KICK-ASS

Chemically attuned to arrogant declaration, how could I not instantly fall in love with a comic called KICK-ASS? That's a statement of intent right there.

Issue 1's cover says it all:



People are going to get punched the fuck through doors!

Thankfully it lives up to such head-ringing boasts.

KICK-ASS is a new-ish Marvel comic by-way-of creator-owned imprint Icon. Parented by Mark Millar and John Romita Jnr, KICK-ASS has, thus far, been a pitch noodling on real-world superheroics and resulting hospital stays. Dave Lizewski is our hero, a rootless, lonely waif numbed by his mother's recent passing. Bored rigid by endless Scrubs repeats (and no small disinterest in academia), Dave dons an eBay scuba suit and takes to prowling rooftops. Quip anxiety, comas and volte face guilt punishment quickly follow.



Recounted from an undisclosed point in the future - whilst our hero is getting his genitals fried by battery powered bolt clippers - KICK-ASS exists in a universe were capes and tights have become a tolerated career avenue. Perhaps analagous to reality TV fame grabber? Lizewski speaks of being 'the first', like some street-justice pied piper. No heaven sent superpowers though. It's all graft and bitter experience.

Throughout the first three issues Lizewski's exploits filter into mainstream data-screen dumps - first a youtube video of his adventures (cannily recreated for viral marketing purposes here), which gets picked up a local news network, then a myspace page set up by the hero himself. Naturally, he clumsily tries to scope himself a ladyfriend with typically disastrous results.

Fortunately a droll eyed mini-pop comes to the rescue.

Lizewski's Daredevil has his Elektra.

And she's 9.



Click the image for a peach of an opening line.

The ink is dry on a movie deal already! Good lord! Is that standard practice these days? Do movie execs hang around publishing house doors, ready to mug jubilant creators? Or is it just a pitch package prerequisite? Gotta have a potential movie. Look out for KICK-ASS: The Movie, brought to you Summer 20XX by Stardust alumni: Matthew Vaughn and Jonathan Ross' much better half: Jane Goldman.

The 'cunts' line had better make the movie.