Kick-Ass [Hardcover]

Mark Millar (Author), John Romita Jr. (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 17, 2010 | Series: Kick-Ass

Have you ever wanted to be a super hero? Dreamed of donning a mask and just heading outside to some kick-ass? Well, this is the book for you - the comic that starts where other super-hero books draw the line. Kick-Ass is realistic super heroes taken to the next level. Miss out and you're an idiot! Wolverine: Enemy of the State's team of Mark Millar (Civil War) and John Romita Jr. (World War Hulk) reunite for the best new book of the 21st century. This title collects Kick-Ass numbered 1-8.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mark Millar is one of comics' most commercially successful writers, his work includes Wanted, Judge Dredd and the bestselling The Ultimates.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Marvel Publications (February 17, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785134352
• ISBN-13: 978-0785134350
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.6 x 10.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (80 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #337,330 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Along with Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar has been one of the key writers for Marvel Comics in the 21st century. After proving himself in the '90s as a talent to watch while writing for DC Comics and the UK comic 2000AD, his arrival to Marvel came at a time when Ultimate Spider-Man had just shot up the sales charts. It was in this environment that Millar made his first major contribution to Marvel with Ultimate X-Men, as Millar integrated forty years' worth of X-Men history, characters and lore into a solid two-year run, making the companion title to Ultimate Spider-Man every bit the creative and commercial success. Next up was The Ultimates, a new rendering of the Avengers that was to continue building on the success of the Ultimate line. He and artist Bryan Hitch pulled it all off in spades: The Ultimates and its sequel, Ultimates 2, were ensconced at the top of the sales charts every month; what's more, they were critical successes, as well. Meanwhile, Millar was invited to enter the regular Marvel Universe to take a stab at two of its most iconic characters: Spider-Man and Wolverine. Paired with industry heavyweights to draw his stories -- Terry Dodson on Marvel Knights Spider-Man and John Romita Jr. on Wolverine -- Millar brought the same fast-paced and cleverly constructed plots with which his Ultimate fans were already familiar. Amid building a small library of Millarworld indie comic books -- including the titles Chosen and Wanted, the latter of which was turned into a Hollywood blockbuster starring Angelina Jolie -- he managed to write Civil War, the epic seven-issue miniseries that definitively reshaped the landscape of Marvel's heroes. Kick-A**, a Marvel Icon project done in tandem with John Romita Jr., made an impressive impact on the sales chart before also being adapted for a major motion picture. In addition, Millar has reunited with Civil War artist Steve McNiven in both the pages of Wolverine and their creator-owned book Nemesis.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "We only get one life and I wanted mine to be exciting..." April 4, 2010

By H. Bala TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

My goodness, no wonder there's a movie coming out. What Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. have done here simply calls for a cinematic adaptation, and I am salivating. If you've ever wondered what it'd be like if some fool - and an untrained kinda nerdy high school fool, at that - decides to don a superhero costume and prowl the slimy streets in search of mischief, this'll be an eye-popper.

John Hughes never dreamed of something like this in his high school flicks. The central figure is comic-book-reading 16-year-old Dave Lizewski who doesn't boast that tragic a past; no radioactive insects bit him; he wasn't exposed to a magic word; and he's not an orphan from an exploded planet. To quote Dave Lizewski, his origin is he was bored. But under Mark Millar's insanity, Dave's story takes on this dark, outrageous, ultra-violent turn while still staying somewhat in the periphery of what's realistic.

This trade collects the first eight issues and lets you into an urban bloodbath. Because when you put on a wet suit and start looking for trouble, odds are you're gonna end up bumping against some seriously hard mothereffers. And when your only super powers are perseverance and some talent for soaking up punishment, you'll most likely end up hitting the floor really hard. Dave gets severely pounded his first time going up against some thugs, and then he gets bowled over asss over heel by a hurtling car.

