The Comic Book Bin
Marvel Comics (904) Articles


TopShelf Month

Darkhorse Month

Women's Month


 
Comics : Comic Reviews : Marvel Comics
Last Updated: Oct 20, 2009 - 7:25:21 AM




Kick Ass #3
By Zak Edwards
Jun 14, 2008 - 0:46:01 AM

Publisher(s): Marvel Comics
Writer(s): Mark Millar
Penciller(s): John Romita Jr.
Inker(s): Tom Palmer
Colourist(s): Dean White
Letterer(s): Chris Eliopoulos
Cover Artist(s): John Romita Jr.
$2.99 US, $3.05 Canada
Email this Article
 Printer Friendly Page
 Mobile Friendly Page

Add to Del.icio.us     Add To Reddit
Add To Digg     Add To Stumbleupon
Add To Technorati Favorites     Add To Ask


Kick-Ass is the biggest indie-comic sensation right now except for one problem, it’s a Marvel Comic.  But in terms of a great idea getting some serious attention, Kick-Ass is it, and a great read to boot.  Talking to some other, people, being a Mark Millar fan is not exactly commonplace, but I myself am a fan of his violent, controversial, and very socially and politically aware writing.  Kick-Ass is all of this in one uncensored package.  It’s definitely controversial and very, very violent, but, most importantly, it’s back on track after last issue’s sophomore slump.

kick_ass_3_1_1.JPG
And the blood. Oh, the blood!
Millar has found a structural formula for Kick-Ass that is working for right now.  The first half deals with the real-life of our Hero, Dave, and a reflection on being a super-hero while the latter puts Dave into his scuba-suit/costume and, through his incredibly stupid exploits, sets up for the next issue’s reflection.  The formula could be argued to exist in many comic books besides Kick-Ass, but it works for a series dedicated to taking the science out of science-fiction (and yes, I know that leaves us with fiction) because of the its fresh and unforgiving approach, just as a real-life super-hero would be.  The shocking final few pages proves that Millar has an agenda besides getting Romita Jr. to draw copious amounts of blood and gore.  Being Kick-Ass, that’s apparently the name of the masked hero, is starting to have serious consequences on the world around Dave, and that is what this issue is about.  The narration almost takes a step back, focusing on the social impacts of Kick-Ass on places as small as Dave’s high school and as big as America.  It is in this issue where Millar shows why he was chosen to write something like Civil War and why Superman: Red Son was such a success; he understands how the world works and can manipulate that knowledge into thoughtful pieces.  This issue is the best so far in a series that potentially has a great future ahead of it.

John Romita Jr. likes blood and gore, made obvious by the cover, but this makes the action sequences at the end of the series difficult to look at.  Millar created a sequence at the end not to be enjoyed, something Romita Jr. reflected perfectly in his pencils.  Romita also does a great job of showing Dave’s messed up injuries, somplete with swollen jaws and bandaged faces.  His art works for both halves of Dave’s life, depicting real-looking people in a story where reality is the point.

9.5/10    Even better then the first issue, Millar puts his strengths to full use



Related Articles:
From Comic Book to Film: Kick-Ass
KICK-ASS Keeps Stomping the New Printings
Kick Ass Gets a "Must-Have" Edition
Alan Who? Mark Millar and Kick Ass Still Rule
Kick Ass #3
Kick Ass #3
Kick Ass #2
Kick-Ass #2
Kick-Ass Goes Back to Press
Kick-Ass #1



Comment Script Join the discussion:

Add a Comment

Comments

I think I'll have to get the eventual trade paper back to see what everyone's talking about.
#1 - Hervé St-Louis - 06/14/2008 - 09:17
Me too...
I also want to read this. I made try a few issues and wait for the hardcover/TPB collection to finish reading it.
#2 - Leroy Douresseaux - 06/14/2008 - 17:34

© Copyright 2002-2009, Coolstreak Cartoons Inc. - All rights Reserved. All other texts, images, characters and trademarks are copyright their respective owners. Use of material in this document(including reproduction, modification, distribution, electronic transmission or republication) without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.

Top of Page

X-Force #21
The X-Men are confused, over and over and over and over...
Ultimate Comics: Avengers #3
The Ultimates lose their moral compass. Thank God!
Fantastic Four #572
In a surprising drop in quality, Fantastic Four becomes a sexist voice for the patriarchy.
The Mighty Avengers #30
Doctor Hank Pym meets his maker and finds a new purpose in life
Thunderbolts #137
New creative team brings worry about this series' future quality.
Spider-Woman #2
The series still works, even without voice-overs!
Doctor Voodoo: Avenger of the Supernatural #1
The new Sorcerer Supreme, chosen to defend our reality is attacked by Doctor Doom in order to save our reality from...the new Sorcerer Supreme?!
Vengeance of The Moon Knight #1
The Moon Knight is back and he’s making a brand new start of it in ole’ New York…again.
Thor #603
Donald Blake and Thor help Sif establish a secret identity while Loki and Dr. Doom exchange “gifts”…
Spider-Woman #1
One of Marvel’s most sultry, sassy, and super powered heroines gets a new monthly series.
Old Man Logan: How the Best Went Bad
Last year Mark Millar began the best Wolverine story in a decade...and this year he completed a story that was just as bad as a thousand others.
The Amazing Spider-man #605
This issue is about love, or Peter Parker’s lack of. Just as the cover implies, it’s about all the people in Parker’s life and their “it’s complicated” love lives
Dark Wolverine #78
Daken, the Dark Wolverine has been witnessed killing innocent bystanders and Norman Osborn is trying to fix the mess
Captain America Reborn #3 of 5
While Captain America relives his days on ice and his fight against the Skrulls during the Kree / Skrull war, the Falcon rescues the current Captain America
The Amazing Spider-man #604
The Chameleon is on the loose about to explode a nuclear device in the middle of New York City