It can be intimidating approaching the comic-book industry as a new-comer. It can be intimidating approaching a comic-book store as a new-comer. It's certainly intimidating approaching those new release shelves as a new-comer. Is it bi-monthly? Monthly? Is it a mini-series? A one-shot? A spin-off? Should you wait for trade collection?

Buy Kick-Ass.

Mark Millar and artist John Romita Jr. have something special on their hands; a simple, independent super-hero comic about super-heroes in the real world. It isn't Invincible quirky-lite, it isn't Daredevil noir and it isn't any other number series that have attempted to ground the genre in a more earthy place. Fortunately, it also isn't a gimmick. After this first issue the potential is clear and Millar's footnotes mark out a clear intention to drive this book to places we will want to go.

Firstly, there's a great protagonist. An anti-hero teen trapped by all that is high-school cliché – real world cliché not comic-book cliché. There's a girl – one who curses you out as a weirdo and there's a best friend – one who provides endless errors of judgement. Second there's a great pace. For an origin story Kick-Ass is snappy and bubbling with good writing from the first panel to the last. Romita's art helps with a great position between gritty and youthful, an aesthetic that lets you feel the punches and see the emotions.

Nothing else will be spoiled here.

Buy Kick-Ass.

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