and seeing Hacken’s Desert Storm t-shirt he assumed he was a veteran as well, but Hacken admitted he got the shirt from a videogame he ordered. Hacken invited further derision by insisting using a laser-scope in pool was perfectly legal. Pat kept taunting Hacken until he punched him in the mouth. Hitman and Natt drew their guns, and Hacken said that Pat would be sunk on his own, and that he always relied on his friends to get him out of the trouble he caused. Hacken’s words hurt, but Pat knew he was speaking the truth. Hitman and Natt fulfilled their contract on the vigilante Nightfist, but it was a setup by Dubelz hitman Johnny Navarone. Johnny bragged that he went from town to town, finding whoever the locals thought was the best, untouchable hitman and killing him. He said he wouldn’t call himself the world’s greatest hitman, but the facts were obvious. Johnny shot Hitman numerous times, but Natt grabbed a grenade and threw it at Navarone, who survived, but the distraction allowed Hitman and Natt to flee. Having no other choice Natt brought Hitman to his girlfriend Wendy’s apartment. She freaked out, never believing Tommy wasn’t joking around when he said he was a hitman. She wanted to call the police, but Natt insisted Hitman would be dead by the time they got there, and called up Sean Noonan while he gave hitman emergency medical treatment. Johnny visited Dubelz, telling him he thought hitman was dead, but Dubelz insisted he be 100% certain. Joe’s death was killing Moe, whose health had deteriorated. He was wheelchair bound and hooked up to an oxygen tank and an IV drip. Navarone said Nicky Lincoln knew all Hitman’s contacts, and he intended to put pressure on Pat Noonan, seeing him as a weak link. Sean patched up Hitman, and he was unconscious for a week. When he woke Wendy said she wanted him out of her place and out of her life. She told him and his friends that they were all scum, and they’d brought evil to her door. Hitman bemoaned his loss to Natt, who told him he had to be realistic, that a woman like Wendy wasn’t the type to look the other way or not ask questions, so his relationship was doomed from the start. They spotted Lincoln, and Hitman knew he couldn’t kill him, even though Natt wanted to, because the murder of a GCPD officer would keep him on the run for life. They compromised and Natt ran over Lincoln’s feet, crippling him. Johnny tortured Pat until he was dying, but Pat refused to give up anything about his best friend. Hitman found the dying Pat, who was proud that he’d done right by his friend. He said Hacken’s words really got to him, and he wanted to stand up for himself for once in his life. Hitman realized his death was inevitable, but slow, and shot him in the head as an act of mercy. Hitman told Natt they were going to find Dubelz and kill everyone in sight until no one from Dubelz crew was left alive.