Welcome back for another edition of Parlay Points, the complementary blog to the ODPH podcast. For this edition…..LET’S TALK NINJAK!!!!! WOW, Valiant Entertainment came out swinging for the fences with its’ debut issue & hit it out of the park! Jeff Parker & Javier Pulido brought Colin King, super spy & human weapon extraordinaire, back to the comic shops in a big way. Absolutely loved the first issue (as stated in a previous blog) so lets see where the story is going now, shall we!
NINJAK #2
By JEFF PARKER & JAVIER PULIDO
Cover A by DAVID NAKAYAMA
Cover B by MICHAEL WALSH (featured here)
Pre-order Cover by DAVID LOPEZ
On sale AUGUST 25th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+
Credit: Valiant Entertainment/DMG Entertainment
Right off the bat, readers get a quick recap of last issue’s events thru the eyes of Myna. She is the agent who’s been following King since leaving MI-6. Huge fan of how Valiant has a secondary character narrate these pages. It’s a subtle touch, but it works big! This issue picks up right where issue #1 ended: Our hero being confronted by assassins trying to collect a price on his head. Each assassin has a unique set of powers to them. They might have gotten the jump on Ninjak but this fight is far from over.
How does Ninjak & Myna stop these foes? It’s a very clever way that showcases Ninjak’s smarts. It also shows how dangerous he can be. It’s what really drove this issue. From there, readers get a small glimpse into Daylight, the group who exposed MI-6’s agents. They also get a better understanding of Kingmaker, who appears to be the head of Daylight & how he deals with potential threats.
NINJAK #2
By JEFF PARKER & JAVIER PULIDO
Cover A by DAVID NAKAYAMA
Cover B by MICHAEL WALSH (featured here)
Pre-order Cover by DAVID LOPEZ
On sale AUGUST 25th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+
Credit: Valiant Entertainment/DMG Entertainment
Parker continues crafting a great tale with issue #2. While the majority of the issue is focuses on Ninjak & G-3, he gives readers a great insight into how Ninjak assesses threats & handles them. This is all done in a very “super-spy” way: calm, cool, & stylish. Wouldn’t expect anything less from Colin King. I especially enjoy how Myna is written here because her perspective mirrors the readers’ view of the situation. Pacing is just right for the action in this issue. There is a lot to enjoy from the story within these pages.
The art gives this book such a fresh dynamic. Pulido delivers again on an ultra-cool, 70’s vibe with the artwork. It pops on each page. The 2 page spreads are absolutely on-point. Even the smaller moments are made into bigger standout places in this book. Look no further than when Ninjak defeats Growler. The use of light & shadows is strong. Not everything needs to be over the top explosions & you get all the emotion of the moment in these panels. Special shout out to Michael Walsh on Cover B for this issue as well.
NINJAK #2
By JEFF PARKER & JAVIER PULIDO
Cover A by DAVID NAKAYAMA
Cover B by MICHAEL WALSH (featured here)
Pre-order Cover by DAVID LOPEZ
On sale AUGUST 25th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+
Credit: Valiant Entertainment/DMG Entertainment
NINJAK #2
By JEFF PARKER & JAVIER PULIDO
Cover A by DAVID NAKAYAMA
Cover B by MICHAEL WALSH (featured here)
Pre-order Cover by DAVID LOPEZ
On sale AUGUST 25th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+
Credit: Valiant Entertainment/DMG Entertainment
NINJAK #2
By JEFF PARKER & JAVIER PULIDO
Cover A by DAVID NAKAYAMA
Cover B by MICHAEL WALSH (featured here)
Pre-order Cover by DAVID LOPEZ
On sale AUGUST 25th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+
Credit: Valiant Entertainment/DMG Entertainment
Overall, if this book isn’t on your pull list, check your pulse. The latest adventure of Colin King doesn’t have a miscue for issue #2. Solid action & slow burn reveals about Daylight deliver for readers. Don’t miss Ninjak #2 when it drops in your local comic shop on August 25th.
Hit me up on Twitter & let me know what you think of Ninjak #2. As always, thanks for reading!