Review: Paranormal Hitmen [2020]}

Paranormal Hitmen [2020]})

Editor’s note: This article has been updated after receiving a complete version of the book.

By Brett Murphy and Wilson Gandolpho

Behemoth Comics

25 pages

From the publisher that brought you the wacky misadventures of “Cardinal Dagon” comes another creative endeavor that stabs into the paranormal and twists the knife just enough to make you wince with a smirk on your face.

The story starts with two hitmen, Devon and Gene, driving through a wooded area in 1978 in a cool, classic R/T muscle car. They bust each other’s chops during the drive, much like in many mobster movies [think of Joe Pesci in, well, any movie he’s done]. Suddenly a tire blows out after running over some caltrops and the car wraps around a tree. The two check their “cargo” in the trunk - a man bound and gagged, with terror in his eyes - and the two thugs fall prey to knockout darts aimed at their necks.

When they awake, the guys find themselves inside of a secret government facility, and receive an offer they can’t refuse: join the USPAA [Unites States Paranormal Activity Agency]) or face charges for murder. The two hitmen are recruited and tasked with hunting down renegade ghosts, which can only be killed with special weapons and in a specific way. The ghosts are summoned via some new technology designed by a Dr. Mooney, who has since gone rogue and taken one of the summoning devices with him. But finding Dr. Mooney is not the only obstacle in stopping the ghost invasion - the hitmen’s boss is wise to the fact that his top gunmen are now working for the Feds, and he’s not happy about it.

With a rather unique concept in having mob hitmen hunt down renegade ghosts, this comic has the makings of a cult classic. The setting is perfect, with the cars, fashion, hairstyles, and technological limitations of the late 1970’s providing a mood that takes the reader into scenes of classic mobster movies like the Godfather, Scarface, Goodfellas, Casino, and others.

The paranormal aspect of it lightens the tone quite a bit, because it’s not a dark, eerie version of the genre, but rather a more lighthearted one, like Ghostbusters. This makes the story all-ages friendly, in a way [except for the gore], and can appeal to fans of various styles including comedy, action, adventure, and even historical fiction.

The artwork is great for a lighthearted comic, reminiscent of Eric Powel’s “The Goon” with square jaws, heavy eyebrows, and at times exaggerated expressions. Other than the red car in the first few pages, the color palette is somewhat muted, with lots of earth tones - a perfect supplement to the 1970’s setting; it actually feels like you’re watching a movie from the era.

 There is a bonus “skit” at the end of the book that made me chuckle, and a variant cover homage to Amazing Spider-Man #129 [first appearance of The Punisher] is going to be the version to buy for sure.

The script is good, with strict dialogue (no narration) and occasional scene markers. This is a good thing in that it keeps the flow of the work similar to a film, and it helps keep the story moving forward quickly.

I would have liked some 1970’s slang thrown in there for fun, with words and phrases like “jive” and “let’s blow this taco stand”, which would have elevated the historical and the comedic feel of the work. Instead, we get some modern phrases like “my bad” - this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it appeals to a younger, modern audience, but some 70’s slang would have really put a cherry on top of the whole thing.

The final verdict on Paranormal Hitmen is positive. The concept, art, story, and setting are all great. The dialogue is also good, although it could have benefited from some era-appropriate language.

This book is slated to be released in February of 2021, so place your order with your local comic shop as soon as possible [usually solicitations are done 3-4 months in advance], with Final Order Cutoffs due shortly after. If you’re a fan of mobsters, and you like Ghostbusters or Men in Black, this is a real treat. I give this 4 out of 5 stars.

An advanced copy was provided by the author for review purposes.)

 Available in February 2021.