Kick-Ass 3 #4

The tagline "Real-Life Civil War!" says it all — this fourth issue of Kick-Ass 3 promises serious fractures among the costumed community, and John Romita Jr.'s cover (inked by Tom Palmer) captures the tension perfectly. A group of masked vigilantes stands in a tense standoff, with a lightning-bolt-costumed hero at the center flanked by an array of colorful allies, while a dark-suited, crouching figure faces them down from the foreground alongside a green-gloved fighter gripping a staff. Mark Millar's gritty, street-level superhero saga continues to push its characters to their breaking point, making this 2013 installment a compelling addition to the series.