Kick-Ass 3 #4 – Review

By: Mark Millar (writer/co-creator), John Romita, Jr. (pencils/co-creator), Tom Palmer (inks & washes), Dean White & Michael Kelleher (colors) and Chris Eliopoulos (letters)

The Story: Hit-Girl is still in jail and Kick-Ass has a problem within his own team.

The Review (with SPOILERS): This is a classic transitional issue; pieces are just being moved into place for the finale.  If this was someone’s first issue of Kick Ass, they’re going to be bored and wonder what all the fuss is about.  If you’re a long-time reader, you’re not going to find anything very memorable about this issue. But if you’ve stuck around for this long, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll drop the series when we’re only a few issues from the finish line.

I guess there are a couple of things worth noting in this issue just because it’s hard not to imagine them having some bearing on the final resolution of the series.  One is the the internal “Civil War” among Kick-Ass’ group of heroes.  After a couple of issues of annoyance, Kick-Ass finally drops the hammer on The Juicer and kicks him out of the heroes’ clubhouse.  It is kinda funny because this is exactly what would really happen if you tried to form a group of real-life, vigilante heroes. Some dude is going to take advantage, not contribute his dues, make a mess in the clubhouse, use up all the toilet paper, etc.  The clever thing about Kick Ass has always been the way Mark Millar is looking at our familiar superhero tropes through the prism of “real-life.”  One of my family members has a “10% rule” that states that in any group of people (priests, school teachers, dog-walkers, policemen, etc.) 10% of those people are complete assholes.  So, it makes sense that as Kick-Ass has expanded his group of heroes, he’s going to run into a few jerks, like the Juicer.  That’s just the way the world works.

And, I’m looking forward to how Millar will apply the classic superhero trope of what happens when the Juicer returns.  He’s gotta have some role to play in the big finale.

Kick Ass 3 #2 – Review

By: Mark Millar (writer/co-creator), John Romita, Jr. (pencils/ co-creator), Tom Palmer (inks), Dean White (colors), Chris Eliopoulos (letters)

The Story: With a certain, pint-sized vigilante in prison, how will Kick-Ass and the others continue?

The Review (with SPOILERS): This was the first issue of Kick Ass that made me think, “Maybe this series has passed its expiration date…”

There just isn’t a lot of new ground being covered here.  One thing this series has done effectively is show what it might really be like if we donned tights and masks to fight crime– Hit Girl is in prison because vigilantism is illegal, Kick-Ass gets beaten up and mugged because sometimes “training” will not always allow you to survive street-brawls with 5 dudes, etc…  In a way, I loved the opening scene of this issue (where Kick-Ass is mugged) because it shows just how silly the whole premise of the series is.  I mean, have you ever swung through a martial arts forum on the internet?  There are always people coming on those forums who want to start training a martial art and they are often interested in the best martial arts training for dealing with multiple attackers.  The answer, of course, is that the best martial art for multiple attackers is RUNNING AWAY.

While it’s nice to see that little bit of reality-reminder to open this issue, it is something that we’ve seen before.  Millar and Romita have already spent 3 previous miniseries reminding us that Kick-Ass is more of a symbol of hope to the general population than a real-life ass kicker.  We are retreading old ground here.  Similarly, watching Kick-Ass rally his teammates to take on this new mob boss feels very familiar.  I’m not about to drop there series because I suspect that the ending will probably be good, but I’m not very interested in watching this build up for several more issues.

Kick Ass 3 #1 – Review

By: Mark Millar (writer/co-creator), John Romita, Jr. (pencils/co-creator), Tom Palmer (inks & washes), Dean White (colors), Chris Eliopoulos (letters)

The Story: With Hit-Girl in jail, what will the other heroes do?

Review: This was a pretty sedate return for Kick-Ass.  If you’ve followed the Kick-Ass miniseries, you know we’re now at a point where Hit-Girl has been incarcerated for her vigilante ways and Kick-Ass has formed a team of costumed adventurers.

Mark Millar really seems to asking the question of what Kick-Ass will do now that his talisman (Hit-Girl) has been removed from the equation.  We all know what would happen in the pages of Batman or Daredevil or Punisher (or some other made-up superhero): Kick-Ass would free Hit-Girl from prison and the “team” would embark of a path of vengeance against the villains and cops who had put them in such a postion.  Mark Millar really isn’t interested in telling that sort of story.  He’s more interested in exploring what would really happen to a kid like Kick-Ass who has lost his leader and is discovering that his “team” is a pack of losers.

