Ninjak vs the Valiant Universe #1
Writer: Eliot Rahal
Artists: Joe Bennett with Belardino Brabo
Colourist: Ulises Arreola
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Publisher: Valiant
Review by Josh Rose
A few years ago Valiant Entertainment set out to find a way to showcase their characters in a way never seen before. Valiant began making a live action web series starring actors from shows like Arrow and Power Rangers with Youtube channel’s Bat in the Sun producing. Ninjak vs the Valiant Universe #1 is the comic adaptation of that series that stands alone from the rest of Valiant’s comic universe.
Ninjak has been manipulated by Roku into stealing something from MI-6’s vaults, backing him into corner so he can’t talk to anyone to betray her. Right from the start, it’s one fight after another, ending with Livewire calling in Unity to take down Ninjak.
Eliot Rahal gives Ninjak a realistic reason for not talking to his fellow heroes. Roku is spying on him and has kidnapped Neville Alcott’s family. One can’t exactly talk when the bad guy is watching your every move. Rahal does a good job of slowing down the story and giving us enough details to move the plot along so it isn’t non-stop action.
Joe Bennett and Belardino Brabo do a great job with the panel layout and the fights. Their characters’ facial expressions brilliantly convey emotion as well. Ulises Arreola’s colours are vibrant, but I noticed he uses different colours for the same background in consecutive panels. There doesn’t seem to be any reason for his doing so.
The Verdict: Wait and See.
If you’re looking for a book with some awesome fighting, Ninjak vs the Valiant Universe #1 is it. If you are looking for something more than your typical hero vs hero story, maybe wait to read this until the live action series airs or until the trade comes out.
