In today’s world, there seems to be no stopping the superhero and comic book genre, both on the silver screen and on streaming platforms. It also seems like the thirst for adult-only, mature content is at an all-time high. Season three of The Boys is currently pushing the boundaries via Amazon Prime with some storylines bound to shock, upset, and thrill viewers in equal measure. Even recent big-screen superhero outings have gone down a darker path with Matt Reeves’ The Batman reinventing the character through the means of Nirvana earworms and a younger, more detached, brooding hero patrolling a gloomy Gotham for vengeance.
Whilst modern, hardcore comic book adaptations are now increasingly more commonplace, we’re taking a closer look at two movies that helped to kickstart this trend, 2010’s Kick-Ass and Kingsman: The Secret Service from 2014. Both movies were directed by Englishman Matthew Vaughn, were adapted from graphic novels co-written by Mark Millar, and feature some balls-to-the-wall, heightened violence. Kick-Ass, which was partially written by regular Matthew Vaughn collaborator Jane Goldman, is almost best viewed as a live-action cartoon, such is its visceral, comic book style whilst Kingsman: The Secret Service delivered certain sequences that have now firmly become a part of popular culture in recent times.
However, which of these Vaughn vehicles stands up to repeat viewings and still delivers the requisite hardcore, stylized violence now associated with this more adult comic book genre? There’s only one way to find out… FACE-OFF! This episode of Face Off is written by Adam Walton, narrated by Chris Bumbray, and edited by Stephen White. But don’t let us have the final word — tell us in the comments which subversive action flick is your pick — Kick-Ass or Kingsman: The Secret Service?