The adventure with Boyzarro in Superman #43 is exciting, fun, and a little bit emotional.
Last issue clearly had two goals for its story. The first was to introduce readers to Bizarro World and its new denizen, Boyzarro, son of Bizarro. The second was to have Superboy poke around enough for the Bizarro denizen to become curious and jumpstart the plot. After running from a fight between Bizarro and Loiz (Lois Lane’s Bizarro doppelgänger), Boyzarro finds his way into the main DC Earth. He stalks Superboy and when he settles for bedtime, Boyzarro breaks through his window. What will happen to the Boy of Steel?
**Some Spoilers Below**
Story:
After following Superboy home, Boyzarro begins questioning the Boy of Steel who he is. Jon, being the kind-hearted half-Kryptonian he is, welcomes him. The two begin to bond as equals, but Superboy realizes Boyzarro doesn’t have a very good home life. Before he can offer him a place to stay, Superman rockets in to face the “threat” on his son. This leads to a fight between the Bizarro denizen facing-off against the Man of Steel. Meanwhile, on Bizarro World, the Backwards Bruiser himself finally realizes his son is missing, just as a new threat rises.
This story can be summed up in three characteristics: humorous, fun, and emotional. There is a ton of humor from the backward antics of Boyzarro and his father. Sometimes it’s the reverse of a legendary stereotype, sometimes it’s the childish nature, but whenever a Bizarro is on the page I couldn’t help but giggle. They’re just so fun to see go against the Man of Steel.
There are also a surprising amount of emotional moments from Boyzarro. He’s afraid to go home because his father really isn’t that good and you feel bad for the backwards Boy of Steel. Boyzarro reacts to everything as a child would, from apologizing sheepishly to hiding from adults. If it wasn’t for the freezing eye beams and fire breath, you’d want to give the poor kid a hug.
Art:
Patrick Gleason brings his A-game when it comes to the illustrations of this issue. He is able to make the people of Bizarro world look silly but can still make them terrifying when they need to be. It’s the range of emotion in the art that makes the entire issue feel more alive and entrancing to readers. The colorists of the issue also played a big part in this. Stephen Downer and Alejandro Sanchez work together to make a vibrant and colorful world and used the lighting to show emotion. The art team as a whole was able to make a great story look fantastic.
Conclusion:
Overall, this is a solid second chapter to the Boyzarro arc. The story has plenty of humor, action, and is able to pull the heartstrings. The art goes above and beyond to make the world feel alive. The only major problem I can say is that the Bizarro talk might confuse the uninitiated. If you can get over that hurdle, however, you’ll be in for a treat of an issue.
Sony Pictures Animation has released a shiny new trailer for the third Hotel Transylvania movie Hotel Transylvania: Summer Vacation.
It was released Wednesday morning and shows Drac (Adam Sandler), his daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez), and their friends Frankenstein (Kevin James), and Wayne the Werewolf (Steve Buscemi) go on a much needed vacation cruise.
The cruise specifically for monsters, doesn’t go as planned as Drac runs into famous monster hunter and arch nemesis Abraham Van Helsing (Jim Gaffigan) while on the ship.
Joining the cast is also Katheryn Hahn, who’s playing Erika the captain/cruise director and love interest for Drac. She’s also the great grand daughter of Van Helsing.
During an interview with USA Today the actress described her character as, “enthusiastic cheerleader with a dark underbelly (and) a cute blond haircut. She is like my circus flying-trapeze fantasy come to life.”
“She really believes in her legacy as a monster hunter and wants to fulfill her destiny. She doesn’t anticipate feeling anything but hate toward these creatures. And, of course, she does.”
“Oddly, if you do research on Van Helsing, he almost comes across as a comedic villain with his obsessive, driven, over-educated personality,” said Jim Gaffigan, who changed his voice to play the villain.
“My normal voice was too slow to capture (his) energy and drive.”
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation is set to hit theaters July 13, 2018.
