Kick-Ass #5
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: John Romita, Jr.
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Street Date: Friday, 1/2/2009

I’m going to be honest here.  I’m getting a little sick of heaping praise on Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.

It’s gotten to the point where I’m running out of things to say.  I was graced with the opportunity to get a sneak peek at Kick-Ass #5 and as soon as I started reading it, I instantly forgot and forgave the preposterously late shipping schedule on this book.  The problem with writing a review about another issue of this book is that the writing and art is every bit as good as the four issues that came before it.  The characters are just as interesting, the story is just as compelling.

But, this issue introduces Red Mist and it…  well…  it kicks ass.

I have to admit, I really like this character and am excited to see that he’s being played by McLovin.  But I don’t want to give away too much of the story.  Long story short, this issue really highlights the wheat from the chaff as far as heroes go and Kick-Ass shows why he’s not just some dumb pot head in a costume, but a bonafide hero.  He’s the sort of kid who’ll jump into a fire to save a baby without a second’s hesitation but he still can’t tell the girl of his dreams that he’s not gay.

No offense to Brian Michael Bendis (I think Ultimate Spider-man is one of the best (and most on-time) books out there) but I think Dave Lizewski is the new Peter Parker.  As many great things as Bendis is doing with Spider-man, he’s still restrained by the fact that Spider-man is an American icon and there are just some things you can’t do in an all ages book.  And although this book is bloody and gory and filled with all kinds of swearing and sexual innuendo, I really think this is the comic book teenagers want to be reading because it’s what they can relate to (or want to think they can relate to.)

And they don’t need to be bitten by a radioactive spider to be just like Kick-Ass.

I also have to reiterate that this comic book wants me to buy a wetsuit and some type of hand to hand weapon and start patrolling the streets.  And I hope it makes others want to do the same.  Seriously, I think at the end of the day, this book might help clean up the streets of the world.  And we’d have Mark Millar to thank for it.

Verdict: If you aren’t buying this book, you don’t deserve to read comics.  If you aren’t interested in reading it, cancel your hold immediately and turn in your geek badge, you’re done.