Kick-Ass #2

This second issue of Image's 2018 Kick-Ass series opens with a striking cover by John Romita Jr. and Peter Steigerwald: a solitary figure in a green-and-purple tactical suit stands in near-darkness, a staff or baton held close to the chest, one hand noticeably bandaged — suggesting someone who's already taken some punishment. The moody, shadow-drenched palette gives the image a grounded, street-level tension that sets this series apart from flashier superhero fare. With Mark Millar driving the story, this is a series that rewards readers who like their costumed heroes a little bruised around the edges.