Months of recovery from his injuries, and you'd think Dave's learned his lesson. But then Dave puts on the costume again and resumes his night patrols. And then, while bracing some muggers, Dave becomes an overnight online sensation, the first real-life superhero. The Internet even gives him his superhero code name.... And soon other costumed freaks are following in his footsteps, including a badasss ten-year-old girl expertly wielding swords. Go throw your hands in the air for the lethal and potty-mouthed Hit-Girl. And, okay, with Hit-Girl, Millar does wander past what's believable. But she's such a cool character that we have to, have to give her a pass.

Despite the Rob Liefeld intro, this trade is a jaw-dropping read, but it's horribly suited for children, nuns, and perhaps Armenians. Profanity and nudity are a healthy presence. Let me say that KICK-ASS is bloody and brutal and subversive and simply in your damn f----- face, and Millar shows you why no one's actually gotten away with putting on a costume and stomping on amoral lowlifes in real life. Artist John Romita, Jr. comes in with some of his best stuff and there's even that smidgen of that Frank Miller vibe in his art. Saying that this series is violent is to understate matters, kinda like suggesting that Big Daddy exhibits questionable parenting skills. I've already said that Mark Millar is insane, and I'm sticking to that. But the guy is also a master of his craft, and so we eat up his dish of bloody visceral bombast, and I also relish how Dave and, later, Red Mist go about on their new careers (Meanwhile, Big Daddy & Hit-Girl's relationship is really too dysfunctional to be relatable). So is this an unflinching, credible look at costumed vigilantes in the real world? Probably more so than not. The dialogue, by the way, rings true, as does Dave Lizewski. And the story is funny as well. I laughed my titmice off at what happens when Dave arrives at the moment in which he feels he ought to start leaping rooftop to rooftop. Dave Lizewski is a compelling character, but I think the kid is seriously disturbed. Still doesn't keep me from saying that his alter ego absolutely friggin' rules! Read more ›

52 of 57 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, but maybe not for the squeamish February 22, 2010

By dawg

Format:Hardcover

Well written, brisk pacing, fantastic art, fun twists, and great characters all combine to make this one of the best reads out there right now.

Is it shocking? Sure, but that's part of the fun of it! However, the "shock factor" is only one small part of what makes this book feel so fresh.

For me, Millar and JRJR kncoked this book out of the park. You can tell how much fun they're having telling their story, and I love being along for the ride.

If you're sensitive to violence or to underage kids using guns, swords, and adult language, this book may not be for you; but if you can appreciate it for what it is, you won't be disappointed. Don't worry -- it's nowhere near as "shocking" as many other comics out there such as Preacher or The Boys (or pretty much anything else Garth Ennis writes), but it certainly is edgy.

Overall, it's a surprisingly fresh and unique take on superheroes, geek culture, and adolescence, masterfully illustrated and perfectly paced.

I love it!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A bombastic, over the top blast March 16, 2010

By N. Durham HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

If it's one thing Mark Millar (Wanted, Wolverine: Enemy of the State & Old Man Logan, Ultimates, Civil War) knows, it's how to shock the audience. The much anticipated, and much delayed, Kick-Ass does just that and more. Published under Marvel's Icon imprint, Kick-Ass reunites Millar with his Enemy of the State partner and Marvel artist mainstay John Romita Jr. (World War Hulk, Amazing Spider-Man), and once again finds Millar poking fun at the sort of comic book conventions he did with Wanted, although the results are not nearly as nihilistic. Dave Lizewski is a comic book obsessed teenager who decides to take his love for superheroes to a new level when he dons a green costume and decides to fight crime. Naturally, things don't work out quite so well for him at first, and eventually, he finds that he isn't alone in the superhero business as he encounters Hit Girl, Big Daddy, and Red Mist. That's really only scraping the surface of Kick-Ass, as Millar presents the humdrum and dreary existence of Dave with such dark comedic flair that it's hard not to admire the series as a whole. That, along with the great artwork by Romita, makes Kick-Ass all the better. Word of warning however, Kick-Ass is definitely not for the squeamish: it is ridiculously bloody, violent, and will be more than likely deemed offensive by some. With that in mind though, Kick-Ass should be checked out at the very least regardless, and if the upcoming film adaptation is half as good, there will be even more reason to celebrate.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Quite Entertaining June 21, 2010

By GraphicNovelReporter.com TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

The film adaptation of the creator-owned, Marvel-published Kick-Ass, by writer Mark Millar and artist John Romita Jr., just hit movie theaters around the U.S. Cue new collected edition of the book with "Now a Major Motion Picture!" emblazoned on the cover. And while many hardcore comic enthusiasts might find themselves reluctant to purchase these tie-ins, the Kick-Ass book is actually a very nice collection.