Pacific Rim Uprising is the sequel to 2013’s surprise hit Pacific Rim, but it doesn’t quite capture the same lightning in a bottle.
Uprising picks up 10 years after its predecessor. Jake Pentecost (John Boyega), son of General Stacker Pentecost from the first film, is pulled back into the PPDC just as new threats from beyond the Breach rear their ugly heads.
Boyega is by far the movie’s strongest attribute. Between his acting ability and his natural charisma, he steals the show and makes for the better leading man between both Pacific Rim flicks. He’s funny, he’s charming, and you actually care about his well-being. There’s hope for this franchise yet if they decide to build it around him moving forward.
Outside of Boyega’s performance however, Uprising faces a whole host of problems. There’s its dialogue, stilted in both the way it’s written and the way it’s acted. Then there are its underdeveloped new characters, who give us no reason to care whether they live or die (including a quasi-love interest that’s shoehorned into the story and barely used). But, granted, these are somewhat forgivable sins for a “robots vs aliens” action movie. What’s NOT forgivable is the movie’s biggest problem: its pacing.
This story is 75% build-up. We spend an inordinate amount of time meeting characters and establishing a new world order before the main conflict is introduced to drive the plot forward. The first Pacific Rim managed to do both these things simultaneously. It had a simple but effective conflict: monsters come to Earth through Breach, giant robots have to fight monsters and close Breach. Uprising doesn’t show its cards until way late in the game, and then it feels like a mad dash to the end. Which is rough, because they’re good cards. If the script was structured differently, this could have been a very enjoyable time at the theater. And while the movie is never boring, it just feels unbalanced. Characters moments and emotional beats never have time to settle; the payoff is rushed and isn’t worth all the time you put into it.
However, if all you’re looking for are sick visual effects, then you’re in luck. The Jaegers are again badass to watch in action, and the effects team really ups their game on anything Kaiju-related. The filmmakers clearly attempt to top the last film with a “bigger is better” approach. It’s cliché in almost a funny way (one of the characters even literally says “bigger is better”), but what else do you expect in a movie that can only be described as “giant robots vs killer kaiju”?
Pacific Rim Uprising, but he can only do so much. You should be able to go to this movie and get lost in the nonsense. Instead, major pacing issues and terrible characters will leave you wondering “what the hell is going on?”
Pacific Rim Uprising hits theaters this week and all my excitement for giant robots and monsters was drained after director Steven S. DeKnight turned Guillermo del Toro’s universe into nothing more than an average kids movie.
The four writers involved in the sequel (DeKnight, Emily Carmichael, Kira Snyder, T.S. Nowlin) are more interested in selling toys then giving us their version of The Hunger Games. Once all the kids started piloting the Jaegers, it became standard fare like the Avengers, because you knew no one was going to die. The first film was gritty, dark, and any character could get blown to bits at any second. Del Toro built tension, in Pacific Rim Uprising DeKnight builds a toy empire.
All the fights take place during the day, are brightly lit, and this becomes counterintuitive. Seeing the CGI against sunny skies takes you out of the movie experience as you feel like you’re watching a cartoon instead of a live-action movie. The daylight is an example of the tonal shift of the sequel. The cartoonish Power Rangers elements of the film reach a climax when the main villain was commentating on the battle using lines like; ‘Arghhh!’ and ‘Take that!’ It was very Rita Repulsa.
With all the negatives, Pacific Rim Uprising is a way better film than any of Michael Bay’s Tranformers movies. The monsters and robots look good enough, with some great CGI work during the battles – even if the daylight is a hindrance. John Boyega is given every opportunity to shine, and he does an admirable job. After Pacific Rim Uprising , I now want to see a buddy cop film with Boyega and Scott Eastwood; the two of them had chemistry, and Eastwood would be the perfect straight guy to Boyega’s troublemaker.
With four writers on the film you think one of the characters with some depth, but no. Pacific Rim Uprising is a very shallow movie, with not an ounce of emotion. There are two deaths in the film and yet neither carry any weight or consequence. The situations are quickly glossed over and your attention is brought back to bright shiny things.
