Happy Memorial Day

 

However you attack it, hack it, Ninjak-it,

Slice it, dice it, MI-6-it,

Explore it, do more with it, secret-agent-it

Have a valiant Memorial Day!

Free Comic Book Day Special 2022: A Treasure Trove of Valiant Goodness

 

I just thought I'd remind you that Valiant's Free Comic Book Day Special is still out there. And boy: is it substantial! In case you haven't got your hands on a copy, I thought I'd share a little of what's inside.

First up, there's a new short story featuring Bloodshot. Is it be part of a larger issue, or a standalone? Either way, it's totally new.

There's also a short Archer & Armstrong story. This one appears to take place directly after the new Archer & Armstrong #1. Not only will you find it entertaining, but it suggests the series' direction: a kind-of quasi-religious scavenger hunt. 

While he searches for clues to what's wrong with his friend, Archer also keep up a dialogue with Faith. Along with the dynamic duo's search for a way to restore Armstrong's absent appendage, I'm looking forward to seeing how Archer's relationship with Faith progresses.

Will Faith appear later on in this series? I guess we'll have to wait to find out.

There's also a preview of Ninjak's new look. I expect to see him battling lots more would-be superbaddies in his upcoming series.

Additionally, the FCBD Special includes the preview pages from Armorclads #1. So if you've been hiding under a rock somewhere for the last few months, you're in for a terrific surprise. 

Recently, Valiant released this terrific view of Armorclads #3 Cover A without the series logo and credits. So if you're looking for new wallpaper for your cellphone...

 

 

Valiant's Free Comic Book Day 2022 Special is a substantial read. Make sure you pick up your copy the next time you visit your local comic shop!

Dragon Dave

Ninjak Superkillers

 Here's another reason to visit your local comic shop today...

VALIANT REVEALS NEW ‘NINJAK: SUPERKILLERS’ LIMITED SERIES AHEAD OF

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2022

 

When classified data is exposed no one is safe. Valiant is proud to reveal a deadly new series launching in February, 2023 – NINJAK: SUPERKILLERS. 

 

A ruthless team of superpowered killers versus the world’s most lethal assassin – who will survive? The all-new explosive limited series NINJAK: SUPERKILLERS is a globetrotting noir tale with deadly consequences for the Valiant Universe.

 

 

 

To learn more about the return of NINJAK, don’t miss out on the all-new stories featured in the VALIANT 2022 FREE COMIC BOOK DAY issue available Saturday, May 7th. The new original stories feature the thrilling, can’t miss introduction of NINJAK: SUPERKILLERS – as well as new BLOODSHOT and ARCHER & ARMSTRONG stories – alongside previews for the future of SHADOWMAN and X-O MANOWAR, bringing the Year of Valiant into the spotlight like never before.

 

NINJAK SUPERKILLERS #1 is set to launch in February, 2023 from writer Jeff Parker and artist Mike Norton featuring a spectacular preorder cover by Dave Johnson. The limited series puts the fan-favorite NINJAK in a merciless fight to reclaim the life that has been taken from him, but can he survive the onslaught?

 

Don’t miss the VALIANT 2022 FREE COMIC BOOK DAY issue available on Saturday, May 7th to see the introduction of NINJAK: SUPERKILLERS alongside new BLOODSHOT and ARCHER & ARMSTRONG stories and stay tuned for more by following Valiant on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and joining the Valiant Community on Discord!

 

Stay Valiant!

The Year of Valiant 2022 FCBD Special

Check out this smoking-hot announcement from Valiant HQ.

 

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2022: 

VALIANT REVEALS NEW BLOODSHOT, ARCHER & ARMSTRONG, NINJAK STORIES WHILE TEASING THE FUTURE

 

Arriving on May 7th, THE YEAR OF VALIANT 2022 FCBD SPECIAL will present new content featuring exciting original stories, insightful behind-the-scenes looks at upcoming comics, in-depth interviews with Valiant creators, and exclusive teasers for fan-favorite characters. The compelling tales starring flagship characters will reward longtime Valiant fans while also serving as easily accessible jumping-on points for new readers.

