‘A familiar concept with a new twist’ – It’s a mantra spoken by every idiot trying to pitch a so called "new" idea, regurgitating someone else's work and putting a lemon wedge on it. New ideas are rare and precious stones that are often overlooked in favor of polishing something tried and true (and worn and moth-eaten). But concepts are like people; some we like, some we don't, many are recognizable, and seeing variations of the established ones tends to make us feel at ease. That new twist though, can start with something accustomed, and end with a sickening crack as one of it's extremities is broken off. It's a modification that can range from the replacement of a diseased organ, creating a healthier and more robust being, all the way to pinching the wings off of an angel. More often than not, it is the latter. Kick-Ass, the newborn progeny of Mark Millar and John Romita Jr., has been done before. Just not this well. Existence sucks. We all get that feeling at some point or another, and how we deal with it defines us and our character. For some, this means working hard in order to better appreciate the few kind and wonderful moments we are afforded. For others, it's eviscerating life and nosing through the entrails to whiff out any and all ways to alter the experience ; http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120669/ ; . For the select few, it means finding that one thing you are inspired to do, the element that creates your very own feeling of invincibility, your personal aura educing fear and awe in others around you, that makes you feel as sexy and dangerous as any feral jungle cat stalking it's next meal or mate. Why be normal when you can kick ass? One person's answer to this question is a resounding "Fuck YEAH!" Donning a scuba suit and a pair of batons, Dave Lizewski finds his spiritual cocaine in crime fighting. Stalking the streets of New York as Kick-Ass and subsequently getting beaten like a red-headed stepchild. Millar's writing is fast and furious, throwing story elements with the precision and accuracy of a well oiled machine. Pacing isn't even worth mentioning, as you accelerate into it without even noticing, cruising along as the scenery of violence and humor parade past. The Kick-Ass story line is a simple statement of the "Grass is Always Greener..." mantra, with an excellent balance of ugly violence and heart-breaking humor. The only great tragedy fueling Dave's need to fight crime was his own uneventful birth, and for most of us in the real world, that's all you truly need in order to do something great. The desire to leave a mark, to inspire, to change, grips each of us tightly, whether we want it to or not. His parent's weren't murdered. He isn't the last child of a dead planet. He isn't atoning. He isn't avenging. He just kicks ass. That's more than enough justification for doing something above and beyond. So there's no need for a complicated origin, or page upon page of back story. Readers dive straight into the meat of the comic; straight to hell with aperitifs and appetizers. Wanted gave all the background necessary in twelve pages, followed by a hundred and twenty two pages of intense and poignant action. This formula seems to work, it's a shame it doesn’t see more use. Let the character define himself, don't box them in with a preconceived notion of who they are, just let the writing flow and see where it takes you. It's sad being your own comedic relief. That's definitely a reason to want to be someone else. Dave Lizewski, aka Kick-Ass, gives all the ironic humor you could want. Kick-Ass, aka Dave Lizewski, shows us all the blood and guts we crave. The two great tastes that taste great together ;http://www.hersheys.com/products/details/reesespeanutbuttercups.asp ; . Everything Dave does brings a cringe and the thought, “Glad I'm not him." Everything Kick-Ass does brings a grin and the thought, "I could do that better than him. Where's my ski mask?" Already all the elements are on the board, the dashing lead, the meek alter ego, the barely noticeable supporting best friend, the love interest who has no interest, even the Mafia ;http://ginopomiliabaseball.com/About_Gino_Pomilia.html inside joke, I know, but seriously, how many people are going to read this? if there's a lawsuit, i'm just an anonymous writer sending you stuff by a shell email account ; are here as the pyrrhic monster to do battle with, the cast is assembled; the stage is set, let the show begin. And that truly is the best part of the book so far. Eight issues in, and there is still a feeling of a bigger picture, a larger web that can't be seen yet, and each issue is another step backwards for the viewer, letting more into the field of view. So far, there is a definite order to things, an arrangement which cannot quite be grasped by our feeble understanding, but Mark Millar knows the way, and will guide us to this great revelation should we show the patience necessary to be deemed worthy. Until then, we shall wait at the door, wondering