Kick-Ass
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the film adaptation of the comic book series, see Kick-Ass (film). For the unrelated collection of Carl Hiaasen columns, see Kick Ass.
| Kick-Ass | |
|---|---|
 Kick-Ass #2 (May 2008). Second-printing variant cover art by John Romita, Jr. |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Icon |
| Schedule | Monthly with repeated delays |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Genre | Superhero |
| Publication date | April 2008 - Present |
| Number of issues | 7 |
| Main character(s) | Dave Lizewski |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) | Mark Millar |
| Penciller(s) | John Romita, Jr. |
| Inker(s) | Tom Palmer |
| Colorist(s) | Dean White |
| Creator(s) | Mark Millar John Romita, Jr. |
| Editor(s) | John Barber |
| Collected editions | |
| Volume 1 | ISBN 0-7851-3261-9 |
Kick-Ass is an ongoing, creator-owned, American comic book series written by Mark Millar and illustrated by John Romita, Jr. It is published by Marvel Comics under the company's Icon imprint.
Contents |
[edit] Story
Dave Lizewski, an otherwise ordinary New York City high school student and the child of Greg Willer, loving single father, takes his interest in comic books as inspiration to become a real-life superhero. He assembles a suit and mask, which he wears under his normal clothing, begins exercising, and practices things like walking on roofs, sating his ambitions for a time. He eventually seeks to fight crime, his first attempt at which leads to a severe beating and stabbing by thugs, followed by his wandering into the street and being hit by a car.[1] He retains his secret identity, however, stripping off and hiding his costume before paramedics arrive.[2]
Telling his father he was mugged, he undergoes intense physical rehabilitation, including four operations. He is released weeks later, and as soon as he is off crutches dons the suit once more and goes on patrol. When he saves a man from a beating,[2] an onlooker catches the scene on a cellphone camera and uploads it to YouTube, turning Lizewski into an overnight sensation christened with the name Kick-Ass.[3]
In school, the mugging excuse used to cover up his bruises spawns rumors Lizewski is a gay prostitute. Believing them, his longtime crush, Katie Deauxma, adopts him as a "gay best friend". Lizewski goes along with this in an effort to spend time with her. His father, worried about him, gives him a can of police-issue pepper-spray for protection.[3]
As Kick-Ass, Lizewski sets up a MySpace account, so people can contact him for help. The first such request he investigates leads him to an apartment of violent lowlifes who try to kill him. He is rescued by a costumed, sword-wielding young girl named Hit-Girl,[3] who kills all the attackers and then leaves to join a grown man named Big Daddy.[4] The two disregard Lizewski, who later learns that Kick-Ass has inadvertently inspired a subculture of people dressed in makeshift, original superhero costumes. Later, one such hero, the Red Mist, appears, and teams with Kick-Ass on street patrol. The two gain great public popularity after nearly being killed rescuing a cat from a burning building.[5]
Kick Ass, at the behest of Big Daddy and Hit Girl, accompanies Red Mist to meet the duo at an abandoned warehouse to strategize the takedown of local drug kingpin John Genovese. There they find Big Daddy and Hit Girl captured, and Red Mist reveals himself as Genovese's son, who had orchestrated this ambush.[6]. The gang kills Big Daddy and tortures Kick Ass, but fails to kill Hit Girl, who escapes and returns to kill several of the gang-members.[7].
[edit] Promotion
Prior to the series launched a viral campaign featuring a short video of the main character of the comic, Kick-Ass, being "caught on tape" performing a heroic act was uploaded to YouTube and spread around the Internet.[1] Later, a MySpace page was created, supposedly maintained by the character, where it was written that "Mark Millar [...] is doing a comic-book about me with [...] John Romita Jr."[8]
A charity auction was held to name the main character. The winner, Dave Lizewski, chose his own name.[9]
Each issue also singles out specific comic shops, crediting them for taking part in the "home-made effort" to promote the book and encourages readers to support them.
