The Beginning of The End
One of the main reasons that I first picked Kick-Ass up was because it offered a concept that everyone has thought about at least once in their lives: What it would be like to be a superhero. It offered a realistic portrayal of something we had only imagined until then. Some readers stopped reading Kick Ass after its second installment but I kept reading.Why? Because its an entirely almost realistic approach to the concept of being a superhero. People die. People move on with their lives from being super heroes. Not everything ends happily. And that is exactly why I continue to enjoy this third installment of Kick-Ass, because it continues to remain realistic. WARNING! SPOILERS FOLLOW!
The Good:
Reviewers of this third installment have so far said that the plot is developing too slowly and not moving along quick enough, but even though the development might feel slow I feel that this is intentional, in order to keep it realistic. Dave has practically given up being Kick-Ass now that he has a new girlfriend and the pacing has been slow.Why? Because real life isn't a comic book.There's not going to be super villains attacking the city every day in real life or some big crisis like the climax of Kick-Ass 2.Kick-Ass 3 reflects this because the previous 4 issues have been the calm before the storm showing us a real-life superhero team that has practically accomplished nothing with Hit-Girl in prison and Rocco Genovese still continuing to do bad business in the city. But that all changes in this issue as the pace now realistically picks up and advances the story. The issue opens with a cool action sequence from a new "superhero" team, who are really corrupt cops in costumes, and it's really cool to read. John Romita Jr. doesn't let up on the incredible art and the beginning of the comic looks amazing. Mark Millar writes a fantastic story too with Dave realistically giving up the mantle of Kick-Ass in favor of his now more adult life with his new girlfriend, Valerie. It's a big move for Dave and its just in the nick of time too as Rocco Genovese decides to make a move against the costumed heroes. This is where the issue really shines because it feels like the sequence from the Walking Dead where there are not a huge number of developments at the prison and then all of a sudden, the $%#* hits the fan and the governor shows up and everything breaks loose. The parts of the issue where Rocco's men gun down every superhero that they can find felt sad and felt like a moment similar to Order 66 with X-Men:DOFP trailer music playing since these noble people dressed as heroes were unknowingly tricked and gunned down. It's a sad thing to read but Millar and Romita Jr. still manage to make it awesome as it moves the plot forward with major developments and changes. I can't wait for the next issue to see how Dave retaliates for the heavy casualties suffered to Justice Forever.
The Bad:
The only thing that I found to be a little weird, but not critical, is the great amount of explicit content shown throughout the issue regarding Dave's new lifestyle.But still, all in all, a fantastic issue then.
The Verdict:
Kick-Ass has been an amazing ride so far, and as things continue to heat up in this issue, it only makes me more excited for the end that draws near to see how it all ends for Kick-Ass as well as Hit-Girl then. Pick it up for the turning point of Kick-Ass 3!!
5 out of 5 stars!!!
