Ninjak is presumed dead, thanks to Shadowman and Bloodshot. The Unity Team Unified once again they head to save Neville’s family. The final showdown with Roku and the fate of the Book of the Geomancer!
NINJAK VS THE VALIANT UNIVERSE # 4
Writer: Aaron Schoenke
Artist: Joe Bennett
Inker: Bernadino Brabo
Colorist: Ulises Arreola
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Cover Artist: Brian Level, Cafu with Andrew Dahlhouse, Francis Portela with Andrew Dahlhouse, Barry Kitson with Ulises Arreola
Editors: Josh Johns & Benjamin Peterson
Publisher: Valiant Comics
What You Need to Know:
Ninjak the elite field agent of MI-6 has been blackmailed by the Villain Roku with the kidnapping of Ninjak’s Best friend’s Family. They also happen to be the wife and daughter of Neville Alcott the head of MI-6 operations. He has been given a near impossible task to retrieve an item from the Vaults of MI-6.
Having done this, Neville was forced to issue a Burn Notice for Ninjak, and effectively set Team Unity against him, including, Archer and Armstrong, Bloodshot, XO Manowar, and the Eternal Warrior.
When Bloodshot finds traces of Nanites in Ninjak’s Blood, he devises a plan to find out the reason Ninjak was acting so strangely. The inject him with a dose of tranquilizer to hill him enough to send The Shadowman in to speak to Ninjak’s soul, without tipping off the person in control of him. When this happens Roku thinks that her plan has failed and that Ninjak is dead.
Neville reminisces about his first date with his wife Jillian and tells Coronel Capshaw that he will be attending the Op to save his family. She of course protested, but he will not let them down again. Feeling guilty that Roku was able to take them so easily.
What You’ll Find Out:
Roku is out of options, and she uses her animated hair to drag Jillian and her daughter behind her as she evacuates her lair, thinking that Ninjak has failed to return the Book of the Geomancer to her. In her dramatic fashion, she is none the wiser to Ninjak’s presence in front of her.
Little does Roku know that just behind him is the entire team!
What Just Happened?
Amidst the chaos, Roku tries to flee with the Book. She shows just how formidable she can be and takes out the entire squad with her hair.
Ninjak pursues her with the book. She boards a plane and takes off, but Colin is onboard. A small fight in close quarters, but Ninjak is able to tie her hair into a knot and feed it into the gears of the door mechanism. He grabs the book and exits the doomed vessel. Praying for a miracle, he is picked up mid-fall by Aric (XO Manowar). The team is reunited and reconciles as to what has happened. Neville is reunited with his family and the day is saved.
The epilogue: Roku kneels before her shadowy Master. He tells her that she has failed him. Roku says that not entirely, as she ripped the page from the Book of the Geomancer. The Grim Visage of her Master becomes alive with Arcane Magical symbols and tells her it will do.
Rating: 8 / 10
Final Thought:
I have really enjoyed this limited series. It establishes some truths for the Valiant Universe and sets up for the status quo in the upcoming Harbinger Wars 2. This was a fun book, that reads similar to a heist or action film, that though it lacked depth, it made up for in humor and heart. A rogue character who does the wrong things for the right reasons, and is forced to hurt the ones he cares about to save the ones he loves. It is a fun concept and a great introduction to the Valiant Continuity. I recommend this is an easy read that is never boring and is a great alternative to the big two comic publishers. Ninjak vs the Valiant Universe does not disappoint. A fine Bookend to the short Mini-series. I am looking forward to the Live action production that will be out soon. Check this one out.
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