If Pacific Rim Uprising was a cartoon or a kids show it would be great, but since it’s a $150 million dollar film, people should get fired because they just stole from you.
Boom! Studios and their crossover event “Shattered Grid” will soon arrive and result in a change for Go Go Power Rangers. How does the final issue before the event set up the cast and plot?
Dealing with the revelation from the previous issue, the Rangers soon find themselves fighting against their greatest assist. It’s Megazord vs. Evil Megazord and only one can survive in the end.
Writing
This issue offers a perfect set up for what will soon happen in “Shattered Grid”. The crossover event will feature time travel and multiple Rangers coming together at once. After dealing with a monster which was impersonating one of their friends the team will be very hesitant to trust anyone suspicious. Nothing would be more suspicious than people showing up who look exactly like you and insisting they from the future.
Writer Ryan Parrott keeps up with the elements which are making this book such a mandatory pick month after month. The drama and struggle the characters are facing does not seem out of place. It really helps to reflect what the team would have been experiencing during these early years in their career as Power Rangers. Also, the flashback at the beginning showcasing Goldar’s time as a conqueror under Rita is very captivating as well.
Artwork
The art by Dan Mora is very striking. As the shapeshifter goes out of control and begins to attack the Rangers the fight scenes are something intense which could only be presented through comic panels. The monster changes into shapes which would be take hours to recreate if not impossible making it so intensely memorable.
With the color work by Raul Angulo, the fight scenes and energy effect work are more impactful. Each blow is felt thanks to the distinct colors used for everything from energy blasts, to blows, and even Rita’s magic.
The Ed Dukeshire lettering work helps to tell a difficult aspect with comics. Through changes in the font and color style, different voices are able to come out of the same creature. It adds a cinematic effect to the issue.
Conclusion
Though not a good jumping on point, the issue is a reward for anyone who has been enjoying this series. It has an ideal set up for a crossover which is sure to throw a wrench into any expectation fans had for this series. The original events of the Power Rangers will be changed and this book will no longer be a prequel setting but a book of its own.
Batman #43 brings the excellent Poison Ivy arc to a close by focusing on the love between Pamela Ivy and Harley Quinn.
Batman #43 Written by: Tom King Art by: Mikel Janin & Hugo Petrus Colors by: June Chung Letters by: Clayton Cowles
Writing
Tom King has done wonders for Batman’s Rogues Gallery so far. He has highlighted Bane, Joker, Riddler, and Kite-Man (“Hell Yeah!”). Batman #43 ends the current arc which focused mainly on Poison Ivy. And what started as a frightening and nightmarish scenario where Ivy has literally taken over the world, ends with one of the most tender moments in this run so far. Bruce’s plan all along was to bring Harley out of Ivy’s control in order to get them to connect as two people. It’s what ends Ivy’s takeover. It’s what saves the world. As it’s been established before, Harley and Ivy share a bond and King explores that bond with both elegance and tenderness. We also get a revelation about Ivy’s role in the epic ‘War of Jokes and Riddles’.
And emotional bonds seem to be the theme of this arc, as we also get great moments between Catwoman and Ivy and of course Bruce and Selina as well (King has stated in many places the heart of his run will be the Batman/Catwoman relationship).
Art
There are some beautiful images here created by the entire art team. Using two artists highlights the flashbacks (specifically to unseen moments from ‘The War of Jokes and Riddles’).
The colors by June Chung are incredible; lush and detailed, really giving off the atmosphere of plants and nature. You can almost smell the chlorophyll and feel the wind between the leaves. It’s all so fucking gorgeous.
Conclusion
Another great arc ends as Batman walks down the aisle toward the Batman/Catwoman wedding. Harley Quinn fans should take note of this chapter, as it does as much for her as it does for Ivy. It’s been said before, but King’s run on Batman is already a classic and we are grateful there is still so much to come.
