Kick-Ass #6 – Review

By Mark Millar (Writer), John Romita Jr. (Art), Tom Palmer (Inks), and Dean White (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’ve enjoyed the hell out of Kick-Ass so far. The concept is rock solid, the characters are engaging, and the situations that drive the story forward successfully straddle the line between gloriously over-the-top and uncomfortably realistic. However, and this is a big “however,” that doesn’t mean that I can simply ignore the disappointingly long wait between issues. It’s not only frustrating as a reader (and fan), but also downright irritating as a reviewer because the wait just adds another factor I must consider when writing about and grading each new chapter of the series.

The Story: The origin of Hit-Girl and Big Daddy is revealed in the latest issue of Kick-Ass. In addition, Hit-Girl asks Kick-Ass and the Red Mist to join them on their next night out. Is a new superhero team in the works?

What’s Good: As usual, Kick-Ass delivers in a way that only Kick-Ass can. Though it’s not necessarily in the way that you might expect. That said, the latest issue of the series still has all the nerd-fantasy graphic violence, John Romita Jr. artwork, hip/lewd Mark Millar dialogue, and cool ideas that you pick up the series to experience. Because let’s face it, that’s the stuff that makes you a better person. But it’s the relationship between Hit-Girl and Big Daddy that makes the book linger in the mind. Both disturbing and incredibly sweet, the relationship is able to help the team’s origin story transcend it’s more generic elements.

What’s Not So Good: The sixth chapter of Kick-Ass requires some serious suspension of disbelief. While I have no real problem with that, it is bound to irritate some readers. Couple that with Millar’s (occasionally annoying) idealized dialogue (would Hit-Girl really be ready with a Silver Age quip?) and you have one divisive comic.

Another thing that I must mention is that I can’t really decide on whether Kick-Ass #6 was worth the wait or not, especially considering how fast it reads. The brisk pace does a nice job of moving the plot along and delivering information, but it also makes the ending hit like a brick wall. Sure it’s a pretty solid cliff-hanger, but what good is a cliff hanger if all the momentum is lost while waiting on the next issue?

Conclusion: Kick-Ass #6 isn’t really going to change any minds about the series, but it delivers for the fans. And that’s what matters most sometimes.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny