Pick of the Week
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Ass Kicked!
That’s what screams out at you on the cover of Kick-Ass #7, and like the issues before it, that simple cover headline pretty much tells it all, right there.
Say what you will about Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.’s creator owned book; complain about how late it is; moan about the possible overuse of violence and language in it; wonder what the story is actually about and how you don’t think it’s going anywhere fast enough; say it all and say it loud. At the end of the day, I find it hard to complain about a book that is as well done as Kick-Ass.
Kick-Ass #7 picks up the story right as things are quite dire for our hero, Kick-Ass. His “teammates”, Big Daddy and Hit Girl have been captured by the mobsters they’ve sworn to bring down and he’s just been betrayed by his “partner” the Red Mist, who is working for the mobsters (in fact one of them is his Dad!). Hit Girl is seemingly killed after a hail of gunfire pushes her out the window, and the mobsters torture (and that torture, by the way, had me both laughing and squirming in my seat.) Kick-Ass and Big Daddy until they learn the truth about each other. They learn that Kick-Ass is just a kid and that Big Daddy isn’t a real life Punisher — an ex cop whose wife was gunned down by mobsters. No, in fact he’s a fanboy just like Kick-Ass who’s trained his daughter to help him fight mobsters purely so they could have an exciting life. And just when things seem to be bleak after Big Daddy is shot through the head, Kick-Ass finds the inner hero inside him and joined by Hit Girl (who’s kevlar protected her from the gunshots) are ready to deliver on the comic’s namesake, and kick some ass.
I’m fascinated by the story Mark Millar is telling in the pages of Kick-Ass. Weaving between super hero comics and realistic situations, each issue brings a fun twist that makes the story both amusing as well as entertaining. The addition of the mobsters in issue #7 delivers that taste of realism that brings you back to earth after watching people in costumes attempting to fight crime. The twist around Big Daddy, positioning him as an older comics fanboy — funding his war on crime with his comic collection — at first delivered a laugh but then comes off as really sad when you think about what the ramifications of what his fandom has led to. This idea of reading and believing in the good of heroes and to try and make a go of it for yourself in real life is partially inspiring and partially deranged and delusional. When Big Daddy faces his ultimate end, you can do nothing but feel bad for the guy and the choices he’s made, and feel concern for the daughter he’s leaving behind and the mental damage he will unwittingly cause on her.
And yet when you see Hit Girl in action, you forget all about that. You see her dive in, swords in hand, and cut down a group of mobsters and you forget about mental damage, and delusional fathers and everything else that is real. You forget all of it because you’re too busy cheering and rooting for her and Kick-Ass to prevail. All this takes place within a few pages of a comic book that could be argued goes by way too quickly (but in a good way). I have to give it up to Mark Millar for being able to develop the story and characters in such a way to make my emotions swing from one end to the other in such a short period of time.
But the real star of this book is John Romita Jr. This may very well be the best work I’ve ever seen from Romita Jr., and I’ve seen a lot of his work over the past 20+ years. Starting from the first splash page, in which the brightly colored Red Mist is betraying Kick-Ass to the darker toned scenes of the mobsters torturing Kick-Ass and Big Daddy, to the gruesome fate of Big Daddy to the chaos of the return of Hit Girl, to the final splash page of a blood soaked, colorful Kick-Ass and Hit Girl ready to fight back. Every page, every panel is an absolute delight. It may be Tom Palmer’s inks, but the pages have that classic Romita Jr. look to them but are way tighter than in previous comics, and just really works in every instance. Dean White’s colors also help to complete the magic by using colors and tones to drive the mood of each scene and each character. This is truly a merging of 3 great artists collaborating to produce a great product.
So say what you will. Criticize what you want. But for my $2.99, Kick-Ass has consistently been an entertaining, unique and fun comic book. I can’t wait for issue #8 to come out, and lord knows when it will, but when it does I’m sure it will deliver the same intense action and fist pumping story combined with amazing art that issue #7 and all the previous issues have delivered. Ass Kicked? You betcha! That’s not something most comics these days can claim and deliver on, but Kick-Ass #7 completely kicked my ass and left me wanting more.