 

The Year of Valiant 2022 FCBD Special

 

THE YEAR OF VALIANT 2022 FCBD SPECIAL includes…

 

•          An all-new BLOODSHOT story from Ringo Award-nominated writer Deniz Camp and acclaimed artist Jon Davis-Hunt. It’s a brutal brawl between living weapons as the nanite-infused supersoldier stands alone against a terrifying foe in a small town. Only Bloodshot can stop the twisted creation from unleashing more bloodshed and devastation on the neglected part of the country.

 

•          The fan-favorite duo of ARCHER & ARMSTRONG go on a brand-new adventure! Written by the Eisner-nominated Steve Foxe and featuring art by rising star Marcio Fiorito, the young and optimistic Archer drags the care-free, hard-drinking and immortal Armstrong on a quest that leads them right into the base of an eldritch cult.

 

•          The award-winning creative team of Jeff Parker and Mike Norton present an action-packed ride starring NINJAK. In this thrilling original tale, a pair of tech-savvy hitmen set their sights on the superspy in an effort to collect the enormous bounty that is on his head.

 

•          Plus: Exclusive first looks at the future of Valiant’s iconic characters, including SHADOWMAN and X-O MANOWAR!

 

Celebrate Free Comic Book Day 2022 at your local comic shop on Saturday, May 7th, 2022. For more information on FCBD 2022, visit https://www.freecomicbookday.com/ and to find a comic shop near you go to https://www.comicshoplocator.com/.

 

Wow, what an awesome FCBD issue that will be! Now, could we please reschedule Free Comic Book Day for January 2022? How in the world can we possibly wait five months for all this Valiant greatness?

 

As always, many thanks to the good folks at Valiant Entertainment for sharing the good news with us.

 

Dragon Dave

Ninjak #4 Review Part 3

 

Ninjak #4 Cover A by Fernando Dagnino

In the third and final portion of Ninjak #4, Ninjak acts on the information he secured during his mission in Barcelona, Spain. He and his team travel to Molokai, one of the less visited islands of Hawaii. There Ninjak and Myna surveil Daylight's latest gathering, a luau held at an exclusive hotel, while their former handler Neville Alcott serves as backup on a nearby boat. 

 

 

The location suggests that the undercover C.I.A. agent posing as a Coast Guard officer in the first section of the issue boarded Daylight's vessel once it entered Hawaiian waters. This also partly explains Syphon's reaction to her brother's announcement in part one. The Kingmaker is making a very definite statement by excluding a United States government representative from a gathering held on U.S. soil.

 

 

While Syphon and the Kingmaker's ultimate aims have not yet been made clear, Ninjak and Myna discovered what gave birth to the brother and sister's psiot powers in Ninjak #3. Ninjak and Myna also interacted with that strange and powerful substance. 

 

 

While they seem to have suffered no long term effects from that exposure, its worth noting that everyone else exposed to that source died. One wonders what Syphon and the Kingmaker were like before their change, and if Ninjak and Myna may, at some future time, discover new abilities they never knew they had.

 

 

If the Kingmaker wasn't a control freak before that initiating event, he certainly is now. Rather than trying to win people over through kindness or reason, he kills them if they even contemplate acting against them. Power has gone to his head, and God help anyone who stands in his way. Can someone please give this guy a copy of Dale Carnegie's classic book How to Win Friends and Influence People?

After reading writer Jeff Parker's story in Ninjak #4, I'm wondering about the Kingmaker's ultimate goals for Daylight. What does he plan on doing with all the power and money he demands from major corporations and governments? 

 

 

I'm intrigued by the interaction between Syphon and Ninjak in the latter portion of the Molokai sequence. Ninjak's mental strength, built up through rigorous MI-6 and Ninja training, bolster him when she forces her way inside his mind. Yet the way penciler and inker Beni Lobel and colorist Andrew Dalhouse portray their interactions suggest that something more than just a mental attack is going on.

