*Please note Kick-Ass 2 #4 is not for the faint of heart, if you are easily offended by explicit content, language and dark deeds, please click on the home button on the menu bar and head back to the homepage*

Right on the front cover of the all new Kick-Ass 2 (which only took about 30 days between issues #3 and #4, YAY!) there is what is basically a disclaimer… “THE MUST-READ BOOK FOR ALL PSYCHOPATHS”. Wow, they aren’t kidding!

After the shocking conclusion of the last issue that saw the death of the Justice Forever leader and his dog, we finally check back in with Hit-Girl, who is sitting all of that out as a promise to her Mother and Marcus. It doesn’t mean she is happy about it, and I’m predicting she will be back to her ass-kicking “killer” heroics by the next issue.

The heroes open this issue reeling from the death of Colonel Star, and as they try to pick up the pieces they debate what to do next. Red-Mist… excuse me the MotherF%&$#r, has crossed a line and with that the game is changed. I do have to say I like the heroes reaction to all of this, they are not a gang; they just want to help people and the decision to leave Colonel Star’s to the police lives up to the ideals for which he was was murdered and mutilated.

What happens next is what will have comic book readers closing this book and no coming back for ‘Kick-Ass 2’ #5. The MotherF%&$#r and his gang are out hunting for Katie Deauxma (you might remember her as the object of Dave Lizewski from the previous Kick-Ass story, and his actual girlfriend from the movie). Like any good group of costumed villains lost in the ‘burbs they stop and ask some of the local youngsters for directions. For their help the youngsters are mowed down in a hail of gunfire by the MotherF%&$#r, who proceeds to make a joke about iCarly and the reduced number of viewers when one of his cronies scoffs at his actions.

Ok, if you are still with me everything so far would be considered bad, even tame compared to what happens next. The Villains (better known as the Toxic Mega-Cunts) finally track down Katie’s house and break in, killing who I assume is Katie’s dad. As Katie tries to run upstairs to escape she is captured, beaten and violated. Now, this is where I had a problem. I think the image of the MotherF%&$#r unzipping the bathing suit area of his costume was bad enough, but when they show the aftermath a few pages later it is much, MUCH worse. I’m not sure why Millar went for such a “shock” here, but I feel like this story could have been told without this particular offense occurring.

Even though simply attacking Katie, is bad enough, going so far as to have her gang raped is over the line and could have been avoided. Especially when the pages in between the attack and the aftermath introduced one of the scariest villains in the Kick-Ass Universe, Mother Russia. To say Mother Russia is a bad ass would be an egregious understatement. She is a former head of security for the Russian Prime Minister and now serves the MotherF%&$#r as his bodyguard, responsible for protecting him and killing anyone he wants dead. This includes cops, lots and lots of cops.

Speaking of the Cops, they react the only way they can and start rounding up the costumed citizens of New York City. Overnight Justice Forever went from heroes to public enemies #1 being rounded up by the Police. Seeing the writing on the wall and knowing his son is Kick-Ass, Mr. Lizewski does what any good father would do and takes the hit for Dave by admitting to being Kick-Ass while being taken away in handcuffs. And that is where this issue ends…

This is a dark, DARK comic book that continues to push any and all boundaries. We have gone from a foul-mouthed 11 year old killer hero (Hit-Girl) to a villain known as the MotherF%&$#r leader of the Toxic Mega-Cunts going on a rape, pillage and cop killing spree. Typically where comic book villains (or really villains in most popular culture) stop short of becoming irredeemable, Millar’s villains seem to relish that trip to the dark side. For the most part I am really enjoying this exercise in excess, both in violence and in sacrifice, but I think most readers will need to think long and hard before picking up ‘Kick-Ass 2’ #5 (hopefully next month).

If you come away with anything from this review of ‘Kick-Ass 2’ #4, it should be to take heed of the disclaimer on the front cover, ‘Kick-Ass 2’ #4 is absolutely “THE MUST-READ BOOK FOR ALL PSYCHOPATHS!”

Kick-Ass 2 #4
Writer: Mark Millar
Breakdowns: John Romita Jr.
Finishes and Inks Washes: Tom Palmer
Colors: Dean White with Michael Kelleher
Cover: John Romita Jr. and Tom Palmer