The "Premiere Hardcover" edition collects issues #1-8 of the comic, comprising the entirety of the first major story arc. Though its cover does include the aforementioned text, effectively outing purchasers as "fans after the release of the film," it opts for new artwork by Romita on the dust cover rather than movie poster images, which is a nice touch. One version features Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl, weapons in hand, covered in blood. The other features a downtrodden Kick-Ass, sitting on his bed without his mask.

Aside from the black hardcover with yellow letters, and the collection of chapters 1-8, fans get two pages worth of bios of the comic's creators, a two-page spread of "Kick-Ass's Greatest Hits" (the most ultra-violent moments from the comics that comprise Book One), a few variant covers and a poster drawn by Romita of the characters in the movie versions of their costumes. It doesn't offer any behind-the-scenes in-depth features a la DC's Absolute editions, but it is a nice set at $24.99 to help fans get caught up with the series before or after seeing the movie.

For those unfamiliar, Kick-Ass's creators have dubbed it "The Greatest Superhero Comic of All Time." While this may be a bit of an overstatement, the book is quite entertaining. Kick-Ass tells the tale of Dave Lizewski, a comic-book nerd just like you or me.... Like everyone else, he has fantasies of being a superhero. Unlike the rest of us, he wonders why after years and years of comics no one has really given it a try. Putting on a mask and helping people doesn't sound like such a far-fetched idea to Dave.

So he orders himself the most badass scuba suit he can find on eBay and takes to the streets. For the first several weeks, he does little but patrol the rooftops. After a while, he decides to encounter a trio of hoodlums causing trouble. It doesn't go well, and he winds up with a knife in the gut; a car hits him as he stumbles away; and he wakes up severely injured in the hospital. But despite having some metal plates put in his head, suffering numerous broken bones, and burning his comics collection in defiance, Dave eventually winds up back in the suit and on the street.

His next encounter goes a bit better than the first. He gets his ass kicked again, but this time finds a way to stave off a gang of bad guys to protect their target. Someone just so happens to be recording it, and the video becomes a YouTube sensation. Embracing the modern age, Kick-Ass starts a MySpace page to learn the problems of the world, as patrolling just isn't efficient enough. It also inspires a wealth of copycats of varying qualities, and, of course, villains.

The main success Kick-Ass finds is in its "superheroes in real life" premise. Despite dealing primarily with children in costume, Millar (Civil War, Wanted) pulls no punches when it comes to the reality of a child fighting crime. It often ends in pain, and sometimes even death. It both accepts and comments on modern culture and how people become stars, and in doing so makes its premise that much more believable, as absurd as it is.

And Millar finds humor in the absurdity as well, creating some well-paced inner monologues and dialogue for big laughs that are truly earned. But its humor can also often be very high school in its tone. And as many people as there are who will embrace both this aspect and the ultra-violence of Kick-Ass, there will be just as many who find it childish and morally reprehensible. Make no mistake, Kick-Ass is brutally violent, and a 10-year-old girl who slices and dices without remorse and uses just about every swear word in the book isn't for everyone. In fact, it really shouldn't be, but Millar finds a way to make it endearing, or at the very least good fun. Kick-Ass features a "Mature Content" warning on the back, and it's not without reason, as much credited to John Romita Jr.'s gritty art as Millar's writing.

Kick-Ass also has its fair share of flaws. As much as Millar paces certain chapters, action scenes, and jokes incredibly well, he also sometimes fills panels with needless side notes and extra adult content for the hell of it. It's not perfect, and definitely not for everyone, but when it's on, Kick-Ass can be one of the more entertaining comics around, and definitely earns a unique spot in the medium, doing something new with the concept of superheroes. The greatest of all time? Probably not. Kick-ass? For sure.
-- William Jones Read more ›