[edit] Film
A film adaptation was reportedly in the script stage in May 2008.[10] The Hollywood Reporter said production would be fully financed by Matthew Vaughn's MARV Films, the script written by Vaughn and Jane Goldman, and the movie directed by Vaughn.[11] The industry trade magazine gave the financed amount as $30 million,[11] while Millar updated the figure to $65 million.[12]
Aaron Johnson has been cast as the main character Dave Lizewski.[13] Nicolas Cage will play a former cop who, in his quest to bring down an evil druglord played by Mark Strong, has trained his 11-year-old daughter to be the ruthless vigilante Hit Girl,[14] being played by Chloë Moretz.[11] Lyndsy Fonseca has been cast Lizewski's crush, Katie Deauxma.[14] Christopher Mintz-Plasse has been cast as Red Mist.[14] Series creator Millar, a native of Scotland, has asked Scottish TV children's-show host Glen Michael to make a cameo appearance.[15] Wrestler Big Daddy V said he has a part in the movie.[16]
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Mark Millar (w), John Romita, Jr. (p), Tom Palmer (i). Kick-Ass (1) (July 2008), Icon Comics
- ^ a b Mark Millar (w), John Romita, Jr. (p), Tom Palmer (i). Kick-Ass (2) (August 2008), Icon Comics
- ^ a b c Mark Millar (w), John Romita, Jr. (p), Tom Palmer (i). Kick-Ass (3) (September 2008), Icon Comics
- ^ Mark Millar (w), John Romita, Jr. (p), Tom Palmer (i). Kick-Ass (4) (October 2008), Icon Comics
- ^ Mark Millar (w), John Romita, Jr. (p), Tom Palmer (i). Kick-Ass (5) (February 2009), Icon Comics
- ^ Mark Millar (w), John Romita, Jr. (p), Tom Palmer (i). Kick-Ass (6) (June 2009), Icon Comics
- ^ Mark Millar (w), John Romita, Jr. (p), Tom Palmer (i). Kick-Ass (7) (October 2009), Icon Comics
- ^ "Kick-Ass on MySpace". MySpace. http://www.myspace.com/kickass_comic. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
- ^ "Talking to Dave Lizewski & a Preview of Kick-Ass #3". Newsarama. http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=153926. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
- ^ Johnston, Rich (May 12, 2008). ""Lying in the Gutters" (column)". Volume 2, Column 157. Comic Book Resources. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16384. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
- ^ a b c Kit, Borys. "Matthew Vaughn ready to 'Kick-Ass'", The Hollywood Reporter, August 15, 2008, 01:00 AM ET
- ^ G4TV.com: "Fresh Ink Online: Kick-Ass, Northlanders, and Runaways Reboot", August 29, 2008, at approximately 2:30 mark of video interview
- ^ Kick-Ass Cast, IGN, August 22, 2008
- ^ a b c Kit, Borys. "Nicolas Cage is a 'Kick-Ass' ex-cop", The Hollywood Reporter, August 22, 2008
- ^ Lawrence, Edwin (October 10, 2008). ""From Ayrshire to Hollywood for Cavalcade legend"". Ayrshire Post. http://www.ayrshirepost.net/ayrshire-news/local-news-ayrshire/ayr-news/2008/10/10/from-ayrshire-to-hollywood-for-cavalcade-legend-102545-21986750/. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
- ^ Pena, Daniel. "WWE News: Big Daddy V Explains WWE Firing, Lilian Bikini Pics, Tribute To The Troops " LordsOfPain.net, December 8, 2008
[edit] References
- Kick-Ass at the Grand Comic-Book Database
- Kick-Ass at the Comic Book DB
[edit] External links
[edit] Reviews
- Best Shots Round Table: Kick-Ass #1, Newsarama, March 26, 2008
- Best Shots Extra: Kick-Ass #2, Newsarama, April 1, 2008
- Kick-Ass #2, Comic Book Resources, April 2, 2008
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