Near Death, Vol. One

Professional hit man Markham is content to live as a murderous sociopath until the day when a near-death experience reveals to him the eternal torments that await him after death. Determined to avoid this dismal fate, the professional killer resolves to use his deadly skills to make amends for his past transgressions, despite the notable handicap of a near-complete lack of moral sensibilities. His new path will save the innocent even from themselves, enrage past allies, and reveal to Markham that he is not as detached from humanity as he believes he is. This graphic novel is a straightforward, unambitious, but craftsmanlike work. Guglielmini’s art is occasionally sloppy, but in a manner suitable for the mess Markham has had of his life. While the story of a bad man turning from evil after a singular vision is a familiar one (hello, Scrooge), the creators of this work have made it their own, shaping a milieu suitable for many future encounters between this amoral guardian angel and the victims of the world. (Mar.)