I’m genuinely surprised by how much I’m enjoying Javier Pulido‘s artwork in this series. Upon initially seeing the preview pages for Ninjak #3, I was cautiously optimistic that I would come to like the artist’s style as I had flashbacks of another comic that I was initially disappointed in the art style before I began to appreciate what the team were doing with the comic. I’m in a similar position now, albeit starting from a more open position, and watching Pulido play with the panels, borders and layouts on each page is a genuinely exciting feeling. Especially once you realize how the page needs to be read (which is honestly one of the only drawbacks to his creativity is that it sometimes took me a few seconds to work out how to read the page because of the layouts).

Ninjak #3 continues to evoke the series James Bond vibes as Ninjak and Agent Myna confront a kill team sent after Neville Alcott before the duo head to a mysterious mountain base. With the comic picking up exactly where the previous issue left off, Jeff Parker throws you right back into the action – which is going to be great for the trade, but because of the gap between issues, it adds to the pace of things on the page as your brain recalls what had happened in the immediate pages leading up to what you’re about to see.

Because we’re now three issues into this creative team, you’re going to know whether you want to continue with the series and its creative team or not; Ninjak #3, for me, establishes the unique aesthetic (when it comes to Valiant’s comics at any rate) and the consistent pacing of the comic places it higher on my weekly reading list than a lot of other books. Parker and Pulido have delivered another solid comic that’s sure to have people talking – I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us next issue.

You’ll see the first few pages above to get an idea of just what Pulido is capable of; at first glance the style seems like an overly simplistic one at first, but the depth of storytelling he delivers is fantastic.

Story and Art: Jeff Parker and Javier Pulido
Letters: Dave Sharpe and Javier Pulido
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.6 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW

Ninjak #2 has the ex-MI6 agent taking on three mercenaries with only minimal equipment, introduces a new antagonist, and also has a spot of skydiving thrown in to boot. It’s honestly the most James Bond-like comic I’ve read in a while, ironic considering I’ve always looked an Ninjak as an amalgamation of Bond and Batman.

That view is amplified in this issue as you see Ninjak facing off against the aforementioned mercenary trio, who bear a slight resemblance to three members of the X-Men (which I thoroughly enjoyed). The fight is well choreographed and Javier Pulido‘s art style really makes every panel pop – the simpler style allows the action to flow as fast as you can read it, and given how much happens in the first ten or so pages, I can’t see many other art styles being able to keep up with Jeff Parker‘s script. I’ve been reading a lot of old comics from the 70’s and early 80’s, and I’m always surprised by how much story is packed within those pages; I’m getting the same feeling from this book with the amount of story told within its 20-some pages.

Despite how fresh and exciting the art is (and I’m not just saying that, Pulido’s style has genuinely grown on me) I’m getting heavy nostalgic vibes from this book. In many ways this comic has all the hallmarks of the 60’s with a modern twist, making this comic an utterly fantastic read as it subverts the modern expectations from the story.

In every way, Ninjak #2 improves upon the previous issue – the comic is tightly paced as Parker and Pulido control the narrative without allowing the book to slip into chaos. Although the book isn’t quite on par with some of Valiant’s best offerings, the progression in quality from the first to the second issue is giving me a lot of hope for the book going forward. I know that Pulido isn’t an artist that is universally appreciated, but if you’re looking for something fresh and different to feast your eyes on, then this is a comic for you. His style isn’t quite abstract, and while it’s objectively simpler in comparison to others, his layouts absolutely shine in this comic, adding to the overall excitement of the comic.

I’m aware that I’m going into this comic wanting to love it, and perhaps because of that the things I see people unhappy with on social media genuinely don’t bother me. I’m really enjoying the added artistic diversity that Pulido brings to the Valiant universe, and I’m hoping we see more in the future.

Story and Art: Jeff Parker and Javier Pulido
Letters: Dave Sharpe and Javier Pulido
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.6 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Pre-order: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW