Meet Mike Denton: a dirtbag hitman, junkie, and absentee father who’s spent his life chasing the easy fix—drugs, cheap sex, and murder for money—while failing the one person who still believes he can be better: his daughter. Now, on the eve of Black Noon-an ancient darkness that erases the light in all things—Mike has to drag himself out of the gutter, awaken a supernatural weapon powered only by love, and fight his way through the living embodiment of evil to save her. Hammerfist #1 introduces us to a hero who we shouldn’t be cheering for, but just might have to.

There’s stories where it’s hard to like any of the characters. They have some aspect about them that makes them difficult to not hate. Hammerfist #1 is interesting in that it’s main character, Mike Denton, is supposed to be unlikeable. It’s clear he’s scum and a terrible human being. But, even with all of the negative, the debut issue still makes you believe there’s some redeemable aspect to him.

Written by Rick Remender, Hammerfist #1 is a solid first issue that introduces Denton in all of his shittiness and then shifts the story to its real focus, a robbery gone wrong that turns into something so much more. It’s a comic where the less said about it, the better, but in some ways I’m reminded of the much hated stint of the Punisher as an angelic force… but in this case, it’s done right.

Denton is a terrible human being but Remender still gives us small glimpses, small hints, he has some qualities about him that make you think he might come around. He’s abandoned his kid and a terrible father. He’s a killer. He’s a junkie, far gone in his addiction. There’s little we should like about him. But, Remender also makes sure for readers to see that he is street smart, aware of the situations he’s in, and by the end, also shows he can care for more than himself. It’s small teases of the hero he might have to become.

The comic delivers some solid action and that’s beautifully rendered in all of its chaos by Steve Epting on art who is joined by Matt Hollingsworth on color and Rus Wooton‘s lettering. The comic looks fantastic delivering Epting’s style. The comic is interesting visually. There’s brutal violence but it never distracts the reader. There’s also trippy rides as Denton loses himself in the drugs. Then when things really get rolling, we get a robbery that features solid action but also small visual teases that something isn’t quite right.

With the type of story it is, the story and art combine to remind me of Brubaker and Phillips’ crime comics in many ways and those who like those should check this out. Hammerfist #1 is an entertaining start and with its ending, I’m intrigued to see where it goes. And, it makes me want to see Remender and Epting team up again and again when this is all over and done.

Story: Rick Remender Art: Steve Epting
Color: Matt Hollingsworth Letters: Rus Wooton
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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