Ron Richards
Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch!
ron@ifanboy.com
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In my humble opinion, the last issue was probably the highpoint of this series, for me at least. I found the Big Daddy twist a bit of a letdown, and for some reason made his story a little less interesting for me. This issue for me didn’t have any of the "holy shit" or fist pump moments that the last issue did.
That’s right, GIVE IT UP FOR MY COMIC!!! (Read my review of my own comic in the reviews section!)
Nice review Richards. There was some bizarre psychological problems with Big Daddy. I sensed it as soon as I met him. (The costume pretty much said it all!)
About the lateness, JRJR and colorist Dean White are both Marvel exclusive, working on lots of other Marvel books. You want the best? You have to wait. I’m glad these guys are telling my story though. It’s true that JRJR has never drawn at THIS LEVEL of greatness. There couldn’t be a better creative team at work here. ASS-KICKED!!!
So do you guys think Millar is making fun of that weird american attitude towards violence?
As a non-american i definitely think america has a “gun-ho, fuck-yeah, come on!” style perception, whether it’s justified or not, amongst the some other nations.
The book is actually a really intelligent commentary on that phenomenon
I seriously can’t wait for the trade.
great issue! good choice Ron. I particularly liked the end. It was good to see the main character step up and act truly heroic. the hit girl reveal at the end felt a bit cliched but this is still comics afterall so its not a big deal
@edward: I think you’re giving the book waaay too much intellectual cred by calling it a criticism of violence. Millar partakes and indulges in this degree of violence–and don’t get me wrong, I usually enjoy it. Kick-Ass is more self-aware of the violence it shows, but it’s not really criticizing it much, if at all. In fact the book uses this violence to gain readers. Remember all the covers of this series that have shown people beat-up and/or bloody? A book that does that does not really criticize violence–almost the opposite, in fact. Don’t forget that the other much-delayed Millar series is Old Man Logan, many issues of which have been dripping with blood as well. So giving Millar an award for having a "thoughtful anti-violence message" or whatever would be kind of ridiculous.
It’s probably my pick of the week, though. Me, I wouldn’t really criticize the violence in it.
All righty, then.
I really liked Models Inc. And Life and Times of Savior 28, and War of Kings, and Avengers the List, and the wrapup of the XMen/Avengers crossover. Good week.
It doesn’t sound like KICK-ASS is my kinda thing. Still, I’m looking forward to hearing you three talk about it.
My pick was DOOM PATROL and it appears I may be the only person who liked it that much. But that’s cool.
I enjoyed this issue more than I thought I would, but not enough to make it my pick. I went with DA/XM Exodus, suprisingly. Great end to a lackluster crossover.
Artwise I agree that this is some amazing JRJR work.
Yep Kick-Ass was a lot of fun.
But Unwritten #5 was POTW for me.
I’m on media blackout with Kick-Ass. I despise even possible spoilers. So I’m not reading this review yet. I just wanted to express my own pleasure at seeing it be the pick of the week again. I’d dare say every issue has been a potential POTW for me.
It’s an example of
goodgreat comics.Knowing how Ron is, about halfway through Adventure I figured it’d be POW. I picked it with no real prior history with the characters, and now I’m dying for more Conner and Cassie.
didnt think anyone was still reading this sh&t..oh well..
Is this the last issue for this arch/run of Kick Ass?
@OttoBott: Nope.
Dang. I’m ready to get the TPB already…
*bites hand*
I don’t agree with the pick but I’m not going to comment. Well my pick was Incredible Hercules but nothing bad about this pick…..and it’s hard not to comment negatively to this…
Great review. I really enjoyed this issue as well. BUMP IT.
@TNC-especially if you haven’t read it, right?
@drake: I just don’t like the pick because of the lateness.
But that’s all I’m gonna say on the subject, seriously.
