I find that significant shipping delays really cut into the the necessary story momentum required when reading a monthly comic. It’s been months since Kick Ass #4 came out and that was months late too. Its an interesting idea (kid without powers putting on a suit to fight crime in our world), but unless they start shipping it more regularly, I’ll wait for the trade that will inevitably come out either when the movie does or before.

The story kicks into a higher gear with the introduction of the Red Mist.

Since he put on the green wetsuit and became Kick-Ass, Dave Lizewski has broken both legs, shattered his back; been run over by a Mercedes, smashed by garbage cans, and clobbered by gangsters; become a YouTube phenomenon and inspired a wave of costumed vigilantes…but none of that can compare to what’s going to happen now that John Genovese knows who he is.

I know a bunch of fellow gay geeks who are sort of up in arms about this title because of the “unnecessary” use of anti-gay slurs for no story driven reason. I completely agree with them that use of anti-gay slurs for trash talking name calling is grossly irresponsible for a comic that is sure to resonate with young readers.

I did send the author Mark Millar a comment on his forum telling him so. If you’d like to do the same it may have more impact on him than boycotting the title.

Here are some shots that have been released from the upcoming Kick-Ass movie. Odd that we actually saw this photo of Christopher Mintz-Plasse, a.k.a. McLovin as Red Mist before we really saw the character in print.

via CBR, reelcomix and SuperHeroHype

Writer, Mark Millar and Artists Bryan Hitch and Paul Neary’s built-for-the-big-screen stint on Fantastic Four comes to a head this month with the “The Galactus Engine”, the concluding chapter of their epic “Death of the Invisible Woman” arc. It’s been a roller coaster of a read and if you missed it, I’m sure it will make a must have trade paperback.

via CBR

Mark Millar is at it again with YET ANOTHER comic book miniseries. With the success of the screen adaption of his birth of a villain epic - Wanted, and his Kick-Ass in active development, it’s amazing, but somehow he found the time to spin out another comic property for Hollywood to clamor over. War Heroes started last month and is a story about superheroes in a war setting (or is it soldiers in a superhero setting?) published by Images Comics. I didn’t notice this in the August books (shame on me) so here are previews of last month’s issue #1 and tomorrow’s issue #2.

#2 hits stands September 17th and your comic store may be able to order #1 if they don’t have it.

via CBR

After 2008’s billion dollar comic book summer, no one is surprised as Hollywood frantically pounds on the doors of every comic book writer with a filmable property. With the big screen success of his Wanted, Mark Millar’s new book, Kick-Ass is an ultra-violent no-brainer for someone looking to cash in on the trend. The independently financed production will be shooting in London and Toronto this fall with Aaron Johnson as Dave Lizewski, a teenager inspired to don a costume and fight crime despite the fact that he lives in the real world (our world… no superpowers). Lyndsy Fonseca (who you may recognize as Desperate Housewives’ Dylan Mayfair) has been cast as the longtime object of Dave’s affections, Katie Deauxma who mistakenly thinks Dave is her “gay best friend.” Sweet innocent-looking Chloe Moretz will become the savage, potty mouthed, ninja sword wielding 11 year old vigilante and Christopher Mintz-Plasse, a.k.a. McLovin will portray Red Mist, the angry teen son of a mobster who tries to unmask Kick-Ass.

As usual Nick Cage will play a cop. Any theories on why Hollywood keep casting Millar’s heroic blonds with brunettes? First toe-headed Wesley Gibson and now Dave Lizewski too. What’s up with that?

via ComicsContinuum and FirstShowing