Kick Ass 2 #1 – Review

By: Mark Millar (writer/creator), John Romita, Jr. (breakdowns/creator), Tom Palmer (finishes), Dean White (colors) & Chris Eliopoulos (letters)

The Story: What’s cooler than kids with no powers fighting crime vigilante-style?  How about a team of “super-heroes” with no powers fighting crime vigilante-style?

What’s Good: For those who really enjoy Mark Millar, this is going to be a very fun experience.  Kick-Ass was simply an awesome comic– fast-paced, entertaining violence… And anyone who didn’t like the movie is just allergic to fun.  Kick-Ass 2 feels comfortable. It’s really well done from a storytelling standpoint, and it has all of Millar’s trademark self-awareness and humor.

One issue that Millar had to deal with is whether he was writing a sequel to his first series OR the movie (because as expected, the film adaptation at some altered details here and).  Millar handles this very deftly.  Honestly, I’ve never seen a smoother transition in a sequel that had to grapple with this problem.  This work is very much a follow-on to the comic series, but Millar does it in such a way that people who only watched the movie won’t bat an eye by doing something very smart: just ignoring the inconsistencies instead of trying to explain them.  Sheesh! If only Joe Quesada could have done that with One More Day/One Moment in Time…

But what really makes this comic work is that Millar still captures the simple little things that make this title special. Dave Lizewski has a huge heart, wants to be a hero and isn’t afraid to fail, and Hit Girl is just so darn fun with her juxtaposition of cute girl combined with bloody killer (she’s pretty much the female version of Damien Wayne).

Of course, it being a sequel, things have to be bigger and better.  Kick-Ass is a little better at his “trade.”  And that’s good because we really didn’t want to see that kid continue to get the crap kicked out of him.  Also, Kick-Ass has inspired a real superhero team, which just makes the fanboy in Dave go nuts.  Only time will tell if this group of super friends is more reliable than Red Mist turned out to be.

Just Sharin’ The Wealth…

Kick-Ass – Movie Review

There is always a little skepticism when you go to see a movie that is based on a book/comic that you really enjoyed.  I always break the worry down into three areas: (i) that the characters won’t look/sound the way you had imagined them, (ii) that the creative team will make massive departures from the source material and “ruin” the story and (iii) if they do change the story for the movie, you’ll be constantly tempted to remind people, “Well, that’s not the way it happened in the book.”

So, with all that baggage I went to see Kick-Ass on a Sunday morning when everyone else was in church.

I really enjoyed this movie and think that the director and cast hit all the important notes from Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.’s book.  There are only a couple of major deviations from the source material that I’ll discuss below.

The first hour or so of the film is almost 100% faithful to the comic source material.  The main character, Dave Lizewski, is just as awkward and dorky as he was in the comics and his buddies are just as nerdy.  Dave’s life, back story, desire to become a vigilante, budding relationship with the hot girl, first meeting with Big Daddy and Hit Girl are all ripped straight from the comics.

KICK-ASS Trailer

HOPE IT’S STILL UP.

Kick-Ass #7 – Review

By Mark Millar (writer) John Romita Jr. (pencils), Tom Palmer (inks), Dean White (colors)

The Story: Red Mist’s ambush of Dave, Big Daddy, and Hit-Girl, comes to a brutal crescendo with the death of a major character, while Millar and Romita pay homage to the everyday fanboy.

What’s Good: Well, this series has finally caught up to its opening scene of Dave getting tortured and recounting his origin story. If you like the gory, ultra-violent stuff that has characterized this comic to date, then you’ll love this issue. Personally, I have always liked the whole concept/existential aspects of the idea behind this comic and not really cared for the gore. I’m happy to say that Millar does explore these themes a little here and satiates gore-prudes like me.

It’s weird, unique, and borders on great when the characters in this comic talk about comics being just fantasy. It reminds the reader that this comic is “real,” i.e. based on everyday life and no superheroes, but then in clicks that this is still a comic. This dynamic coats a nice “4th wall” layer to the comic in a un-in-your-face, non-Dead Pool manner. So, the way I view this comic is that it is a unique use of the medium to play on the whole comic metaphor, while exploring the real-world sociological effects of comic books.