How does lateness effect the quality of the book?
@vadamowens: It just effects my mindset of caring about this title. If this was issue #2 then I would be excited about now. With months of delay and just now releasing #7…..I just don’t care anymore about this series.
But it’s Ron’s pick so I’m not gonna talk smack about it. Just in my mind and colorful drawings.
Wow. We don’t need to have this conversation do we? It’s Friday. This should be a happy day. (Not to put words in anyone’s mouth, but) Let’s just say that Ron is evaluating this issue, not the entirety of the run. Therefore, the lateness of the book or his opinions about the previous issue/ authors/artists/management at Marvel/the Marvel & Disney deal/the color of the ad on the 15th page did not influence his pick. He just really enjoyed the issue.
@TNC – Let’s just be happy Ron had some fun reading this. I’ve never read the book and probably never will (just not a big fan of the mixing of excessive violence and children) and you don’t like that it was late, but Ron liked and and we should be cool with that.
@TNC – Please send me a link to the colorful drawings.
@stuclach: I guess I just have wildly different opinions about lateness. If people are fine waiting for a book when they shouldn’t, more power to them.
Also, here’s my best drawing. http://www.c71123.com/img/20051204-jordan_drawing-570.jpg
@TNC – You are, of course, entirely entitled to your opinions. You artwork is nice, but Michael Jordan doesn’t have hair. Please correct it.
On topic: That cover is pretty horrifying. Is that his rib?
Gotta say, I’m almost always entertained by a Millar comic. Sometimes they feel pretty shallow, not unlike a popcorn flick, but I usually have fun. This book was no exception. I like seeing the comic collector reveal — it fit far more perfectly than I’d imagine.
I also liked his Ultimate Avengers "Red Skull" issue this week.
I haven’t read Unwritten or my two Hellboy books this week, so it’s entirely possible one of those two will be my pick, but I want to give a shout out to both The List and Exodus. These two "Dark Reign" stories really brought the overarching story into sharper focus, and i hope the rest of the List books continue in that fashion. good stuff.
@daccampo – Brace yourself for a shock before you read The Wild Hunt #6. You might need an extra pair of pants.
@stuclach – thanks for the tip. Did just read Unwritten at lunch, and that was fantastic! It’s the contender right now…
@daccampo – I loved that one, too. It was a very close second for me. Mr. Carey is building a very interesting little world in which to play.
I don’t mind it being late just because when it does come out it’s usually the best book I read that week. Now if when it came out, it sucked I would think differently. The Big Daddy part shocked me and I love that in a creator own book you can take those twists and turns that you can never do in a Marvel/DC book.
Kick-Ass was pretty good. Unwritten #5, however, was incredible. I don’t think Ron’s reading it, but I really hope someone talks about the book this week. This was the first issue to give us a taste of the ideas that were hinted at in issue 1. What stories get told and why do we tell them?
@daccampo Totally with you on ‘The List’ and ‘Exodus.’
If a book is late it’s pretty much going to be hard to find at shops at my town since they are owned by one guy and so it’s organized in a way that makes it extremely difficult to find if it ships, this book was no different. Took a bit to even find the damned thing, to which point it deters a consumer away from the product and thus downplaying both the store and the product. But that’sthe average consumer for you. From this aspect I can understand why someone wouldn’t pick up Kickass #7 due to timeliness. As for me personally, it’s definetly one for my "f’d up shortbox". And yes I keep all my f’d up comics (like Berserker) in a single shortbox to freak out some friends.
@Crippler — totally with you on Unwritten. Amazing issue. Really expanded the world and used Kipling wonderfully. It was a toss-up between this and Hellboy for POW for me. And I ultimately chose Unwritten because while Hellboy was astounding with its plot twist, Unwritten added depth and breadth to its world.
@ohcaroline – right? I hope the rest of the List follows suit. It feels like these two issues combined to give structure to the Dark Reign theme. It’s like we finally got the signpost that this is indeed the "second act" of the over-arching story.