AfterShock Comics released its solicits for June Tuesday evening. The highlights include Babyteeth Vol. 2 trade, The Lost City Explorers #1, and A Walk Through Hell #2.
Check out the cover gallery below, click on the image to enlarge.
BABYTEETH Vol 2 Trade Paperback
writer: Donny Cates
artist: Garry Brown
color: Mark Englert
letters: Taylor Esposito
cover: Garry Brown w/ Mark Englert
Collecting the complete second storyarc from the hit AfterShock series, BABYTEETH! Crazy Warlock dudes, super secret cabals, inter-dimensional portals, new assassins, and the horrors of airline travel with a (demonic hellspawn sent to destroy the universe) baby! Plus—Marty, your new favorite demon-racoon-thing friend! An all-new story arc of the critically-acclaimed series BABYTEETH is here!
$14.99 / 128 pages / color / on sale 06.13.18
A WALK THROUGH HELL #2
writer: Garth Ennis
artist: Goran Sudžuka
colors: Ive Svorcina
letters: Ron Steen
cover: Andy Clarke w/ Jose Villarrubia
You’re an experienced, confident FBI agent, armed and trained for the worst the world has to offer. You’re on a routine job in a Long Beach warehouse, not long to go before you clock off for the night. So why are you seeing things that just can’t possibly be? Why has your heart stopped beating in your chest? And why are you terrified beyond anything you ever imagined?
Collecting the complete INSEXTS series in one volume!
At the dusk of a century, a pair of vengeful Victorian vixens discover a horrifying power that transforms them into rich and strange new creatures. Armed with their dark, evolving forms, they descend into a world of the cultured and occult, with new senses and new sensuality, to forge a life for themselves and the child of their love. This new monthly series is the brainchild of writer Marguerite Bennett (ANIMOSITY, Bombshells and Batwoman) and artist Ariela Kristantina (Wolverines, Deep State), a comic unlike any you’ve seen before!
$44.99 / 290 pages / Color / on sale 06.06.18
THE LOST CITY EXPLORERS #1
Writers: Zack Kaplan
Artist: Alvaro Sarraseca
Colorist: Chris Blythe
Letterer: A Larger World’s Troy Peteri
Cover A: Rafael La Torre w/ Marcelo Maiolo
Cover B: Alvaro Sarraseca w/ Chris Blythe
NEW SERIES!
Lost cities aren’t just the stuff of myths. They exist hidden right under our noses. But when a mysterious expedition is disrupted by supernatural activity, and an antiquities professor goes missing, his teenage daughter and her friends must become underground urban explorers, follow his tracks on a coming-of-age journey through subterranean tunnels, and ultimately find the holy grail of lost city: Atlantis buried right under New York City!
$3.99 / 32 pages / Color / on sale 06.20.18
BROTHERS DRACUL #3
writer: Cullen Bunn
artist: Mirko Colak
color: Maria Santaolalla
letterer: Simon Bowland
cover: Mirko Colak w/ Maria Santaolalla
Discover the sorrow-filled truth of Vlad’s descent to the role of the Impaler! Vlad and his brother Radu have excelled in the art of vampire-slaying. But the vampires have a few tricks of their own. Some of those tricks may shatter Vlad’s sanity.
$3.99 / 32 pages / Color / on sale 06.20.18
DARK ARK #7
writer: Cullen Bunn
artist: Juan Doe
letterer: Ryane Hill
cover: Juan Doe
The monstrous creatures of Shrae’s Ark have been tasked with protecting Noah and his flock. But the shocking nature of the creature that plague’s Noah may set the monsters of the Dark Ark at each other’s throats!
$3.99 / 32 pages / Color / on sale 06.06.18
PESTILENCE: A STORY OF SATAN #2
writer: Frank Tieri
artist: Oleg Okunev
colors: Rob Schwager
letters: Marshall Dillon
cover: Tim Bradstreet
As this newest version of the Black Death begins to rise up and become an even deadlier crisis than before, Roderick Helms and the surviving members of Fiat Lux race to stop it—but can they do so while being hunted themselves…by the NEW Fiat Lux?
