Monday, July 19, 2021

Comics Review - - KI-6: THE KILLERS



KI-6: KILLERS by B. Clay Moore, writer and Fernando Dagnino, art. (Valiant Entertainment, January 2020) Trade paperback, 128 pages ISBN # 1682153444 / 978168215344 


Summary on the Goodreads website . . . . .


Everybody dies . . .


Five deadly assassins are recruited into a game of cat and mouse by their former sensei, the mysterious Jonin. Trained to channel their "ki" to perform superhuman feats in the shadow wars between the secret agencies of the world, these agents of death will team up to compete for the ultimate prize…life itself. Brought together to find the secret of immortality, these lethal weapons will have to face a murderous gauntlet and each other in order to win what they desire most.


From thrilling writer B. Clay Moore (SAVAGE) and energetic artist Fernando Dagnino (Suicide Squad) comes a nonstop thrill ride as the deadliest superspies on the planet compete to claim the ultimate prize.


Collecting the complete five-issue KILLERS limited series.


My Four-Star Review on the Goodreads website . . . . .


     The story revolves around five former agents of British MI-6, all operatives of the bureau's Ninja Programme. These five were identified by letters corresponding to the order in which they worked for Mi-6. The current operative is designated Ninja-K. 


     The five are recruited by Jonin, their former trainer and sensei and tasked with retrieving the mystical "tears" from the mountainous enclave of The Burning Monk. The "tears" will help restore Jonin and extend his longevity further. Naturally, there is resistance, sabotage, counter-efforts, and plenty of dramatically illustrated fights. 


     The five agents are distinctive and interesting, definitely worthy of further participation in the Valiant comic universe. That appeared to be the original idea, as the ending alludes to a team-up as part of Valiant's new titles for 2020. Unfortunately, a pandemic ground things to a halt in early 2020 and delayed or cancelled many of Valiant's intended releases. Here's hoping KI-6 returns. 


     Desdomona Rush was the first female inducted into MI-6's Ninja Programme as Ninja-G a.k.a. Blindside (martial arts, peripheral invisibility). Roger Thorpe (martial arts, marksmanship, regenerative healing and temporary invincibility) a.k.a. Carapace served as Ninja-J. Ninja-I Brenda Li (not the singer) a.k.a. Snapdragon (martial arts, psychic projection via a dragon body tattoo) now runs a criminal enterprise in Indonesia. Raleigh Brewster, nicknamed The Undisciple (martial arts, meditative focus, ki-activated telepathic abilities) and designated Ninja-F is a vagabond of sorts. Less is known of the always-masked unnamed operative Nina-E a.k.a. Sights (martial arts, marksmanship, telekinetic abilities).


     I read this story in the original monthly issues, as released in 2019.

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