New Comic Wednesday Review: NINJA-K #3

NINJA-K #3 (Valiant Entertainment, January 24 release date)

Writer: Christos Gage.  Art:  Tomas Giorello with Roberto de la Torre.  Colors:  Diego Rodriguez.  Backup Story Art:  Ariel Olivetti.  Letters:  A Larger World Studios.

 

     The action and intrigue keep the story moving as new writer Christos Gage continues with the first story arc of NINJA-K.  

 

     At the end of the last issue, Ninja-K (Colin King) meets Ninja-C, who has been targeting past MI6 ninja agents and claims responsibility for their murders.  They fight, but the older Ninja-C (trained in the 1940’s for WWII service) holds up well against the younger King, even with the advances in weapon technology he employs against C. 

 

   As they battle, their back-and-forth banter reveals that C bears a grudge against the MI6 ninja program and its agents and is on a personal vendetta.  Realizing they are evenly matched and beginning to sympathize with C’s situation, King offers a truce.  It gives him an opportunity to hear more of C’s back story and learns of the Acclimation Bureau. When comparing it to his experience King realizes he’s been just as manipulated, controlled and deceived during his career. The issue ends with a shocked and discouraged King.  

 

“Endings & Beginnings: Part 2”, the back up story, continues the adventure of Ninja-A on a WWI mission to stop a German planeload of deadly chemicals.  There’s an awesome battle atop a bi-plane in furious flight that is depicted in wonderful fashion.

 

        RATING SYSTEM

 

 STORY:  Gage keeps building the mystery and suspense, leading up to what should be a big confrontation in future issues. I’m excited to see where he takes this.  His characters are realistic and well-defined. 2.5 POINTS

 

ART: The action and battle sequences are amazing, and Giorello keeps the necessary pages of extrapolation interesting through use of clever panel shapes, placements, and overlaps. Olivetti maintains the quality in the backup feature.  2.5 POINTS

 

COVER: Always interesting and eye-catching. 1.5 POINTS.

 

READ AGAIN? Yes, it’s a good arc. Can’t wait to read it again in one sitting once it finishes.  1 POINT.

 

RECOMMEND? Yes. At other companies this would be my favorite of their titles. However, Valiant puts out enough great books that it makes it hard to decide — so I’m backing off from naming it my fave Valiant title.  1 POINT.

 

TOTAL RATING:  8.5 POINTS. Way above average, trending towards perfect.