Outside of all this, there is some interesting character work and Millar does a good job of making Red Mist into a true “villain” and Hit-Girl into a hero.

The artwork is off the hook, but I gotta be honest, something doesn’t sit right with me seeing JRJR drawing guts and blood to this level. I’m not sure why this is, but it is.

What’s Not So Good: Big Daddy’s narrative seemed very, very contrived. I know this is all about fanboy culture, but the specifics of his tale we’re a “Come on, man!” moment. If it wasn’t for JRJR drawing an unbelievable micro-shot of all the great Marvel Silver Age Covers, it would have been a total loss. Also, Dave actually surviving his torture and beat down was far less than plausible. It would have been better to just lighten the torture and make his escape believable. Lastly, Hit-Girl has one of the all-time corny lines ever to be written in a comic. I’ll leave it to the reader to find it (hint: combination).

Conclusion: It’s hard to get into this series’ momentum when issues are produced so sporadically, but KA has so much charge and energy that it is easy to fall back into its kinetic feel. Truly, there is nothing else like this on the stands. It’s one of a kind.

Regarding this issue specifically, it does what every previous issue has done: leaving you excited for more. But in this issues, there is that true heroic pseudo-superhero vibe to the ending and the direction of the series. However, I’m sure Millar will turn this flow around into some twisted, distorted and unexpected fun current.

Grade: A-

-Rob G.

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

Kick Ass #5 – Review

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

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Mark Millar, John Romita Jr., and the rest of the creative team can rest easy knowing that Kick-Ass does indeed kick some serious ass (so far). And it’s a good thing that it does or else I would have to go on some sort of rant about how the wonky release schedule is testing both my patience and my memory. In all honesty, as long as Millar and company continue to prove the old adage about how good things come to those who wait, I can forgive the months between each installment.

The Story: Kick-Ass #5 is all about the new hero in town. He calls himself Red Mist and is the media/Internet darling taking up the spotlight once owned solely by Kick-Ass (A.K.A. Dave Lizewski). With frustration mounting and the feeling that his pride is at stake, Dave decides to reach out to Red Mist in order to find out what the deal is.

What’s Good: While a bit slower than previous issues, the latest (and greatest) chapter of Kick-Ass does just about everything right. Truth be told, I was a bit concerned about how Mark Millar would handle the other homemade superheroes in the series, especially considering how over the top the introduction of Hit Girl is, but he pulls it off spectacularly in regards to Red Mist. In fact, I would go as far as to say that the new character proves to be great for both the series in general and the title character.

For the series, Red Mist helps to keep the story grounded in reality thanks to personality traits that are all too relatable. As far as Dave Lizewski is concerned, the dynamic between him and Red Mist brings a lot of much-needed depth to the character. While I won’t go into detail in order to avoid spoilers I will say that I finally felt truly comfortable rooting for Dave the hero and Dave the teen by the end of the issue. And that, readers, is a pretty big deal.

Visually, I have no complaints at all. While I’m sure the style isn’t to everybody’s liking, I feel it’s a perfect fit for the tone of the series. John Romita Jr. and his team continue to do great things with both the action and the character work. Particularly impressive is how highly expressive the characters are, as it goes a long way towards making them feel (and look) that much more alive.

What’s Not So Good: While I definitely enjoy Dave’s narration throughout the book some of the namedropping in regards to comics and pop culture come across as a bit much from time to time. On the plus side, it adds to the sense that the story is taking place in “our” world. But on the negative side it makes it seem as though Millar desperately wants the series to get mainstream attention. A little subtlety in that regard would be welcome.

Conclusion: In my opinion, Kick-Ass #5 is the best issue of the series yet. While not as flashy, extreme, or shocking as the others it makes an impact by proving that the series has more than enough personality, character, and depth to be worth investing in. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again (and, if the creative team keeps this pace, probably again and again): Kick-Ass kicks some serious ass.

