The second issue of Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.’s co-operative foray into the world of Dave-the-wannabe-superhero is a lighter issue that lacks none of the true grit of that great flash-bang origin of issue one (was it really a month ago? Is time flying or the writing that good?).

Surprising isn’t so much the pulp pace as the consistent level of enthusiasm that will remain after this second slice. On paper this issue is distinctly inferior to the previous. It has fewer characters, fewer giggles, fewer emo-high school nuances and it doesn’t have that “check out the new self-referential kid on the block” first date factor. What it has that makes it the spiritual equal, if not superior of issue 1 is a delicate approach to rehab and cause/effect rarely touched on in “costume” comics and a final page premise that is so simple and so powerful it’s hard to believe it hasn’t been done yet.

On that basis, and without spoiling any more. Go and buy Kick-Ass. Or wait for the reprints.

Discuss this article on our Forum.