Ninjak #17: An End and A Beginning

Kindt’s run has been building to this point, 3 previous volumes of stellar stories in their own right lead to this face off between two brutal characters who mirror each other in many ways. Kindt has shown us the faces behind the masks of Roku and Ninjak to reveal one common trait: both are victims of circumstance. Whether born into madness like Colin was or dragged into it like Angelina now called Roku was, both are the end results of broken people thrown into clandestine worlds much bigger than either of them.

For 17 issues Kindt has been setting this stage and the conclusion does not disappoint one bit. All too often these martial arts mysteries have a vague presence of real meat to them but never let you sink your teeth into it. In this instance you can’t read these pages and not feel full of real substance. The skillfully way Kindt uses shadows from King’s past to shape him into something new in a sight to behold. The slow unveiling of just how messed up Colin King’s parentage is, the scars caused by espionage on its agents and so many more factors make Ninjak something leagues above just a cool ninja chopping up bad guys.

To see an archetype that frankly could be kept a shallow action poster boy become something with depth and humanity is what separates Colin King from other masked martial artists. Kindt revamped the concept of Ninjak into something that feels real despite the more fantastical elements of his character and his world. And the fact Matt Kindt did so in under 20 issues for not just Ninjak but every major character we’ve been introduced to is nothing short of phenomenal.

The best part is the endings for both Roku and Ninjak, I’m not gonna spoil much here but suffice it to say it’s exceedingly rare to find an ending that does justice to both the protagonist and antagonist while also setting them both up for future amazing stories.

Combine that with superb art by Diego Bernard, Alisson Rodrigues and the spot on colorist work by Andrew Dalhouse and Ulises Arreola, well this kinda magic is why we read comics. The art team perfectly reflects the grit and emotional impact of every twist and turn of the story. From Roku’s loneliness and bitter cravings for revenge as well as King’s despair and reconnection to the things that make us human, no panel among these pages leaves you wanting visually.