Grade: A

-Kyle Posluszny

Kick-Ass #3 – Review

By Mark Millar (writer), John Romita Jr. (pencils), Tom Palmer (inks), Dean White (colors)

Just when I thought this book might be falling a bit too comfortable with itself, Mark Millar (and John Romita Jr.) shock the hell out of me. The first half of this book covers the worldly reaction to Dave’s last costumed outing where he dispatched a thuggish group of Puerto Ricans. He revels in the spotlight in secret while trying to keep his normal persona as grounded as possible.

Because there’s no real way to hide the damage his body takes, Dave takes the impression that his schoolmates think he’s the kind of hardened soul who refuses to ever go down in a mugging. Even the girl he’s fond of, Katie, seems to have taken a liking to him. But when word reaches Dave’s ear that everyone thinks he’s a poor gay boy who’s beaten for sex every other night, he uses it to his advantage, playing upon Katie’s sympathies.

The first half of this book feels like it’s going through the motions of the previous issue. We know it’s eventually going to build to something, but we, like Dave, have to keep things real by day before we can go play at night. And it’s not that these “out of costume” scenes are boring, we’re just dying to see what happens to our hero next. This build up and anticipation once again serve the book in spades as we are eventually presented with one of the most shocking moments we may ever see in a comic book. I mean, really – I knew that coming into this series we’d get some hard-edged violence, but what happens in the last five pages of this book will make you gasp, wince, and drop your jaw to the floor. It affected me so much that I grabbed Daniel (the other WCBR editor) out of his room and made him see these pages for himself (to which he ran away screaming about spoilers)! I’m an evil bastard.

I remember listing to an interview with John Romita Jr. saying how he had to be careful with what he did with this series because of his relationship with Marvel. I’m guessing he threw that all out the window with this issue, because not only is this (most likely) the first time I’ve ever seen nudity from Romita Jr., but the scale of violence on display here is off the charts. I honestly never knew he had it in him, and it’s great to see him break out of his standard mold.

Just when I thought I’d be safe and happily entertained with this book, Mr. Millar throws a huge monkey wrench into the story. And yet, what happens to Dave seems so obvious, as if we should have seen it coming. This one really pushes the envelope. It’s also one of the few comics that have made me yell, “Oh shit!” out loud. Kick-Ass is, dare I say it, treading into Garth Ennis territory now. (Grade: A)

A Second Opinion

Let me just say that I am not against something featuring a bit of the old fashioned ultra-violence. In fact, if put in the right context, I believe some graphic violence can serve a story well by creating a special kind of emotional or gut-level response to the action taking place. I say this because the final pages of Kick-Ass #3 shock in a way that both serves and elevates an already compelling story. Simply put, Millar and Romita Jr. have taken Kick-Ass, and, dare I say, comics in general, to an entirely new level with their brutal, controversial, and uncompromising vision.

I am extremely pleased with Millar’s writing for this issue, as main character Dave finally feels like a sympathetic character worth rooting for. While I had been enjoying this series, especially the concept, I never really had any emotional attachment to Dave. Millar has finally given me a reason to care for Dave as he is given some much needed complexity and depth that adds a lot to the story. If I have one small complaint, and it is indeed very small, it is that occasionally it feels as though some of the edginess is a bit forced.

As for the art, there really isn’t a whole lot I can add to what was already said in the main review. John Romita Jr. knocks this one out of the park. The violence actually brought to mind The Walking Dead, which is always a good thing. I always wondered what that series would look like in color and now I have a pretty good idea. As for the characters, expressions are spot on and, as weird as this sounds, I never realized how much well drawn eyes can bring to a story. The level of emotion Romita Jr. conveys through the eyes alone is pretty incredible. As for pacing, the action from panel to panel is spot on, whether things are slow or hectic. In short, this is some pretty great stuff.

What more can I say? Kick-Ass #3 steps things up in every possible way and I really couldn’t be much happier with the result. Pick this one up. (Grade A)

-Kyle Posluszny

Marvel 1985 #1 – Review

By Mark Millar (story), Tommy Lee Edwards (art), John Workman (letters)

On sale 5/29/08

I think Mark Millar has a fetish for boys coming from broken homes. Anyone who’s read Wanted and/or Kick Ass will understand what I’m talking about. With Marvel 1985, we’re put yet again into the shoes of a young boy from a broken home. But unlike the lead characters from the aforementioned series, this kid, Toby, has no desire to get himself killed or become a high-powered super villain. In fact, he’s a very normal kid who happens to be caught between his parents’ divorce. Using what money he has, he buys comics from the local store – using them as a tool to escape.