$3.99 / 32 pages / Color / on sale 06.27.18
HER INFERNAL DESCENT #3
Writers: Lonnie Nadler & Zac Thompson
Artist: Kyle Charles
Colorist: Jordan Boyd
Letterer: Ryan Ferrier
Cover: Kyle Charles w/ Jordan Boyd
Lynn and her favorite writer, AGATHA CHRISTIE, venture into surreal halls of modern art. Welcome to hell’s esteemed art gallery! As she descends deeper into the inferno, Lynn’s left to wonder if she’ll ever find her forsaken family or be doomed to the same fate. Including a surprise appearance by one of the 20th century’s most celebrated artists!
$3.99 / 32 pages / Color / on sale 06.27.18
ANIMOSITY #15
writer: Marguerite Bennett
artist: Rafael De Latorre
color: Rob Schwager
letters: Marshall Dillon
cover: Rafael De Latorre w/ Marcelo Maiolo
With the hideous truth of the Walled City revealed, Sandor must use every ounce of cunning to rescue Jesse from her human captors—before the try to “save the world” from the risen Animals…
$3.99 / 32 pages / Color / on sale 06.06.18
ANIMOSITY: EVOLUTION #7
writer: Marguerite Bennett
artist: Eric Gapstur
color: Rob Schwager
letters: Marshall Dillon
cover: Eric Gapstur & Rob Schwager
With one crisis defeated, a new nemesis lurks deep beneath the city, poisoning that which no living thing can live without—water.
Many of them are dead, the war they’re stuck in is still in full swing, but now the Cryonauts are face to face with the most dangerous situation of all: a 16 year old girl named Polly. As the stakes and body count rise, they’ll fight to stay alive and uncover just who has thrown them into this bloodbath and why.
$3.99 / 32 pages / Color / on sale 06.06.18
BETROTHED #4
writer: Sean Lewis
artist: Steve Uy
letters: Simon Bowland
cover: Steve Uy
The stunning space opera continues as our heroes land in the great waters of Priam with war on their mind. When a trap is exposed and friends are lost, what will our heroes do to survive? The last issue before the grand finale of the first storyarc exposes more truths and presents more surprises in the exciting world of BETROTHED!
$3.99 / 32 pages / Color / on sale 06.13.18
ALTERS Vol 2 Trade Paperback
writer: Paul Jenkins
artist: Leila Leiz
color: Leonardo Paciarotti
letterer: Ryane Hill
cover: Leila Leiz
Collecting the complete second story arc of this hit AfterShock series!
With her nemesis, Matter Man, finally under control, Chalice begins a new chapter of her life as spokeswoman and primary recruiter for the Gateway Army. Sensing that time is running out on the safety of the world’s newest Alter, Chalice expands her search. But as she closes in, new complications arise: Chalice finds herself juggling impossible responsibilities to her family, her Alters family, and an impoverished, now-homeless family she barely even knows. As past guilts intensify, she must stand fast against the pressure of her new responsibilities, or be consumed.
$14.99 / 120 pages / color / on sale 06.20.18
FU JITSU Vol 1 Trade Paperback
writer: Jai Nitz
artist: Wesley St. Claire
colorists: Wesley St. Claire and Maria Santaolalla
letterer: Ryane Hill
cover: Wesley St. Claire
Collecting the first five issue of this hit AfterShock series!
Fu Jitsu is the world’s smartest boy, and has been for the last hundred years. Wait, what? Fu is an un-aging genius, and has had adventures around the globe and around the galaxy. From Einstein and the Wright brothers, to Gandhi and Johnny Unitas, Fu has met everyone in history while protecting Earth from Robert Wadlow, the world’s tallest man, and his dangerous magi-science.
