When the Eternal Warrior and Ninjak get together get ready for a serious dose of comedy? You may not believe it but Gilad, the protector of the geomancers and Colin King, super agent, have a quick wit that could only be honed by being allies for years. With the type of work that these men do, there has to be some levity. It’s the kind of gallows humor that comes along with the experience of being in life ending battles together – in Gilad’s case literally. And in this non-linear setting Matt Kindt takes advantage of this relationship while simultaneously propelling the storyline forward.
It’s years from now and the Eternal Warrior is still around. However, the years have not treated him well. The artwork shows a battle-ridden protector who may have made his way back from the land of the dead one too many times. Then there’s the older Ninjak who from the start of ‘The Fist & The Steel’ already looks like the mission they’re on has taken 10-years off his life. Still, it seems that after Roku has decimated his existence Ninjak found a way to survive; most likely with a bigger badass reputation. Of course their mission is not known to the reader. But this is the Valiant Universe, so at some point in the near future it will be the central theme for the other titles.
Of course this is a Ninjak comic and with issue 18 comes intrigue along with a dose of dry witticisms. Only these two who have seen everything could keep a straight face while battling multiple armed men in extreme temperatures. At one point you will find yourself humming the theme-song to ‘The Odd Couple.’ Their bickering much like Felix and Oscar is juxtaposed with the assignment that is filled with secrecy. Nearly everyone who is a threat is dead, so where is this fear coming from and why is everyone involved desperately trying to keep quiet? More importantly, who is behind all this? In keeping the objective in mind Kindt layers the future with questions that are still unknown to the reader in the present, as he’s telling a story set years from now.
Essentially, you know that if Gilad is involved there is a geomancer who is in danger, so you know why he’s invested. The reader is also aware of why Ninjak is needed. Yet, there is this looming presence of fate or providence which seems to be constantly interceding in his life. And just when you think you have a foothold on what’s happening the comic is over. You may think that the questions you have would be answered in ‘The Lost Files.’ Perhaps one, but that answer alludes to even more questions. Then there’s the past mission to the Deadside that happened before Roku made her campaign on destroying Colin from the outside in.
It is said that no one comes from the Deadside unscathed if they come through that experience alive. What will Colin have to trade to be alive so many years later? And just how do you go after someone who has a teleporter in their back pocket?
Leave a Reply