Hammerfist #1 (Image Comics, 8/26/26): Writer Rick Remender & Artist Steve Epting get down into the seedy underbelly of crime when a hopeless hitman is recruited for a bank robbery, but it’s not what he thinks. Fans of Remender’s knack for authentic drama and grounded fantasy will love this debut. Verdict: An excellent debut.
Credits:
- Writer: Rick Remender
- Artist: Steve Epting
- Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
- Letterer: Rus Wooton
- Cover Artist: Steve Epting (cover A)
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: August 26, 2026
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover Price: $5.99
- Page Count: 48
- Format: Double-Sized Issue
Covers:
Analysis of Hammerfist #1:
First Impressions:
Barring the revealing cover art, I intentionally went into this double-sized issue completely cold, and I’m glad I did. Rick Remender’s talent for spinning engaging yarns at Image Comics is paying dividends, and Hammerfist #1 is no exception.
Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):
The issue begins with our protagonist (calling him a hero would be a stretch), Mike Denton, visiting a loathsome man, Vernon Stubbs, in a trailer park. Mike was hired to kill Vernon, which he does with brutal efficiency. When he later visits Vernon’s abused wife Delilah for payment, she gives the cash she has and offers to make up the difference with “personal services.” Mike takes the cash and leaves because the only personal service he needs is a hit of meth.
The next day, Mike is approached by William and Cindy with a job offer. They want him to be part of a bank robbery crew, and his payment is more than he would ever need. The job sounds fishy, but he accepts. Later, Mike meets the rest of the team and Delilah from the night before. Turns out, Delilah’s contract killing was a test to see if Mike was up to the current job.
The crew reaches an out-of-the-way town where nobody is scared or intimidated by strangers. The bank robbery begins quickly, but Mike and the rest of the hired guns are suspicious of the bank patrons who don’t seem rattled by the bank robbers. In fact, the patrons mock the bank robbers’ stupidity for attempting what William and Cindy are attempting. The last act concludes when Mike learns that William and Cindy are robbing the bank for a magical gauntlet kept in the vault, a gauntlet with tremendously destructive power, a gauntlet that chose Mike to be part of the robbery.
How is the story in Hammerfist #1?
Rick Remender’s urban fantasy is a thoroughly engaging and entertaining mix of seedy crime, grindhouse violence, and intriguing magic. Barring Constantine at DC Comics, that’s a combination you won’t see much of these days and certainly not done this well.
Remender’s dialogue is pitch-perfect. The pacing, flow, and transitions of the scenes are masterfully efficient. And the violent last act is the best demonstration of teasing exposition the right way that you’ll likely see from any publisher.
How is the art in Hammerfist #1?
Steve Epting brings his artistic power to bear with a comic that’s moody, gritty, dramatic, and pulsing with a noir aesthetic. The character designs embody a realism that creates a magnetic pull into a lived-in world that’s dirty and violent. Given different circumstances (and smarter Editors), Epting would make an excellent match for a Punisher run at Marvel.
Characters
Mike is both the focal character and the narrator of this tale, so you get a close-up look at his actions and thoughts. Mike is a broken man whose cynical outlook on the world is rarely disappointed, outmatched only by the disappointment he feels in himself for letting down his daughter, Kaylee, at every turn after abandoning Kaylee’s mother when Kaylee was two. He’s the last person you’d pick to be a hero, which makes the journey so intriguing.
Originality & Concept Execution
A down-on-his-luck man who suddenly has a great power thrust upon him by Fate is nothing new. What makes Hammerfist #1 so much more interesting is just how far away from a “hero” Mike is depicted, and the open question of what he does with the power now that he has it. We’ve said before that opening questions in the reader’s mind only work when the questions focus on the future, so Remender gives the reader a lot to think about.
Pros and Cons
Art Samples:
The Scorecard:
Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 3.5/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 4/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 1.5/2
Final Thoughts:
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Hammerfist #1 finds a hopeless hitman thrust into a world of dark magic on the eve of a mystical happening. Rick Remender’s grimy crime thriller mixed with fantasy is instantly captivating, and Steve Epting’s art captures the grimy look and feel perfectly.
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