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Ninjak #1 Review

By D. Goodman

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Ninjak #1
Written by Matt Kindt
Art by Clay Mann and Butch Guice
Colors by Ulises Arreola
Published by Valiant Entertainment

Of all the characters Valiant fans were looking forward to seeing make a return, Ninjak had to be at the top of the list. Whether it’s because of the whole ninja/spy angle or because the character was co-created by Joe Quesada, fans still have very fond memories of Colin King and his original adventures. And now, after some time as a member of Valiant’s team book Unity, Ninjak is back in his own series thanks to the considerable talents of Matt Kindt and Clay Mann.

The first issue acts purely as an introduction to Ninjak, his world and the supporting cast. We meet Colin King, his MI6 handler Neville Alcott and see just what Ninjak is capable of when in action. In addition, we also get a small glimpse into the life of King as a child and what his youth was like. It’s here that I think we may (key word may) have a problem.

The issue is that once you finish the main story, you come away with the distinct impression that you’ve just read a rehash of Batman, and nothing more. The parallels are hard to miss, and except for a few small things (like an Alfred who is way more into discipline than the one we all know) it’s tough not to finish the first issue of Ninjak and not think immediately of the Dark Knight. The reason I say this only may be a problem is because Kindt has proven himself to be a ridiculously talented writer, and there has to be more to this series than just what we see in the first issue. If it were anyone else, I would just say that Ninjak is a Batman rip-off and not worth your time. In the hands of Kindt, I’m willing to bet there is bound to be a deeper story here that we just aren’t privy to yet.

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Even if there isn’t, there are still two very good reasons to stick around for future issues. One is the art by Clay Mann, which is breathtaking to the extreme. This is far and away the best looking Valiant title yet, with deep, rich art and colors that will impress even the most jaded fanboy out there. Both action sequences as well as the quieter scenes are given the same level of attention and detail, which you don’t see in most comics. Truly amazing stuff.

The other reason is the back-up story. In addition to the regular comic, readers also get tales from “The Lost Files,” which fill in the gaps of Colin King’s training as a spy. Much more noir and less traditional than normal Valiant books, these are side stories that offer a different take on Ninjak and his life.

Best of all is the fact that they see the return of Butch Guice to comics. His style here is much more textured and gritty than I was used to, with a lot of use of shadow and a very dark color palette. It is such a marked departure from the style of the main story that if you told me that Colin King was the same character and I didn’t already know that to be the case, I’m not sure I would believe you.

The Bottom Line: Given the talent involved and the incredible quality of the art, I’m more than willing to give Ninjak a few months to wow me. If by issue #6 it still feels like a Valiant version of Batman, I may have to move on, but I’m betting that won’t happen.

Regardless, the addition of “The Lost Files” back-ups make Ninjak not only a better comic overall, but one of the best deals on the stands. I mean, there are worse things you could do with four bucks.

Next: See how Valiant characters are coming to film

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