While Matt and Gil will also be posting a review for this, Mocle and I put together a discussion review of our book of the week: Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.’s Kick-Ass 2 #1.
This book has drawn an interesting blend of pre-release scorn and pre-release buzz, and no matter what your take is going in, it’s impossible to say that this book isn’t hotly anticipated.
Check out Mocle and I’s take after the jump, as we walk you through a book that is supposed to make you “taste the awesome.”
David: Alright, this week’s book of the week is Kick-Ass 2: Electric Boogaloo. Mocle, did you taste the awesome with this book?
Joshua: Oh, did I ever. It was tangy, baby.
With a hint of nutmeg.
David: Oh, well I think Millar would be pleased about that then. Romita…not so much.
He doesn’t seem like the nutmeg type.
Joshua: I’d probably reverse that…I don’t know if they have sweet things in Scotland
Just whiskey.
David: And haggis.
Both of which aren’t so sweet.
Joshua: Not so much no.
David: So what exactly did you dig about this book, unless you were looking to just spin it in a very specifically flavorful way.
Joshua: Was wondering when you were gonna pull it back on topic…I mean, there’s a lot to like here. Millar seems to be invested in his work again, for one.
I really liked the way he structured the issue chronologically.
David: I agree on both points. Millar seems back on his game after Superior especially – although I have to say, I like Nemesis.
Joshua: Oh Nemesis is good fun, but Superior is just a completely different beast. So too with Kick-Ass. He’s kind of refining his sensibilities more than he has before.
David: Agreed there as well. Nemesis is more a villain oriented version of an 80’s action flick. These two have more substance to them (especially Superior).
Joshua: Of course, which isn’t to say that Wanted and Old Man Logan are the same book, but there are definitely similar storytelling devices used, where as specifically the three books mentioned have more of a distinct identity.
What did you make of Romita’s art this time around?
David: Oh god. Well, you know he split duties right? He did the breakdowns only with Tom Palmer finishing.
So it wasn’t pure Romita.
I think the book worked visually in many of the same ways the first book worked, and Palmer was a good mix with Romita – it looked like him all the way through and had the same energy from Kick-Ass original.
But I had a problem with it. A really big one actually.
Joshua: Shoot.
David: I thought his sizing scale was incredibly off, especially in the opening sequence with Mindy and Dave. I mean – Mindy looks like she is shorter than the bottom of a punching bag. She looks like she’s 2 feet tall.
She’s a kid, but she’s not a dwarf and she isn’t even supposed to be THAT young, is she?
Joshua: Well, I do know the movie made her older, but she WAS intended to be pretty young. Definitely under 10.
David: Right, but still, look at that first page, center panel. Doesn’t the scale between her and Dave seem REALLY off?
To be honest, it was only the opening pages that really bothered me.
Joshua: I was just going to say, the camera angle is a little awkward.
David: I agree. The angle skewed the sizes and I thought it was a little odd coming from the ground as it did seemingly.
Joshua: Agreed, but thats a perspective issue more than a character design issue.
David: That’s true. It just seemed to skew the whole image I guess. Perhaps I’m being petty.
Joshua: No no, I see it.
Continued belowDavid: It distorted it in a way that threw off my groove.
Joshua: I wouldn’t have shot it that way, I’ll say that.
Though I didn’t really notice it at the time.
David: But the rest of the book is great. All of the superhero scenes later are fantastic and I love the character design.
Joshua: Agreed 110%.
David: I mean, Romita seemingly has a great time designing real life superheroes with stylish coats and boots, but really just coats and boots.
Joshua: I mean, that’s the point, no?
David: Yeah, totally. That is the point. That’s why I loved it. The idea of comic dorks actually going out and becoming superheroes HAS to lead to a league forming.
He didn’t design them to have cool gear – just silly, simple costumes that look great in four color.
Joshua: I worry about the empowerment this will give to the LARP community…
David: haha no doubt. Lightning bolt!
Joshua: Hahaha
David: I did really enjoy the fun Millar had with the real life heroes though through Doctor Gravity.
I loved his explanation of the button on his baseball bat to Kick-Ass.
It’s real life – of course you can’t develop a stick that gives everything 20 times its weight.
Joshua: I think you mean his gravity pole, good sir.
David: Oh, my bad. I hope I didn’t offend Doctor Gravity.
Joshua: Whatever English majors are…words I can’t say in a public chat.
David: That’s the thing about Millar on this Icon books – he just seems like he’s having a good time taking these simple but enticing concepts and making them massively entertaining.
Joshua: Oh, of course.
Frankly I think the Mark Millar high concept days are over.
But that’s perfectly okay, since he can somehow do subtle too.
David: Well, that’s the thing about him is I can’t tell if he’s just a smart marketer or he is just writing a story, but it seems like his three newest books – including this – are essentially extensions of fanboy fantasy.
Though, and don’t quote me on this since I don’t have the issue in front of me, I could have sworn when last we saw Hit-Girl in the book she was very very out of this game.
David: She was going to school when we last saw her if I remember correctly.
Joshua: Now granted, she isn’t quite back IN as of now, but she’s more in than I would have expected.
Though maybe my memory isn’t my friend tonight.
David: And we did see Marcus in the first volume as Millar noted in his write-up in the back.
It did feel like she was OUT, but now she feels partly in as you said.
But the pacing thing didn’t bother me.
Joshua: Oh I liked it a lot, I’m just saying it was there.
David: I felt like it was a brisk pace, but I think that’s just in comparison to modern decompressed storytelling. It’s passe to get through a story when you can extend it out over a bunch of issues.
Joshua: Fair enough. I think by and large though I agree with you, its much more an extension of Vol. 1 than the movie.
That won’t stop the haters though.
David: Right. The Marcus thing was the biggest change. I mean, we were thrown into knowing him when we wouldn’t have really if we’d just read the first series.
What was your favorite part of the first issue?
Joshua: Probably the reveal of Justice Forever, if only because it was clearly designed to be everyone’s favorite part of the issue…or maybe I’m just having too much fun envisioning the horrible outcomes Millar has planned for them.
David: Yeah, it really has to be doesn’t it? I loved looking around that scene and just checking out the characters. It was a ridiculously fun scene.
I think another good one was when he and Doctor Gravity took out those two thugs who jumped them. The way Doctor Gravity responded – the “Holy fuck! This is amazing!” line – was really kind of a note perfect way to encapsulate the rush from the experience that a person would have.
Continued belowAnd it was just awesome.
Joshua: I didn’t even see Doctor Gravity doing a whole hell of a lot, either! It was all Kick-Ass, and that I liked a lot…its nice to see some genuine character growth, if only related to his ability to kick-ass.
David: Exactly. He just got the osmosis rush. Just from being involved. Because aren’t most of these characters either thrill seekers or fame chasers? That’s all they want.
Joshua: Something like that I’d imagine….also a LOT of losers.
David: See: Red Mist, who apparently becomes a mega badass.
Joshua: Apparently so…I hope to hell he doesn’t McLovin out though…
David: Well, alright sir. What would you give this book? Final verdict?
Joshua: A strong 8.9 I’d say.
Not perfect, but still a great read and a promising start.
David: Yeah, agreed. I think it will have its detractors because Millar is a lightning rod for hate anymore, but I think it was a success and a good comic at its core. I’d give it an 8.5.
