#IReadsYou Review: KICK-ASS (Hardcover Collection)

KICK-ASS

MARVEL COMICS/ICON
WRITER: Mark Millar
PENCILS: John Romita, Jr.
INKS: Tom Palmer
COLORS: Dean White
LETTERS: Chris Eliopoulos
INTRODUCTION: Rob Liefeld

Kick-Ass was an eight-issue miniseries from writer Mark Millar (The Ultimates, Wanted) and artist John Romita, Jr. (The Amazing Spider-Man) published under Marvel Comics’ Icon imprint. Kick-Ass is also a graphic novel serialized as an eight-issue miniseries, perhaps, the first of a series of Kick-Ass graphic novels. Before I read it, I thought that I might like Kick-Ass, but after reading the recently published hardcover collection of the series, I can say that I absolutely love it.

The series focuses on Dave Lizewski, a normal teenager and comic book fan, who decides to put on a costume and become a superhero. The first time he plays hero, some thuggish black teens beat Dave’s ass into a coma. Dave’s second mission becomes an Internet sensation, from which he takes his superhero name, Kick-Ass. Dave is cognizant of what he is doing and understands the impact of his actions, especially after his activities spawn a wave of copycats, including a rich teen who calls himself, Red Mist.

However, with Kick-Ass’s popularity skyrocketing because of viral videos and because of those very same superhero copycats, Dave becomes hooked on this new lifestyle and addicted to the adrenal rush and danger that lifestyle entails. Then, Dave meets another costumed duo playing superhero, the extreme violence, father-daughter duo of Big Daddy and the sword-wielding Hit Girl. They play for keeps, cutting a bloody path through the world of mob boss, John Genovese a.k.a. Johnny G. Suddenly, being Kick-Ass may be more than Dave bargained for.

Early in the series, Kick-Ass is funny, sarcastic, and poignant in the way quality drama about the trials and tribulations should be. Then, the first time Dave becomes Kick-Ass and springs into action, the entire narrative turns vulgar, obscene, and deranged… in a way that is an absolute joy to read. Suddenly, John Romita, Jr. (pencils) and Tom Palmer’s (inks) ugly art made sense. Visually, what these artists did was tell Millar’s story as a graphic narrative in the only way that would make it work. They had to produce comic art that could capture the rundown neighborhoods and gritty environments in which Dave lived. That art also had to depict the sudden and ferocious violence and its gruesome aftermath that defines the world of Kick-Ass.

The deeper into this crazy, kooky narrative I want, the more I wondered why Millar doesn’t do more of this. In fact, if comic book publishers want to attract more young male readers, they may want to consider publishing books like Kick-Ass, which could appeal to the guys who like 300 and Inglourious Basterds. I sat in a theatre watching Basterds with two young guys sitting a few seats from me, and they howled with delight and encouragement every time the characters did violence to one another. Those are probably shoo-in readers of comics like Kick-Ass.

DC Comics has spent the better part of a decade trying to find order in its fictional DC Universe and its 70 years of continuity. New readers won’t bother with comic books that navel-gaze like that. They will want comics that… dare I say it… kick ass. I don’t know what the hell Marvel Comics is doing – re-launching, re-imagining, and generally trying to make every two-bit character shiny enough for Hollywood… when they should just… kick ass?

All they need to do is look to this hot mess from Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr. Kick-Ass is an inglourious basterd, and we need more Kick-Ass.

A

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