So for the most part, I'm a fan of Mark Millar. I've dug most of the stuff he did for Marvel, from The Ultimates to Civil War to Wolverine to Fantastic Four. However I really wasn't big on Kick-Ass, although I enjoyed the movie immensely, and his second Icon project Nemesis was almost good, and then sort of wasn't. Anyway, let's just get to it. That comic up there, Kick-Ass 2 #4, sort of makes me want to kill people. Okay, not just any people. Mark Millar people. I guess just that one Mark Millar, the one that writes comics.
Actually, I'll go back a bit. In the preceding issue of Kick-Ass 2 the villain of the series, known as Red Mist in the first series, who has now changed his name to The Motherfucker (I shit you not), killed one of Kick-Ass' buddies and his dog, then cut off the dogs head and put the dogs head on over his head. Or maybe he cut both the heads off and just stuck the dog head on the guy's neck stump, I'm not sure. Either way, that's messed up. So Millar had to trump himself in this issue and boy-howdy did he ever. First Red Mist, or Motherfucker if you prefer (obviously Mark Millar does), shoots a bunch of grade schooler's in the head and torso region for no discernible reason. By the way, this happens on panel, not that it would have been much better off-panel, but still. Anyhoo, Red Mother or whatever and his buddies then track down Kick-Ass' girlfriend (or the girl he wants to be his girlfriend anyway) and kill her dad in front of her and then GANG RAPE HER. Yes, that happens in this comic.
So Kick-Ass (I'm talking the series now) has gone from so-so Super Hero fantasy story, albeit a violent one, to pretty much a horror comic. The problem is, I don't think Millar intended that. He still thinks this is a super hero book. It certainly doesn't read like one. And yes, I'll probably get the rest of the series because John Romita Jr. is a god among men, but still, Millar really needs an editor to reign him in.
Actually, I'll go back a bit. In the preceding issue of Kick-Ass 2 the villain of the series, known as Red Mist in the first series, who has now changed his name to The Motherfucker (I shit you not), killed one of Kick-Ass' buddies and his dog, then cut off the dogs head and put the dogs head on over his head. Or maybe he cut both the heads off and just stuck the dog head on the guy's neck stump, I'm not sure. Either way, that's messed up. So Millar had to trump himself in this issue and boy-howdy did he ever. First Red Mist, or Motherfucker if you prefer (obviously Mark Millar does), shoots a bunch of grade schooler's in the head and torso region for no discernible reason. By the way, this happens on panel, not that it would have been much better off-panel, but still. Anyhoo, Red Mother or whatever and his buddies then track down Kick-Ass' girlfriend (or the girl he wants to be his girlfriend anyway) and kill her dad in front of her and then GANG RAPE HER. Yes, that happens in this comic.
So Kick-Ass (I'm talking the series now) has gone from so-so Super Hero fantasy story, albeit a violent one, to pretty much a horror comic. The problem is, I don't think Millar intended that. He still thinks this is a super hero book. It certainly doesn't read like one. And yes, I'll probably get the rest of the series because John Romita Jr. is a god among men, but still, Millar really needs an editor to reign him in.