This book has a lot nostalgic value to it, so you’re going to have to forgive me if I come off a bit biased. You see, 1985 was the year I actually started reading and collecting comics. I remember the sights, the smells, and the bike rides I would take during the summer to get to my local comic store (it was miles away off the Air Force Base I lived on). Millar sets up the story right from the first page, and while I won’t disclose much of the story, I’ll say that this very much feels like a sequel to Secret Wars (the first series). The tempo of the book is paced evenly throughout, and in true Millar fashion we’re treated to a bevy of cultural references (relevant to 1985). I was even creeped out by one scene involving The Red Skull (Tommy Lee Edwards again gets a lot of credit for this striking scene).

Tommy Lee Edwards does an amazing job capturing the look and feel of the era. I can’t begin to tell you how closely I studied each page, enjoying the high level of detail and easter eggs Edwards planted. For those who were reading comics during this time frame, they’ll be instantly transported back. One scene in particular that blew my mind was Toby’s trip to the comic store. The attention to detail is just amazing! Edwards also handles the coloring chores with near perfection. The scene where Toby and his father walk through the woods is completely mood driven and the colors are the key to making this sequence work.

The unsung hero, however, is letterist John Workman who lettered this book completely by hand – a perfect throw back to the time. And while the word balloons in 1985 never looked this sloppy, the imperfections do nothing but add to the book’s character. With most lettering done by computer these days, it’s nice to see a tribute to this lost art.

Marvel 1985 will be fun for just about any fan of Marvel Comics. It’s an revisitation to a familiar time, when things weren’t so gloomy. It’s also a refreshing concept that goes beyond super heroes and villains. It’s like Kurt Busiek’s Marvels in a way, but it’s based in the 80s and seen through more innocent eyes. This kid isn’t witnessing any key events of the past like Busiek’s protagonist – he’s caught right in the middle of it! (Grade: A-)

– J. Montes

Kick-Ass Trailer

Chris Hartley sends word that that he’s created a fan-made trailer for Mark Millar and John Romita Jr’s Kick-Ass comic. Normally, I wouldn’t post this kind of thing, but when the effort is quite good, I’ve got to oblige. Check it out – Chris does an excellent job with the sound effects, especially with the bone crushing fight scenes.

Revver:
http://revver.com/video/795195/kick-ass-comic-trailer/

Direct Download (10MB .wmv):
http://www.sendspace.com/file/az1u9r

Kick-Ass #2 – Review

By Mark Millar (writer), John Romita Jr. (pencils), Tom Palmer (inks), Dean White (colors)

If you read Secret Invasion #1, the pacing of Kick-Ass #2 will feel all too familiar. The story commences at a slow pace, but once the Millar / Romita train gets rolling, there’s nothing that can stop its momentum. And as per usual, the creative team delivers another frantic issue that’ll tickle your funny bone, make you gasp in disbelief, and make you nod your head in that “Well, what did you expect would happen, you idiot?!” sort of way.

Our hero, Dave, goes through months and months of rehabilitation after getting beat up, stabbed, and hit by a Mercedes. We see the emotional trauma he goes through, but even worse, we see how his foolishness has devastated his father. And it’s really Mr. Lizewski who’s the real hero of this story. He occurs tons of debt after paying for Dave’s multiple operations and other medical expenses. When Dave finally comes home from the hospital, his father spares no expense in making sure his son has the very best of homely comforts.

Dave, it seems, has finally realized the pain he’s inflicted on his father and intends to make things right. He swears off stupidity, burns his comics, and eventually makes it back to school. But like a recovering alcoholic, there’s never a real cure for the sickness. It’s a fight you have to stave off everyday. And Dave’s real weakness is exposed when he puts the tights back on.

Again, Mark Millar does what he does best. He mixes violence, controversy, and human drama into a tight package. Yes, there’s another brawl this issue, and this is where the controversy may come in. Is sheer will-power enough to tackle a group of grown men twice your size? Or is it just dumb luck? I don’t have an answer for you, but in a demented way, it just works and it’s completely acceptable.