 

 

I'm also impressed by Myna. She's come so far in this new series: from a raw MI-6 agent venturing out on her first field mission, to playing a major role in Ninjak #4. By his body language, and by the way he relies on her in their missions, Ninjak seems to regard her as a friend and trusted partner. That's something he's never had before, in any previous series under his own name.

 

 

Ninjak #4 opens up lots of possibilities for future issues in this evolving and entertaining series. It leaves us with the promise of future battles, complex and growing relationships, and the reshaping of the international intelligence community. It makes me want to learn more about Daylight's plans, and wish that I could travel with Ninjak, Myna, and Neville. 

I definitely plan to be with them on this fun and exciting journey--every step of the way!

Dragon Dave 

Ninjak #4 Review: Part 2

 

Ninjak #4 Pre-Order Cover by Pedro Andreo

In the second portion of Ninjak #4, the action moves to Barcelona, Spain. There, Ninjak listens in on the conversations of a Spanish minister, hoping to learn more of Daylight's plans. Unlike with the poor C.I.A. agent, writer Jeff Parker gives us sufficient backstory to tell us how Ninjak learned that this minister was appointed to interact with Daylight.

 

Unlike with the C.I.A. agent, he's not traveling aboard a ship while surveilling another ship. He's riding a rent-a-scooter while surveilling a car. 

 

When something interferes with Ninjak's electronic surveillance, he uses his specialized training to board the vessel (or if you prefer, automobile), and question the minister directly.

 

 

There's a nice symmetry in these two sections, with two undercover agents trying to listen in on conversations concerning Daylight, and risking confrontation when their remote surveillance methods prove insufficient. The Kingmaker's new psiot abilities allow him to interfere with electronic communications up close. Could he have had anything to do with Ninjak's signal loss, from so far away? 

 

 

That may be a reach. Still, I'm guessing we haven't seen all that the Kingmaker and Syphon can do with their newfound psiot abilities.

Dragon Dave

P.S. To review the Ninjak #4 Preview Pages, follow the link below:

Ninjak #4 Preview Pages

Ninjak #4 Review: Part 1

 

Ninjak #4 Cover B by Robbi Rodriguez

 

In the first act of Ninjak #4, we find the Kingmaker and his sister Syphon cruising on a yacht. They are questioning an undercover C.I.A. agent, who apparently boarded their vessel in the guise of a Coast Guard official. Sadly, writer Jeff Parker gives us no clues as to the manner in which the agent boarded their vessel.  

 

Was it for an official visit? Did he try to sneak on board?  Perhaps he donned a Coast Guard uniform, joined a party inspecting the yacht, and secreted himself aboard when the inspection team left?

No reference is made to a Coast Guard ship waiting for the "official" to return. Neither do we learn of any backup arriving later in the story. So perhaps the undercover C.I.A. agent is bluffing here, when he tells the Kingmaker that "his people" are on the way.

 

 

In any case, things don't end well for the undercover C.I.A. agent. He meets an end equally stylish and shocking, thanks to the circle inserts of the Kingmaker and Syphon, the inked in figures and the boat, and the stark color contrasts. 

Very cool, penciler and inker Javier Pulido, and colorist Andrew Dalhouse!

 

 

The intrusion rankles the Kingmaker, who declares that the U.S.A. isn't invited to their next Daylight gathering. Given Syphon's reaction, this suggests that he intends to have his sister meet a high-ranking C.I.A. official in the near future. As soon as Syphon peers into his or her mind, she'll learn all their secrets, as well as the identities of their undercover operatives, and expose the C.I.A.'s secrets to the world.

This opening scene delivers an incredible power punch. I just wish writer Jeff Parker had grounded this portion of the story a little more. I would like to know how the agent slipped aboard the Kingmaker and Syphon's vessel, and how he was caught. Knowing exactly what his mission objectives were would also be nice.

 

Still, this portion of the story reminds us that espionage agencies will continue to probe and test Daylight's capabilities. It also reminds us that the Kingmaker will consider such acts as enemy attacks, and respond accordingly.

