The countdown continues with 1997's "The Santa Contract," from Hitman #22 by Garth Ennis, John McCrea and Steve Pugh...

John McCrea typically inked himself on Hitman and here it seems almost like McCrea did slightly looser pencils than normal, as the Pugh influence seems to be pretty strong.

In any event, in this twisted little caper from Hitman #22, Ennis presents the plot, Dr. Seuss "Grinch" style...

Yep, you see, one more supervillain has been unleashed on the world thanks to nuclear radiation (and you have to love the cute cameos of a certain nuclear power plant owner and his devoted assistant)...

I especially dig how Ennis explains Batman's absence from the comic...

With our "heroes" off to make their contract, we see the story take a turn as our villain decides to set his sights on a specific target - Christmas shoppers!!

As you might imagine, when Tommy and Natt catch up with him at the mall, well, things get crazy.

Ennis clearly had a blast with this issue, even rhyming "gag" and "aggghhh" in that last page. Hilarious.

The issue has a bizarre moral that has to be seen to be believed...

Hilarious stuff.