“The pulse-pounding expansion of Valiant’s upcoming, live-action digital series wages its most dangerous gambit yet as Colin King – aka the international super-spy codenamed Ninjak – battles his way through his former friends and allies! Ninjak’s arch-nemesis – the deadly and cunning assassin Roku – has manipulated MI6’s most dangerous asset into turning on his former masters and stealing an object of immeasurable power. So who can MI6 send to stop him? EVERYONE! The bone-cracking showdown of a lifetime continues here as Ninjak battles X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Livewire, Archer & Armstrong, and all of Valiant’s most formidable heroes!”

Despite the live action version of this story having been faced with multiple delays, Valiant have published Ninjak Vs The Valiant Universe as an alternate universe story with no real bearing on the other comics in the publisher’s line up.  Being an adaptation, there’s a few hands in the creative pot steering the series with Eliot Rahal adapting Aaron Schoenke‘s screen story (the screenplay itself credits Aaron Schoenke, Sean Schoenke, Joe Harris and Andrew Rowe) with often mixed results; the first issue wasn’t great although the second was a step up. The third… is neither a step up nor a step back. Once again this remains the comic equivalent to a  popcorn fueled action movie, but this time the charm isn’t holding as strongly as you would hope.

The story has the unique honour of limping along in a disjointed shambles and yet moving with the speed of a track runner. Think a zombie running the hundred meters without any hint of the humour that should be present and you’ll not be far off.

Joe Bennett (pencils),  Belardino Brabo (inks) and Ulises Arreola (colours) are on art duties again, and provide a comic that is presumably close to the visual style of the web-series, but doesn’t really do anything to wow you completely. Visually the comic is solid, if unspectacular, and you won’t feel short changed by the art. But unfortunately Ninjak Vs The Valiant Universe #3 is an exercise in mediocrity. It’s not bad, but it’s just not that great, either.

Ultimately, although this series isn’t going to be winning any major awards, it’s not bad as a primer for the web-series.

Story: Eliot Rahal Pencils: Joe Bennett
Inks: Belardino Brabo Colours: Ulises Arreola
Story: 6.7 Art: 7.0 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review