Image Comics 2018
Written by Mark Millar
Pencilled by John Romita Jr.
inked & Coloured by Peter Steigerwald
Lettered by John Workman
KICK-ASS IS BACK—ready to wipe out the city's criminal lowlives, destroy its gangs, and save its communities from decay. But there's a new face beneath the old mask, a new figure wearing that famous green and yellow spandex. Who is this new vigilante superhero? Who can fill Dave Lizewski's shoes?
Well I surprised myself with this one as I haven’t read any of the previous iterations or even seen the cinematic release. Though I do know what it’s concept was and is so I thought okay a new number one and a new start so why not get on board now? Kind of glad I did too because while the identity inside the costume might have changed the concept has not. Mark is shaking things up this time around and the person inside the costume has a different for wearing it and it’s one that many can relate to.
` Mark is a master storyteller of that there is no doubt and the way that this is structured reminds us of that. The opening has us start somewhere later on in the scheme of things as the new Kick-Ass is captured and brought inside to see the man. From there it’s backstory and how we get to that moment and move forward from there. The way the whole thing is laid out starts by grabbing your attention, keeping it and then surprising you along the way with what’s revealed. I was thoroughly engrossed from start to finish here and it’s no wonder why this sold out at the distributor level and is already going back for another printing.
I’m not sure if I was expecting an origin story already but what the heck if it works let’s get it out of the way off the bat! I have to say though that what Mark with this makes it extremely hard not to empathise with the new Kick-Ass. Also the training and everything that comes with what we learn is something that makes donning this outfit entirely within the realm of possibility. Also the timeline that we see unfolding here is exceptionally fast and I am somewhat shocked by its speed then the believability of how it all plays out.
Now I haven’t been the biggest fan of John’s work over recent years but somehow the work he’s doing on this seems to be inspired. He has found some of that old spark and attention to detail that have been missing. His eye for storytelling is still good as we see in the page layouts and the angles and perspective in the panels. Peter’s finishing of the work is extremely well done and the patterning of army fatigues and such that we see is superb. There are a lot of backgrounds being utilised here and I have to say that’s great to see.
So essentially what we’ve got here is a brand new start for a character and a franchise that not only revitalises it but expands it and evolves it in such a way that makes it brand spanking new again. This has and brings all kinds of excitement to the pages and it’s pretty infectious to me as a reader. There is this aspect of visiting an old friend only to discover a new one that’s just as much fun if not more so than the one you were originally going to see.
Kick-Ass is back baby and quite honestly I’m beyond thrilled that it can bring this kind of intensity with it.