Valiant; $3.99
When Ninjak found a team of powerful enemies gathering together, he recruited Livewire, Punk Mambo, and Doctor Mirage to fight alongside him. They were separated during the last battle when Ninjak and Livewire infiltrated the Coalition’s compound to find that they have Gilad, the Eternal Warrior held prisoner. But, he’s been drastically influenced and does not recognize Ninjak as an ally.
Ninjak quickly learns that the Coalition is using Eternal Warrior as a gateway for a Deadside Entity that is trying to breach our reality. What’s more fun, to reclaim Eternal Warrior and his soul, the being has to leave voluntarily. While he and Doctor Mirage deal with that complicated situation, Punk Mambo is facing the Jonin and Livewire is battling Ultimo.
There’s no shortage of bad guys and heavy action in Ninja-K #9. Christos Gage has written a good story that brings a team element to this solo character title and there’s plenty of heroics to go around. Along with the action, it also challenges Ninjak’s nature to be secretive and singular rather than working as a team. It’ll be interesting to see if this story thread continues into the next arc.
The art by Juan José Ryp and colors by Jordie Bellaire are plain cool. It’s ethereal magic, modern technology, creepy looking villains, and impressive heroes. There’s good variety within the panel structures, it’s depicted at several angles, and the colors pop when they need to.
-Amanda Sheriff