Kick-Ass or Ass-Kicked?
The first issue of Kick-Ass, the new comic by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. proudly proclaims “The greatest superhero book of all time is finally here.” However, after reading the issue one is left ponder, how is this the greatest superhero book of all time? Also, what exactly is so “kick-ass” about it?
Mark Millar continues the same theory he explored within the page of the mega-crossover event “Civil War” I.E. that to be a superhero, the least important thing is the possesion of powers. Professional training, focus, and determination are key. However, the biggest key is to know what you are actually doing. The consequences of being over your head are made clear right from the opening in which a would-be hero tries to wing glide off of a new york skyscraper. Needless to say, he fails and falls to his death. Dave Lizewski, our protagonist doesn’t fair much better as we see him tortured early on in the issue.
Dave is much like Peter Parker, a nerdy unliked high student, and I wonder is Kick-Ass is some sort of demented (I use demented in an affectionate way that other readers of Mark Millar’s work will understand) love-letter to Spider-man. My only complaint is that the issue features too much failure and disappointment in the efforts of the Dave Lizewski to actually feel as “Kick-Ass” as all the quotes on the back and the blurb on the front claim it to be. I mean, there is quote from Damon Lindelof (from Lost) on the back cover that exclaims, “Reading this book made me want to dress in spandex and fight crime.” I’m baffled. Where is all the excitement about watching a high school kid get beaten up coming from? I’m still on board for the next issue and hopefully the book will become a bit more compelling by then.
John Romita Jr’s artwork is fun in simplistic kind of way. By no means is it the best work I’ve seen him do, but there are several pages in which I enjoy the artwork quite a bit. Dave and his friends (who are comic book nerds) at school are drawn in a very expressive and entertaining way.
I’ll try to keep you updated as I read more of Ass-Kicked comics…errr Kick-Ass I mean.
