Hitman

Amazing Spider-Man #174

by Ross Andru, 1977

The Hitman is hired by a domestic terrorist organization known as the People'S Liberation Front to kidnap and deliver J. Jonah Jameson to them in response to damaging editorials Jameson has written about the group.

The Hitman confronts Jonah and Dr. Marla Madison in Jonah's office, but before he can abscond with Jonah, Spider-Man and the Punisher both crash into the office (separately) in an attempt to foil the plot.

After briefly distracting Spider-Man and the Punisher with a gas grenade, the Hitman drags Jonah to the roof where the pair take off in a lightweight, two-man helicoptor. Before they completely escape, however, the Hitman hints at some shared past between the Punisher and himself.

In the next issue, the Hitman escapes with Jonah via his mini-helicoptor, but not before being tagged with one of Spider-Man's spider-tracers.

As Spider-Man and the Punisher track the tracer, the Punisher recounts how he originally met Lt. Burt Kenyon in Viet Nam. After his patrol was ambushed by the Viet Cong, the Punisher was saved and dragged out of the line of fire by one Lt. Kenyon. Lt. Kenyon tells the Punisher, "Just remember that you owe me a life, soldier!"

Meanwhile, the Hitman has delivered Jonah to the PLF. They take a speedboat out to the Statue of Liberty where the leader of the PLF intends to blow up the statue with Jonah standing on top of it.

Spider-Man and the Punisher arrive on the scene and make short work of the PLF thugs. Deciding that he has fulfilled his contract, the Hitman guns down the leader of the PLF and attempts to flee on his helicoptor. Spider-Man drags him down, and a standoff ensues on top of the Statue of Liberty with the Hitman holding Jonah hostage. The Hitman fires at Spider-Man who (seemingly) falls of the statue and turns to face the Punisher. After a brief conversation, Spider-Man ambushes the Hitman from behind and grabs Jonah as he starts to fall over the edge. After being fired at by the Punisher, the Hitman dangles from the statue as well. Making a quick decision whom to save, The Punisher assists Spider-Man while the Hitman falls to his death.