Author: Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: 2010
Category: Graphic Novel
Source: Bought in Waterstones
Paperback: 216 pages
Summary from Amazon:
The greatest super hero story of all time is finally here! Acclaimed writer Mark Millar ("Wanted") and award-winning artist John Romita Jr. ("Amazing Spider-Man") unite for one of 21st century's most outrageous and acclaimed series! Dave Lizewski is just an ordinary American teenager. He has a MySpace page, he loves comic books, and he is unable to find a girlfriend. Then an idea hits him: why not become a real life super hero? Soon, his life will never be the same again. A major motion picture directed by Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman, "Kick-Ass" starts where other super hero stories draw the line, taking comic book realism to a whole new level! Warning: This title is for adults only!
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Massive love!
I absolutely loved the film and I have been meaning to read the graphic novel for such a long time! Then the Hit Girl cover of the graphic novel took me by surprise one day I was browsing in Waterstones and I just couldn't help it! I read it immediately and I really adored it!
So there is a lot of bad words and it is a wonder the graphic novel isn't dripping with actual blood from all the gory scenes present inside but what a masterpiece!
The story is about young Dave who is your stereotypical teenage nerd. He is good at school, could have a university chair in comic books and spends his free time online. One day he has a lightbulb moment where he wonders why anyone hasn't ever tried to be a superhero. And be honest with yourself, you have always dream to be a superhero and all your superhero dreams only stopped when you realised that puberty didn't bring you any super power.
His first attempt fails miserably and he is sent for months at the hospital.
What is brilliant is that Dave is a regular guy: no super power, no gifted butlers, not even a gazillion in the bank to buy impressive gadgets. Oh and definitely no sex appeal while wearing tights. He is a regular guy who will still try to be a superhero and whose only power is his determination. Thus Kick-Ass is born!
Then Dave meets other real people who kind of really kick ass in ways he could never do. He meets Hit Girl and Big Daddy who can really throw punches and who are not afraid to kill people in the most "ewww" ways. I obviously *adore* Hit Girl as a character.
There is a trong sense of family in it. Dave has lost his mother and cares about his dad. The relatonship between Hit Girl and Big Daddy is just fascinating.
The illustrations are brilliant and I was really awestruck in front of the few full-page illustrations of Hit Girl. The contrast between her youth and the apocalyptic massacre backgrounds or the crudeness of her dialogues are very striking.
I like how the graphic novel truly illustrates the importance and impact of social media in today's society and for teenagers in particular and how this touches to fame and popularity. It is an amazing depiction of youth in this sense.
The film version differs from the graphic novel and though most scenes are exactly the same way, the ending and the tone of the graphic novel is darker.
This is an absolute must-read for anyone who is into graphic novels and likes its illustrations on the gory side of the force.
Info: There is more than explicit content so it isn't suitable for young audiences.
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