After two amazing story arcs, Valiant’s Ninja-K series is kicking things up another notch with a “standalone” issue about the origin of Ninja-H.

Ninja-K #10
Written By: Christos Gage
Art By: Larry Stroman
Published By: Valiant Comics
Price: $3.99
Release Date: 08/15/2018

After two amazing story arcs, Valiant’s Ninja-K series is kicking things up another notch with a “standalone” issue about the origin of Ninja-H.

While the search of a now possessed Eternal Warrior is going on, Ninja-H who has been in suspended animation escapes and kills six MI-6 agents. Ninja-H has a suit that adapts to the various situations that he is in and it is also equipped with a very hostile AI system. MI-6 sends Ninja-K on a hunt to bring in H and to get him the help that he needs. K is briefed on H through an old recording of a debrief that H went through. The Debrief highlights how H joined the Ninja Programme and his first missions. I won’t go into anymore details as it will spoil the issue.

As with the last two story arcs, Christos Gage knocks it out of the park with this story. I found myself really sympathizing with Ninja-H and I started rooting for him throughout the book. This is a man who has lost everything and everyone he ever cared about. Through this MI-6 found a way to exploit that grief and use it for the gain. The organization I once was happy to see when I read previous stories with Ninja-K became an organization I have started to despise. I love how Gage takes the reader on a wild ride while also telling a deeply personal story. With the various former Ninja’s that K has encountered, this is the one that K has tried the hardest to talk to and to help. K is maturing and Gage really drives that home.

The art by Larry Stroman absolutely fits the story. Every panel is gorgeous and the fight scenes are fantastic. I will say, that my favorite panels though were the ones that featured Ninja-K and his handler, as these panels really drove home the personal stakes of the story. Stroman shows the humanity in every situation, and that is a testament to his work. You can also feel the pain that H is going through in every expression on his face. You can also see what he is feeling and thinking before he says anything. I really hope that Stroman stays on permanently.

I honestly couldn’t find anything wrong with this book other than I didn’t want it to end.

5 Ninja-H’s out of 5