Fu exiles himself to Antarctica to try and forget the painful breakup with his ex-girlfriend, Rachel. Meanwhile, Wadlow returns from the far-flung future and sends James Dean, his ultimate assassin, to kill Fu at the South Pole. And you thought your teenage years were tough?
$14.99 / 128 pages / color / on sale 06.27.18
What AfterShock books are on your pull-list? Comment below.
Her Infernal Descent #1 is in stores April 18th, and Monkeys Fighting Robots has a whopping eight-page preview for you courtesy of AfterShock Comics!
The series is written by The Dregs writers Zac Thompson and Lonnie Nadler, and drawn by Roche Limit artist Kyle Charles. Colors are by Dee Cunniffe, with letters by Ryan Ferrier.
Nadler and Thompson spoke about the book with Comic Crusaders:
“Her Infernal Descent is about a middle-aged mother who ventures through the nine circles of hell in attempt to get her family back,” said Nadler. “However, looking below the surface reveals that it’s about a lot more than that. It’s partially a response to Dante’s Inferno, rewriting it and exploring and updating the famous nine circles of hell for a modern audience.”
Thompson added, “Lonnie and I both have strong relationships to our mothers, so we thought what better tribute than sending a middle aged mom into something horrific and harrowing… It’s deeply personal and completely surreal. I couldn’t be more proud of this insane book and I’m so excited to share it with people.”
Check out the preview here:
HER INFERNAL DESCENT #1/ $3.99 / 32 pages / Color / on sale 04.18.18
writers: Lonnie Nadler & Zac Thompson artist: Kyle Charles colorist: Dee Cunniffe letterer: Ryan Ferrier
cover A: Kyle Charles w/ Jordan Boyd
cover B: Robert Hack
NEW SERIES!
A tale of loss told in five parts. Any good mom would march through the inferno of HELL to get her family back.
Unable to cope with the burden of grief, a middle-aged mom descends the nine circles of hell to retrieve her forsaken family. Guided by the ghosts of William Blake and Agatha Christie, this no-nonsense mother journeys deep into a bizarre underworld filled with celebrity sinners, surreal landscapes, and absurd tasks. HER INFERNAL DESCENTis a retelling of Dante’s Infernothat updates the themes for a modern audience.
From the writers of the break-out hit The Dregs, and the artist of Roche Limit, this is HELL like you’ve never seen before.
What is FOC?
Final Order Cutoff (FOC) is the last day comic book stores have to adjust orders before a book goes to print. For independent publishers, this is a very important day. If a book is marketed properly and has generated a word of mouth buzz, this will encourage readers to add books to his or her pull-list before the FOC. The FOC for Her Infernal Descent is Monday, March 26. If you like what you see in the preview; call, email, and or text your local comic book store before then
When it comes to movie adaptations of video games they have been more of a miss than a hit. While watching the Tomb Raider reboot last week, a reoccurring thought popped into my head. Are movie adaptations of video games necessary, at least in this day and age? For the longest time, I have been someone who believes as graphics and cinematics in games improve, the need for big screen adaptations becomes less of a necessity.
Especially when you figure in the financial figures. 2002’s Resident Evilcost Sony/Screen Gems $33 million to make and it did make $40.1 million domestically. But for every rare success, there are a bunch of failures. In 1993, Buena Vista spent $48 million to make Super Mario Bros., which only made $20.9 million domestically in box office revenue.
The reason why I mention Super Mario Bros. is that it was the first ever major adaptation of a video game. Even though it was a mess of a film, it hasn’t stopped studios from trying to find success. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a lot of it over recent years. Warcraftonly made $47.3 million back of its $160 million budget.
Assassin’sCreed‘s ticket sales only topped $54.6 million, not even half of its $125 million budget. But even with those types of failures why do movie studios still adapt video games for the big screen? There are two reasons why I think they do. The first reason is Hollywood is a cinematic version of a casino.
Every greenlighting of a video game-based movie is another multimillion-dollar hand of Blackjack. Each one carrying hopes of a possible franchise. The second reason for these movies has ties to the developers themselves. They’re a way to get people to play their games.
