Kick-Arse

[Judge Fun]

Anyone read 'Kick-Ass', and if so, what did they think of it?

The last Millar I read was 'Red Razors', which I would describe as 'A-load-of-Ass'.

[Richmond Clements]

Kick-Ass is fucking awesome.

[Judge Fun]

Yeah? I was thinking of getting the collected volume... Perhaps I shall 

[Richmond Clements]

Do it!
I'm not a fan of Millar's 2k work at all- but this is superb.

[radiator]

Was thinking about getting the trade - it's only £6 on Amazon, but I think I'll just wait for the film (apparently it's very similar).

[Judge Fun]

Just ordered from Amazon - went for the funky collector's edition, too.  Only the best is good enough for the Captain's table.

I'll let you know what I think!!!  

[Christov]

I hate Kick-Ass. With a passion.

In a nutshell I'd describe it as this:

Millar attempts to become Garth Ennis by writing a sweary, violent, semi-self aware book. It ends up as a poorly written mess, and basically amounts to "What if Spider-Man had no powers and had even shittier luck?".

Millar is very much hit and miss, and I have reason to believe this is the biggest 'miss' he's ever had.

[Jim_Campbell]

Millar attempts to become Garth Ennis by writing a sweary, violent, semi-self aware book. It ends up as a poorly written mess, and basically amounts to "What if Spider-Man had no powers and had even shittier luck?".

And yet ...

Cheers!

Jim

[Judge Fun]

Well, my copy of Kick-Ass arrived today. I've read the first three chapters, and am undecided as yet... It's been entertaining, but hardly great.  Will report back soon   

[Emperor]

Millar is very much hit and miss, and I have reason to believe this is the biggest 'miss' he's ever had.

Steady on - that is rather a strong statement in a debate that has come down to people beating each other with concrete bollards covered in broken glass over whether it is Robo-Hunter or Babe Race 2000. You'd better be prepared for Forum Thunderdome if you want to put that argument forward. Two me enter, one man leaves and no one comes out of it smelling of roses.

[Judge Fun]

Okey dokey, I have finished reading Kick-Ass.

I still don't think too much of Millar - Kick-Ass is quite a sloppily written effort, and the initially interesting characters fell pretty flat after a while. Still, many parts of the story were exciting and I was well entertained throughout.  The artwork was nice, and characters were well designed.  Plenty of outstandingly rude words, too.

Judge Fun's official verdict: 6.5/10

Really can't see how this deserves to be 'hated with a passion', or could be viewed as an absolute disaster! It's better than a Dan Brown novel, surely? 

[Professah Byah]

Being punched in a testicle is better than reading a Dan Brown novel - takes up less of your time, for a start.

Less a comic than a triumph of a one man self-publicising juggernaut, you can make what you will of this statement: Kick Ass would never have seen the light of day if it was anyone other than Millar at this stage of his career behind it.


I think the internet's foremost Tarot fan Chris Sims sums it up pretty well here:
http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/02/24/the-most-realistic-moments-in-kick-ass/
Some more of the same:
http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/02/23/comicsalliance-vs-the-independents-mark-millar-article/

Neither of those articles mention the portrayal of minorities in the book, so I shan't go into any detail of my own impressions in case it's just me projecting my own misguided racial profiling on Millar, but I'm reasonably certain that not all Puerto Ricans are drug dealers, and not all black people are related and/or know each other.

[Christov]

Steady on - that is rather a strong statement in a debate that has come down to people beating each other with concrete bollards covered in broken glass over whether it is Robo-Hunter or Babe Race 2000. You'd better be prepared for Forum Thunderdome if you want to put that argument forward. Two me enter, one man leaves and no one comes out of it smelling of roses.

Are you coming on to me?

[Emperor]

Steady on - that is rather a strong statement in a debate that has come down to people beating each other with concrete bollards covered in broken glass over whether it is Robo-Hunter or Babe Race 2000. You'd better be prepared for Forum Thunderdome if you want to put that argument forward. Two me enter, one man leaves and no one comes out of it smelling of roses.

Are you coming on to me?

Despite the rampant homo-eroticism, no. But if you ever want to wrestle naked in olive oil... you might want to speak to Roger's mum

[Alski]

I thought Millar's "Ultimates" was one of the best series I have ever read, and was very happy with the Fantastic 4 as well. 1985 is pretty good, but nothing revolutionary.

Kick Ass is an incredibly enjoyable, incredibly violent comic. Millar may well be talking out of his (kick) ass when he says it's realistic, but that doesn't stop it being fun. Very nice art, lots of laughs and a decent storyline, that'll do for a start.

Yes, it's VERY Ennis, and so was Old Man Wolverine, but that's not a problem for me.

Kick Ass is a cool, sweary romp that is a good adrenaline rush antidote to the safe mainstream comics. Less convoluted than The Boys, and still a lot of fun.

And racism? Just fuck off with that shit. Not all gangs are mixed race, and there actually are nasty groups of ethnic minorities out there - maybe Obama didn't get to them! Comics readers are usually above all that PC garbage.