when we will be privy to another scrap of rapture. John Romita Jr.'s art is excellent, giving the book the grit that every single review raves about, full of gory details that elicit memories of the old Dinosaur's Attack ; link; card series. But there is a fault: his love of parallel line shading. A standard in his work, it is more predominant here than in anything else that comes to mind, and it creates an almost static feel to the art. Everything looks taught, a world Saran wrapped, and to be honest, something more dynamic would have been much more suitable to the hectic and bloody pace of some of the scenes. Some things come alive in his art, his blood drips and his fire crackles, organic and fluid as their substantial counterparts, but when the texture of neoprene, linoleum, cotton, blood pools, shadows, leather, and skin are almost identical, something is amiss. All of this really wouldn't be so bothersome, except Romita's art has proven itself again and again to be superstandard ;I know I just made up a word, but if substandard is a word, why not superstandard? why must i hyphenate? why? ;; a second thought, what if these semicolons just become paratheses? my one breaking of the 4th wall for the review... hmmmm ; (I suggest superb and getting rid of all the exposition, Haupt thoughts?-Jesse). Looking at his other work, especially his depictions of Daredevil ;link; and Spiderman ;link; , shows just what a tiny bit of additional shading can do, and how much more impressive his action sequences become just by simply filling the occasional gap between a pair of his signature feature ;I honestly have no idea how to rework this sentence. You get my meaning, I'm sure, but I really can't come up with a better way to say it. I thought about changing the end to "beloved parallel lines" but you know I hate repeating myself ; (I like it as is but am open to suggestions-Jesse). Honestly, can blame be laid on JRJR's shoulders? The finger begins to tour the room to point elsewhere. Tom Palmer, inker for Kick-Ass, has been tracing ;chasing amy link, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chasing_amy ; (not sure how I feel about alienating the inking crowd by using this hateful term-Jesse) since long before most of you were born. His work is exemplary, he pioneered the modern inking style, he is an industry icon. All of which makes this even more bizarre. Two of the most respected men in their fields come together to work on a project, and the result is less than the sum of it's parts. Where the incompatibility lies is unknown, but never before has Palmer been afraid to seize control after the pencil leaves the page, and Romita has always relinquished before. Somehow, they're not meeting at the middle, leaving something to be desired. Not that this cannot be remedied. Some work together, a good weekend of collaboration, and they could definitely be on the same page ; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pun ; (this link gets a huge thumbs up from me-Jesse) . Or maybe this is how they intended it. No one could truly say, except for them. A great read so far, with so much potential for the the future. You should be excited; it has the potential to go anywhere, to do anything. People should be lining up now to get the next issue. No. Seriously. Go line up. Preorders be damned. This book is worth it. Book: Kick-ass Publisher: Marvel Icon Writes: Mark Millar Pencils: John Romita Jr. Inks: Tom Palmer |
What more can I say? It's a doodle from the confines of my desk at work. In my mind, this is the most enjoyable kind of artwork. "Artwork" is a funny term, because this isn't work at all. This is the kind of drawing that escapes one's fingers when they should be typing on a keyboard. Each curve is a skillful evasion of that immeasurable force that gives us money in exchange for precious moments of our lives. Drawings like this come as a result of and counteract the effects of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. They let us step back and take a breather, removing our minds and our hearts from the tiresome tasks set before us. For a few brief moments, these drawings can set us free and let us wander wherever we wish, leaving us refreshed and invigorated. So it is with this in mind that I assert that doodles such as this are neither meager nor insignificant, rather they breath life into anyone willing to create them.
So this is something that combines two of my favorite hobbies: drawing and watching stuff get drawn. I've been talking about doing this for a while, and so hopefully this will be the first of many. I dusted off my old Wacom tablet and went into "doodle aimlessly" mode. Luckily, in an incredible lapse of character, I remembered to start a screen capture before I started drawing. So here we have, for the first time on international webivision, some random doodle from start to finish! Click 'Read More' to watch a video and see my handiwork unfold! (as well as my not-so-handi-work, but that's why I love 'Undo!') 