Photo Essay: Kick-Ass in Austin

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Clark Duke at SXSW 2010

With Kick-Ass opening on Friday, it seemed like time to revisit the film's screening on the opening night of SXSW. This year's festival started with a record crowd turning up for Kick-Ass, with many of the film's stars and creators in town. Although Clark Duke (Hot Tub Time Machine), pictured above, had not been to SXSW before, he revealed that this wasn't his first time in Austin. He admitted that he loved Austin and had planned to move here after college, but landed in Los Angeles instead.

Comic Creators

Kick-Ass comic-book author Mark Millar was in attendance with graphic artist and producer John Romita, Jr., whose father was a co-creator of several notable Spider-Man stories in the 1960s and 1970s. Romita received early popularity with his run on Iron Man, which began in 1978. which continued into the 1980s with his first regular run on the Amazing Spider-Man series and as artist for the launch of the Dazzler series. Working with writer Roger Stern on Amazing Spider-Man, he co-created the character Hobgoblin. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Romita enjoyed an extended stint on Daredevil. He drew Marvel's Wolverine with author Mark Millar as part of the character's 30th anniversary celebration.

As one of the producers of Kick-Ass, Romita made his directorial debut by directing an animated flashback sequence in the film. Millar and Romita's lighthearted banter on the red carpet kept the media folks entertained.

Kick Ass Q and A at SXSW 2010

Kick-Ass screenwriter/director Matthew Vaughn (Stardust) joined Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Clark Duke for a Q&A after the film that also included Millar and Romita. I escaped the chaos of the sold-out Paramount Theater, opting instead to catch Edward Norton on the red carpet for the comedy/drama/thriller Leaves of Grass. I also missed this amusing and slightly racy promotion of the film, visible outside the Paramount during and after the screening:

SXSW 2010

It's much funnier if you've actually seen the film. Kick-Ass opens in Austin on Friday, April 16. Stay tuned for Jenn Brown's review.

[Photo credits: "Clark Duke at Kick-Ass Premiere" and "Millar and Romita on the Red Carpet," by Debbie Cerda; "SXSW 2010: Kick-Ass Q&A" and "SXSW 2010: Kick-Ass Promo" by Jette Kernion, on Flickr]