During a mission in Botswana, Director Wynn hires Simmons' friend and partner, Bruce Stinson (codename Chapel), to kill him. Simmons dies and is sent to Hell, having spent his life as an assassin. Making a deal with the devil Malebolgia, Simmons agrees to become a Hellspawn and serve Malebolgia if he is allowed to see his wife, Wanda, one last time. Malebolgia agrees, and returns Simmons to the living realm, but stripped of nearly all his memories, with a badly burned body, and a demonic guardian, named the Violator.