If anyone does any real ass-kicking this issue, it’s John Romita Jr. Naysayers will silenced not just by his storytelling, but by his action sequences as well. There’s no gratuitous single or double page splashes filled with crazy over-extended limbs. In fact, there’s not any real gratuitous violence in this issue at all. It’s just real. This is where the sure brilliance of the creative team comes into play. Showing a lot of restraint, they keep the action grounded. When Dave’s on the ground being beat, he doesn’t do some crazy move to get back on his feet, he flails his legs and arms just hoping he’ll connect with a devastating blow. And that’s what this creative team does: They connect with us on a primal perverse manner. It’s we, the readers, who are the gratuitous ones. (Grade: A+)

– J. Montes

FX #1 – Review

By: Wayne Osborne (story & script), John Byrne (pencils & inks) & Greg Cordier (colors)

The art and story of FX feels like I’m reading an 80’s comic book. All the characteristics are here: the art looks dated (well it is John Byrne we’re talking about here), and the colors have that four-color feel. The story is similar, in some ways to the Mark Millar / John Romita Jr collaboration, “Kick-Ass”.

FX #1 is your typical superhero origin story. What makes it a bit different is the story doesn’t do too much explaining how he gets his powers; he’s just hit by a bright light and that’s all we know. To use his powers need only think and make the sound effect of said power with his lips and it happens! If he wants a laser he points his finger, says “zzzt” and a laser shots. If he wants to fly, he thinks of a jet and a force field type glows over him, making a jet shape and off he goes. Because it’s imaginary based, it’s reminiscent of what Green Lantern can do – only Tom Talbot, our protagonist, doesn’t need a ring.

His first nemesis is a giant gorilla who escapes the zoo (who the hell transfers a giant gorilla into a zoo while it’s packed full of visitors?!). It seems that “Silverback” is a cousin or some other relative from Flash’s gorilla, cause it can talk as well.

I’m not big into hero books, but I gotta admit, this book is a fun read. I’m sure many people will like it because of John Byrne’s nostalgic feel. Now, back to my usual poor guy rant. Why the $3.99 tag? It’s not licensed, and I don’t want fancy paper stock if I can pay $1 less. I know that IDW is an independent publisher, but some people can’t afford that extra buck on the cover. (Grade: B+)

-Daniel Yanez

Kick-Ass #1 – Review

By Mark Millar (writer), John Romita Jr. (pencils), Tom Palmer (inks), Dean White (colors)

Everything you’ve heard about this book is true. It’s gritty, real, and violent. For those not in the know, the book’s premise is simple: A high school kid who’s a big comic book fan wonders why no one ever dresses up and does the “super hero thing” in the real world. He decides to be the first and is (literaly) hit with a grim reality.

What’s so fascinating about this book is not just how grounded in reality it is, but also how it comes to its conclusion. I know there’s more issues coming, but from the catastrophe we witness, you’d think there wouldn’t be much left for a second issue. What also surprised me is just how much narrative we’re given. I was expecting a “silent” type of book where Millar and Romita take us out on a day with this kid. Instead, we get a complete origin story. This isn’t a book you’ll breeze through in a few minutes – there’s a lot to read!

Mark Millar does an excellent job getting us into the shoes of the “hero” and learning about the world he dwells in. His references to other comics aren’t distracting either – this is stuff comic book geeks really talk about! And John Romita Jr.? What’s there to say? He’s a god. This is easily the best art he’s produced in the last few years. If you were expecting the rushed look he did in World War Hulk, you’re in for a big surprise. The world he draws is completely alive and full of detail. His storytelling is spot on perfect, and when things get frantic, he steps up to the plate and hits us a home run. Romita’s portrayal of violence stings and there will be moments that’ll genuinely make you cringe. Because it’s all real. And reality hurts. (Grade: A)

– J. Montes

A Second Opinion

I knew little about the book, but I like that it’s based on reality, not the Marvel universe of superheroes. Love the nerd references, lots of funny moments. This is a truly great origin story.

I didn’t expect the ending as well. How does he get to be a superhero if he’s almost dead? I can’t wait for next issue! Every comic book fan needs to buy this comic, it’s about you! (Grade: A)

-Daniel Yanez