For years, Ninjak has been the best-kept secret of Valiant Entertainment. Billionaire Colin King's masked exploits have built up a passionate following even while the likes of Bloodshot and X-O Manowar have influenced some of the universe's biggest stories. Now, Ninjak #1 by Jeff Parker and Javier Pulido aims to show off the dynamic hero to the world. Filled with explosive action and sharp storytelling, the new Ninjak series is a love letter to the spy genre that stands out as one of the boldest books that Valiant has ever produced. Ninjak #1 showcases the hero at his best, creating a memorable story that's perfect for long-time fans and new readers being introduced to the Valiant world of comics for the first time.
Ninjak #1 opens on a pair of MI-6 agents meeting in a bar, talking about their mutual association with Ninjak and the Ninja Programme. During this conversation, a mysterious duo walks into the bar and scans the minds of the secret agents, stealing government information. The story then cuts to Ninjak, who is busy rescuing a reporter from certain doom. As he finishes his mission, Ninjak receives word that all MI-6 Deep Cover agents have had their identities leaked globally and are now being killed en masse -- leading to a massive battle.
Writer Jeff Parker joins the Valiant Entertainment family with Ninjak #1, creating a story that feels particularly relevant for the modern era of espionage. In every conceivable way, Ninjak is about secrets and the cost that secrets have when the truth gets out. Beyond this core concept, Parker's approach to the first issue focuses on building up Ninjak's world in order to quickly bring it tumbling down. Returning favorites like Neville Alcott and MI-6 from previous Ninjak titles appear, only for the action to push forward with the introduction of Myna, a "Songbird" agent sent to keep track of Ninjak. Myna is a great addition to the world and much of the story plays off of her reaction to the chaos around her, as well as the exploits of Ninjak.
While Parker's story structures Ninjak, Javier Pulido's art truly transforms the text and gives the book a unique identity that distinguishes it from previous Ninjak titles. Like he has done with Hawkeye and She-Hulk in the past, Pulido unleashes a true creative vision that immerses readers in the action. Pulido colors his own work too, using a succinct palette based on surreal depictions of reality. This helps the book feel fun, even when Ninjak is slicing off people's hands or shoving buzzsaws into somebody's throat. While the story of Ninjak #1 could be used for any medium, Pulido's art creates visuals that are only possible in the world of comics.
The most impressive thing that Ninjak #1 accomplishes is its ability to call back to previous Ninjak books while establishing its unique voice. In many ways, this feels reminiscent of Jeff Lemire's acclaimed run on Green Arrow during DC's New 52 years. In that, Lemire broke down Oliver Queen to his core to build a better Green Arrow. This series aims to do the same, stripping Colin King to his base components as a way to showcase the unique attributes that make him such a compelling lead. If this first issue is anything to go by, it's already working.
Overall, Ninjak #1 is an incredibly strong launch with dynamic art, unique characters and a true sense of purpose. Ninjak is a man on the run, forced to take on the world at a moment's notice and he's uniquely qualified to handle that task. Parker and Pulido have great chemistry that sets this series apart from anything else on the stands. Colin King might be used to life in the shadows, but the secret's out - Ninjak is awesome.
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