“Why does the toy bio mention a Colin King?”
Ninjak vol. 2 #3
Acclaim Comics/Valiant Heroes (May, 1997)
“Men Of Acclaim” WRITER: Kurt Busiek PENCILER: Neil Vokes INKER: Mike Avon Oeming COLORING: Atomic Paintbrush LETTERERS: Dave Lanphear & OG ASSISTANT EDITOR: Alex Glass EDITOR: Jeff Gomez
Hoping to find some answers to his powers, Ninjak goes to the offices of Acclaim, and learns the name of game’s creator, whom Zeer claims is a monk that he wants to keep Ninjak away from. The man at Acclaim convinces our hero take over at the promotional event at the mall, and Zeer uses the opportunity to strike with three new Dark Dozen members–Gigantik (a giant rock guy who gets larger as he eats), Shurika (an evil ninja), and Nixie (who can turn into a water elemental). Without the tools in the game, Ninjak has to improvise, fighting his killer instinct, until Town notices Zeer. Ninjak grabs Zeer and according to the rules Ninjak wins. With that solved and Annie embarrassing him at the dinner table over Shelley, Denny needs to find the monk…which means sneaking off to Maine.
What they got right: The designs for the Dark Dozen keep getting better. You can see them coming out of a video game. (It’s too bad it never was turned into one.)
What they got wrong: This may be the old man talking, but considering what’s coming I prefer the days when they just said “got powers from video game, went to fight crime”. While it makes sense to bring the company in, and what I remember is coming just stopping there would have been fine with me. That’s a personal preference issue since I have nothing else to put here.
Recommendation: I’m still enjoying the story. If you weren’t invested in the original concept I still say pick this series up.
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