I've been reading the KICK-ASS series since mid-2009, and I loved it. I started reading comics again sometime in '08 but KICK-ASS is the first series I read book by book. I found myself walking in to Chapel Hill Comics on Wednesdays looking for the latest issue (unfortunately they were often pushed back). The comics start off slow enough, a boy wonders why no one has ever been a superhero and tries his hand at it. It's a believable enough scenario and the world is real enough that its fun to watch what happens to KICK-ASS as he makes his first attempts at being a hero. Then Hit-Girl shows up and any realism the comic had is lost, Hit-Girl is a character that is too awesome to exist in the real word. Things escalate quickly after Hit-Girl shows up and the story of a goofy boy becomes this hyper violent swear fest that is incredibly fun. The comics stay somewhat grounded in reality as things play out (possibly not as expected) and are a great experience overall. They've got me back in the shops looking for more series to read; I've since picked up Scott Pilgrim, Y-The Last Man, Fables, The Losers, and a few others. Anyone I've talked in to reading it has loved it and I definitely recommend that anyone interested in comics (or violence) read this series; which was recently released in book form for around $20.
So here's the thing, I first heard about KICK-ASS on some film blogs I read; they were talking about how no company would touch a film that had a 10 year old girl swearing and slaughtering older men. Makes sense, but the comic creators found funding and made the movie anyway; a passion project it was called...so it had to be good. It was a big deal when they got Lionsgate as a distributor because many writers didn't think the movie would get anyone to pick it up. I remember thinking that was great news, but then photos leaked, then trailers, building to the inevitable thought "God, this is going to suck." But its a passion project I tell myself, they wouldn't ruin something they love....then I remembered Watchmen...*sigh* And that's the best comparison for KICK-ASS, like Watchmen it is a film made by people who care about the source material and did their best to honor it. I don't know why they made the changes they made, but like Watchmen some of the alterations to the end of the film greatly alter what made KICK-ASS the comic so great.
So is this worth seeing? YES, resoundingly yes in my mind. If only to see Hit-Girl moving on screen. Go in expecting a movie that is a loose adaptation of the comic and you'll be surprised how many in jokes and nods to the comic there are, you'll enjoy the film as its own experience and have fun. Do not go in expecting a 1-to-1 adaptation of the comic because you will be extremely disappointed almost immediately, even if you can let got of some of the minor alterations the ending will have you furious.
Here's what you do.
1. Buy and read the book.
2. Go see the movie.
3. Read the spoiler section below and let me know if you agree with comments.