 

 

I also like the notion of an agent from one branch of government going undercover as an official of another government department. I'm not sure why. It just seems...cool. 

Dragon Dave

To review the Ninjak #4 Preview Pages, click the link below:

Ninjak #4 Preview Pages

Valiant Rapture

 

Is this the real life,

Or is it fantasy?

Caught in the Deadside,

No escape from insanity!!!

Ninjak #4 Spotlight: Penciling & Inking Part 2

 

Ninjak #4 Cover A by Fernando Dagnino

Ninjak #4 can readily be divided into three sections. The first, the short intro, takes place aboard the Kingmaker and Syphon's ship. The second section takes place in Barcelona, Spain. The final, and by far the longest portion, takes place in Hawaii. 

Penciler & Inker Beni Lobel does a good job of following Javier Pulido's style when he takes over the action in Spain. Still, there are a few early clues, such as the interior of the limosine Ninjak is following. Yet when Beni portrays this man's fright, the stylistic differences become clear.

While keeping the characters and settings low-key, in accordance with Javier Pulido's work, Beni reveals more of his individuality once the action moves to Hawaii. Ninjak's face starts to reflect the difficult life path he's taken. His emotional and physical maturity is readily apparent.

I'm also struck by how much more detail Beni Lobel builds into Ninjak's surroundings, such as the ground cover and the bushes.

 

While Javier's penciling and inking style was uniquely his own, Beni Lobel's more detailed and traditional style seems closer to the art in the long-running Modesty Blaise comic. Valiant Comics senior editor Lysa Hawkins has frequently referenced the British heroine as an inspiration behind this new Ninjak series.

Beni Lobel's work on Ninjak #4 is so good and so fun. My immediate thoughts were, "Yeah, right on, Beni! I'm ready to see where you can take this new series!" 

Sadly for Ninjak fans, Beni Lobel's contributions (for now) seem to be limited to this issue. Although Valiant has announced that the series is taking a break, they have promised Ninjak and Myna will continue the fight against the nefarious Daylight organization. When Ninjak #5 arrives, Eisner Award-winning artist Mike Norton will have taken over the penciling and inking duties.

Even though his time on the series proved all-too short, Beni Lobel impresses in Ninjak #4. I look forward to seeing his return to Valiant, and more of his detailed and nuanced penciling and inking.

Dragon Dave

Ninjak #4 Spotlight: Penciling & Inking Part 1

Ninjak #4 Pre-Order Cover by Pedro Andreo

 

Images can effect you powerfully. Sometimes you'll realize why. Other times, you won't. At least, not right away. This certainly proves true in the introductory pages of Ninjak #4 drawn by pencil and inker Javier Pulido. 

Consider the image below. This half-of-a-man's face struck me powerfully. Gradually, over multiple readings, an association came. Now when I look at it, I think of the face in the moon in Georges Melies' 1902 short film "A Trip to the Moon."

 

 

When I saw this next image--another of Javier's now legendary story titles--I immediately thought of a cow's face. I still do. Why should I think that? 

Here's another, later association: the bound man being tossed into the dark sea symbolizes how Daylight's actions are effecting the world. I'm not saying that was Javier's intent. That's just the way this stylized title makes me feel.

 

 

 

This next panel reminds us that Ninjak's interrogation methods occasionally fall outside the Geneva conventions. The way Ninjak questioned people in previous series often seemed unnecessarily graphic. This time, I didn't even think about it. 

At least, not much. Not at first.

The way he's inset the smaller panel of Ninjak talking, relating the events at a later time, I didn't even notice the man lying on the carpet with a knife in his head on the first few readings. Showing a knife in someone's head seems pretty graphic to me. Yet, this image doesn't bother me.

One last thought, and I'll let you get on with your day. One thing that struck me about Ninjak's hoodie was how dotted the fabric was. It's like Javier stippled it. I imagine he did it more easily (and more quickly) on computer than he could have by hand, but I still wonder why he did it.  

Why did he wish to present the fabric in this way? To merely add texture, or for some other reason?

