Valiant Entertainment 2017
Written by Christos Gage
Illustrated by Tomas Giorello & Roberto de la Torre
Coloured by Diego Rodriguez
Back-Up Story Illustrated by Ariel Olivetti
Lettered by A Larger World Studios
Since World War I, MI6 has been covertly influencing global events with the help of The Ninja Programme -- a group of top agents specially trained in espionage and assassination. Colin King is the current ninja agent, designated Ninja-K. These agents are the most highly trained operatives in the world, but someone has been targeting those associated with The Ninja Programme one by one -- including veteran agent Ninja-D. Seeking retribution for D’s brutal murder, Colin is digging into the programme’s elusive past for answers. Ninja-K is chasing the truth, but it may be the death of him yet…
So I know that Colin has been through the ringer and he’s pretty fed up with the status quo at MI6 and the whole nasty business. But it’s his life, what he trained for and it’s all he knows and like a drug he just can’t quit. So when former agents of the Ninja programme are being killed off it’s only natural that he be the one who goes on to investigate it.
I like how Christos is able to get all this storytelling into a short amount of space. The way he structures the story so that the ebb & flow of it feels natural and has that gait to it which not only inundates us with knowledge but never feels like anything is crammed are forced upon us. Not only that but the characterisation is amazing to see. We feel Colin’s anger, frustration and distraction in how he feels versus what he is doing. That is something rather extraordinary in and of itself to be able to so fully give the reader the measure of a man.
I am also a huge fan of how we’re seeing the backstory of the whole Ninja programme coming to life. Now that we know there is this long history starting back with the original the possibilities that have opened up can boggle the mind. While we are getting a sneak peek at it now this is a story that focuses on Colin learning what he can about the secretive past agents in order to stop the deaths of those men still alive. It is an incredibly good start to what appears to be a find story and it just makes me want to know more.
From the past to the present what the guys do on the interiors here is lovely. The linework here is extraordinary and how it brings the subjects to life through the style of clothing and technology and what is, what shouldn’t be and can’t be possible. The use of page layouts here are fantastic and the way angles and perspective are used in the panels show off a strong eye for storytelling. His use of backgrounds continues to thrill me as it really does add something to the ambiance of the story and expanding the world for us.
There is a reason why Ninjak is one of the most beloved characters in comics. He’s Batman without being a clone he’s more accessible, real to readers and can related to in ways that no other billionaire costumed vigilante. Yes his parents left him orphaned, rich and with a man who made him tough. That part isn’t as relatable to but he chose what to do with his life, he chose to be the man he is and a large part of that is because of his upbringing and a lot of folks can relate to that. Plus he isn’t really altruistic the man is a mercenary and isn’t ashamed by it. Sure he works with MI6 and with other heroes but he’s really in this for himself and his best interest. Let’s be honest I would do exactly the same if I were in those shoes.
Valiant continues to focus on bringing readers high quality story and illustration in their books and this, this is why this series, two issues in, is already a MUST HAVE book!