Like with book adaptations, there are people who will say to their friends and loved ones while leaving the theater “The original version is better than the movie”. This can cause intrigue in people who want to test that theory out for themselves. While I’ve played both Tomb Raider and Rise of the Tomb Raider, having to see the reboot for my review made me want to replay both of them (and I did).
Part of the reason being for research and comparison purposes, the other part being they’re both really great games. No matter my thoughts on the movie, I can always go back to the games. Rampage is a movie I’m actually looking forward to. Do I expect it to be great or even good? Not really.
But it’s a movie based on a video game with little to no story. Allowing for creativity to flow no matter how ridiculous it gets. The 1995 version of Mortal Kombat is one of my favorite adaptations. Its fight choreography was wonderful, sets were designed well, certain lines were memorable, and let’s not forget the soundtrack.
Nintendo is even trying again with Mario, and Sonic the Hedgehog is getting his own movie in 2019. So are video game movies necessary going forward? While they might seem like unnecessary productions in the eyes of those who play them, we as gamers must remember one thing. Not everyone has a video game console, and if a movie adaptation is bad, we can always look to a game’s polygon beginnings to properly re-introduce others to the worlds we fell in love with, and the ones Hollywood tries to bring to life.
As I said at the beginning of the article, for the longest time, I have been someone who believes as graphics and cinematics in games improve, the need for big screen adaptations becomes less of a necessity. While part of me will always think that way because I’m an avid gamer, in writing this I now see how they do carry some benefits and are necessary to a certain extent.
With Kick-Ass #2, Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. raise the stakes as Patience Lee’s motivation for putting on a mask changes and she begins to embrace her new destiny as a superhero.
Kick-Ass #2 Written by: Mark Millar Art by: John Romita Jr. Colors and Digital Inks by: Peter Steigerwald Letters by: John Workman
Kick-Ass Created by: Mark Millar & John Romita Jr.
Writing
Kick-Ass #2 takes the book into an interesting new direction yet still delivers on everything fans expect in this title. Mark Millar is one of the medium’s masters at writing ‘badassery’ and this issue is no exception, as it opens with Patience Lee, the new Kick-Ass (who still hasn’t been referred to by that name actually), putting the finishing touches on her raid on the criminal hide-out. We know from issue one that Patience’s motivations initially fell more on the financial; she needed money and decided to rob criminals. But with this chapter, the story takes a step toward a more traditional superhero narrative. While staking out her latest heist, Patience catches the attention of a young street kid who lives a life of abuse and terror under the rule his mother’s boyfriend. And much as Patience tries to ignore that and remind herself she is doing this only to pay her debts, her conscience begins to get the best of her. In all culminates in a pretty great sequence that sees Patience kick the shit out of the abusive boyfriend, quipping with the best of them. It even ends with an outright declaration: “I’m a superhero dude…I care about everybody”. This gives her character an extra dimension. Yes, she is still a thief, but now she is also doing some good. It will be interesting to see what happens here because it’s obvious Patience is a person with a strong moral code.
Art
John Romita Jr. is a wonderful comic book artist and he has always delivered. But something about his collaborations with Millar unleashes something special in his art. These pages feature breathless pacing and brutal encounters. It’s gorgeous art that is very ‘meat and potatoes’ but still has a distinct style and details, especially with the heavy use of the close-up punch and kick panels that have become almost a trademark of this book. Seriously no one can draw a punch to the face like John Romita Jr.
The colors are fantastic too, with just the right amount of texture to create a bit of a tangible feel that helps separate it from the overt gloss so much digital coloring in comics has these days.
Conclusion
Chances are if you are a Kick-Ass or Millarword fan, this is already on your radar. But it’s fresh enough for new readers and features the kind fast-paced storytelling some comics seem to forget these days. Don’t sit on this one. Give it a try.
Batman #43
Kick-Ass #2