 

 

Javier leaves us with some powerful images in the opening pages of Ninjak #4. Whatever the reason he didn't complete the issue, I hope he is safe and well. Perhaps some day he can return, and entertain Valiant Comics readers with his unique penciling and inking style.

Dragon Dave  

To see how the first three panels are presented on each page, click the link below. (To see how the last panel falls on the page, I apologize, but you'll have to read Ninjak #4).

Ninjak #4 Preview Pages

Ninjak #4 Spotlight: Coloring

 

Ninjak #4 Cover B by Robbi Rodriguez

In Ninjak #4, Andrew Dalhouse does a great job of emulating penciler and inker Javier's coloring work in previous issues. For example, consider the way he colors these two panels, to show the way Syphon's psiot powers effect this man. 

Andrew's coloring is distinctive and bold. The way he colors the sky a vivid blue, in comparison to the lighter colored inset pictures, make us feel for this man they captured, and now casually toss aside.

Myna's hair color continues to change in response to lighting. In most situations, it looks black. Yet at times, it can look light brown, or even red. As in Ninjak #3, when Myna was in the underground ops facility of Nevil's castle, here we see it responding to the low lighting by appearing red again.

People often spend a lot of time and money on their hair. It's interesting to think that hair can look different on its own, depending on external factors like lighting and humidity. But then, it may also be effected by internal factors, such as how we feel physically or emotionally.

In previous Ninjak issues, Javier Pulido strictly limited his palette. Often, he only used two or three in each panel. In this busy street scene, Andrew Dalhouse evokes the simplicity of Javier's approach, while perhaps employing a slightly larger array of colors. 

The way he colored the car behind Ninjak makes me wonder if it's a police vehicle. The purple face set against the black sign makes me think of a clown, or perhaps a anthropomorphized animal character. As for the clusters of dark blobs on the upper left, I'm guessing that's sparse tree foliage.

Scenes such as this, that capture the energy of the moment, can speak to us powerfully. This remains true, even when simply drawn and colored. But I think that's been the whole point of Javier Pulido's work on Ninjak, don't you? 

Congratulations on continuing the distinctive visual appearance of this current series in Ninjak #4, Andrew Dalhouse. Well done!

Dragon Dave

To view the Ninjak #4 Preview Pages, click the link below:

Ninjak #4 Preview Pages

Ninjak #4 Spotlight: Lettering

 

Ninjak #4 Cover A by Fernando Dagnino

In Ninjak #4, veteran Dave Sharpe takes over the lettering duties. In the panel below, the long, graceful arrow that arcs out and down tells us that even though we're looking at Syphon, that's not who's speaking.

Sadly, the poor fellow has trouble getting his words out once Syphon turns her mental powers upon him. As he struggles to respond, dialogue balloons also arc around him, and break panel boundaries.

If you follow the link to the preview pages at the bottom of this post, you'll notice that the balloons break out of artist Javier Pulido's panel layout for that page.

With their new psiot abilities, Syphon and her brother don't need to talk to communicate. Dave discloses her psychic dialogue with a blue puffy cloud.

Meanwhile, Dave reveals her brother's dialogue as an off-white puffy cloud. Is it just me, or do the four diagonal arrows of the dialogue balloon, when atop the sun, suggest a flower or a cookie?

In either case, the way he lays their dialogue balloons over the sun reminds us that the brother and sister run the growing intelligence-terrorism group Daylight.

In the last panel, Dave Sharpe differentiates the dialogue Ninjak listens in on with spikes jetting diagonally from the dialogue balloon. The letters of the words fade, or get rubbed out, by some sort of interference. 

The arrow traveling from the balloon to Ninjak emphasizes this interruption. First it's arcing toward him, then it veers away, then it shoots back. The lightning bolt it forms reminds us that it is an electronic communication.

Great work, Dave Sharpe. Your lettering enhances the beauty and meaning of Ninjak #4!

Dragon Dave

P.S. To review the preview pages the good folks at Valiant Comics shared with us last month, click the link below:

Ninjak #4 Preview Pages