Before Harley Quinn and Kite-Man DC Was Developing Another Cult Favorite Character's Series

As a seasoned gamer with a penchant for DC comics and a soft spot for antiheroes, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia reading about the potential Hitman series that could have been. Having grown up on the gritty streets of Gotham City through countless comic books and games, the idea of a live-action or animated Hitman series feels like a dream come true.

Prior to creating the animated shows “Harley Quinn” and “Kite-Man: Hell Yeah!”, writer and producer Dean Lorey had previous ties with DC. Before his work on The CW’s “iZombie”, he attempted to launch a series based on DC’s beloved antihero Tommy Monaghan, known as “Hitman”. This series, which introduced Noonan’s bar to DC fans, was penned by Garth Ennis and illustrated by John McCrea. It revolved around a hitman who gained superpowers following an alien attack in DC’s “Bloodlines” event.

Originally debuting in issue #2 of “The Demon” Annual, this character subsequently starred in a solo series for 61 issues. Spinoff series like “JLA/Hitman” and “All-Star Section 8” were produced, and he made brief appearances in other comics. However, for the most part, this character has been largely absent from publication since the conclusion of his series.

Since we opened the bar named Noonan’s, it seemed logical for some characters reminiscent of ‘Hitman’ to emerge,” Lorey said in an interview with The Direct. “I’ve been a fan of ‘Hitman’ for quite some time, and I even worked on its development alongside Garth Ennis for Syfy, though the project didn’t come to fruition. That’s where many of the characters like Moe, Joe Double, Shawn Noonan, Six-Pack, and others originated.

In the comics, Noonan’s wasn’t strictly a hideout for villains, but transforming it into such a place fits well with the storyline. On Supergirl (which I haven’t watched, but its logo was frequently shown!), Noonan’s seemed to be something different, but in the Harley Quinn version, it feels more like the original concept envisioned by Ennis, where it was a favorite haunt for hitmen and other unsavory characters in one of Gotham City’s most notorious neighborhoods, the Cauldron.

In a conversation with ComicBook in 2016, Ennis mentioned that Noonan’s (and its owner) was named after the Sean Penn crime film “State of Grace.” According to him, this gangster movie is one of the most unfairly overlooked ones in the entire genre.

In essence, the comic “Hitman” paved the way for “The Boys,” co-created by Ennis and Darick Robertson, as both share similar sentiments of criticism towards traditional superhero tropes. Notably, “Hitman” showed a character vomiting on Batman during combat, reflecting a level of disdain that is also echoed in “The Boys.” Although it didn’t openly antagonize superheroes to the same extent as “The Boys,” given it was set in a universe where Superman existed, it still aligns thematically with the latter. Initially published by DC under its WildStorm imprint for a few issues, “The Boys” later moved to Dynamite Entertainment.

It’s uncertain if the “Hitman” series will be animated or live-action, but considering Lorey’s previous work on shows such as “iZombie” and “Arrested Development,” and her subsequent move to “Harley Quinn,” it appears that the show could potentially be either style. Personally, I would incline more towards a live-action adaptation.

2024-09-26 20:40

Before Harley Quinn and Kite-Man DC Was Developing Another Cult Favorite Character’s Series

Read More