Kick-Ass 3 #5

The cover of Kick-Ass 3 #5 says it all with its tagline "Size Matters!" — a skull-masked, heavily armed figure in tactical gear towers over a comparatively small Kick-Ass, who stands his ground with batons raised and a submachine gun in hand, the deep red backdrop giving the whole image a tense, confrontational charge. John Romita Jr.'s pencils and Tom Palmer's inks deliver that sharp, grounded energy the series is known for, making the size disparity between the two characters feel genuinely loaded. Mark Millar and JRJR's collaboration continues to push Kick-Ass into increasingly dangerous territory, and this 2014 Icon release makes clear the stakes are only getting higher.