BOD: The Fall of Ninjak - Discussion

[Sir Sandrick]

loved it.

Needed about 10% more of ninja in a huge robot action, though...

Imagine, they break through the hull of the new japan segment and take defenses are trying to take them down before they reach the reactor. They finally do and get blown outside to witness their success before burning up in the atmosphere. Could have also used a couple more heartfelt exchanges between the two of them.

The sword in the thruster was just a bit anticlimactic I suppose.

But I loved it! I nitpick most with the things I love!

[Sir Sandrick]

Also, I love seeing things I love just get totally thrashed before they die (think most of the Star Trek movies where the Enterprise gets abused)

It would have been cool to see Gin Gr get its arm blown off, just totally messed up but still kept going. I love Gin Gr...

[Dallow Spicer1]

This was Kindt on top form. Fall of Bloodshot was a tough act to follow but this was superb!

As others have said, I was enjoying this so much I'd have liked it to have been longer. It shows the benefits of having writers on multiple books how closely it was tied with New Japan and what's to come in Rai.

Also it appears that the small tactical dark-matter nukes somehow managed to improve the city of Leeds!! On that note it was good to see another British city other than London referenced in a book for a change.

Great book, enjoyed story and art 4.5/5

[Tony_H]

literally the 'fall' of ninjak

Can't believe I didn't catch that when I read the issue.

I like how the writing and editing staffs are portraying Colin's personality as dynamic and mutable over the course of his lifetime. He's a different cat than Gilad or Aric, who are depicted as far more set in their ways.

[ChiptheRipper]

literally the 'fall' of ninjak

Can't believe I didn't catch that when I read the issue.

I like how the writing and editing staffs are portraying Colin's personality as dynamic and mutable over the course of his lifetime. He's a different cat than Gilad or Aric, who are depicted as far more set in their ways.

This is the reason Ninjak is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters. Its pretty rare for a characters entire personality to change over time, and I love how well its being done here. When we were first introduced to Ninjak, he was basically a smartass good guy. Now, after everything he's been through (Mexico City, The Valiant, now BOD) he's become harder and more distant. He's planning how to (and more than willing to) take down his own friends and allies if the need arises. And in the future, we see he has softened again ( my guess is because of Livewire) and finally learned to trust his friends. This is some A+ character development, and I'm loving it.

[Elveen]

WOW. What a book.

The Fall of _____________ books have been great.

Loved old Ninjak.
Loved Gilly and Ninjak together.
Loved Fist and steel.

[Aomalle27]

Okay, I gotta know; who's the dude in the suit and tie with the crossbones mask? Is it the future Shadowman; great conceptualization whoever he is.

[BugsySig]

Okay, I gotta know; who's the dude in the suit and tie with the crossbones mask? Is it the future Shadowman; great conceptualization whoever he is.

Back when VEI was just ramping up the relaunch in 2011/12 they posted a Shadowman tease on their Tumblr with a similar design. It may just be an Easter egg or could be a preview of the new Shadowman.

Not sure who designed it or if it was even something in the works at the time. It seems several pitches were accepted in the early days only for the books not to come to fruition. That may be why Rai and EW series were teased early on, but then not seen until later. It might also explain that concept art of Shadowman.

[Brapbrap]

i think everything for the relaunch was designed by aja

[jmatt]

Wow, what a great issue. Agree with all points and questions above. Just fantastic, and like The Fall of Bloodshot, a little melancholy.

The entire BoD / Fall of books / LotG is just knocking it out of the park. They are just laying down so much lore and big picture stuff.

Outstanding.

I have complained before about there not being a big picture roadmap for the universe but it appears that has been remedied. Kindt is doing a great job.

[ChiptheRipper]

Okay, I gotta know; who's the dude in the suit and tie with the crossbones mask? Is it the future Shadowman; great conceptualization whoever he is.

I thought it was a future Shadowman too. I don't know if that means things aren't going to end well for Punk Mambo and Jack (one of which I assume will be Shadowman come Operation Deadside), or if it was just an Easter eggs/tease. Either way, I love the Question/Shadowman costume mash up, it's cool as hell.

[BugsySig]

i think everything for the relaunch was designed by aja

XO wasn't, but Harby, A&A and Bloodshot were. Can't say for sure about anything before those. I do think that design at least inspired Josiah's look as the previous Shadowman, which I always thought looked pretty cool.

[ShadowTuga]

Just joining the flock of fans of this awesome issue. LOVED IT 100000000000X!!!!!!
One question: is it now obvious that Harada is indeed Father, or are we being - again - misguided?

Gimme Old Man Ninjak every month or so. I REALLY hope to see him pop up again in Rai (a "past story" issue or something) or EW. Or anything.
Super cool!

[jmatt]

I don't think this has been mentioned: the vertical scar across each of Ninjak's eyes. I'm sure that's a story at some point.

[String]

I want a fully poseable action figure of Samurai GIN-GR, complete with lightning sword, now!

Fantastic issue, from the tone to the action to the drama to everything.

[Watchtower]

Very well done. It's been noted how dynamic of a character Ninjak has become with how much he's changed over the years, and I definitely see it. I love the ties into Rai, with Spylocke being part of a large organization of them, Harada having definite ties to New Japan and most likely Father, and the "livewire" being made most likely by Livewire "herself". I also see Livewire getting put in a robot body under Harada's cntrol and can't help but be reminded of Amanda's fate in the original Valiant universe, where she was lobotomized back into Harada's service. And Ninjak and GIN-GR both go out in a great blaze of glory, even if ultimately they did fail.

[ShadowTuga]

Re-read this last night. Gets even better.
Bleeding Monk #0 has a new contender for "The best Valiant book so far" in my list.

[DirtbagSailor]

Love this book (AND Fall of Bloodshot).

The only way the endings might have occurred to make this book perfect would be this;

Ninjak reached Japan as it is ascending into orbit and Gin-Gr breaches the hull with his powers, crashing inside. Ninjak invades New Japan and heads to the artificial gravity generator and/or power center. However, aftern an epic tactical performance getting there, at the last moment Ninjak's body is sliced in two by the first Rai!!

[Dallow Spicer1]

Love this book (AND Fall of Bloodshot).

The only way the endings might have occurred to make this book perfect would be this;

Ninjak reached Japan as it is ascending into orbit and Gin-Gr breaches the hull with his powers, crashing inside. Ninjak invades New Japan and heads to the artificial gravity generator and/or power center. However, aftern an epic tactical performance getting there, at the last moment Ninjak's body is sliced in two by the first Rai!!

+1 that would have been a great ending!!!

[BugsySig]

Love this book (AND Fall of Bloodshot).

The only way the endings might have occurred to make this book perfect would be this;

Ninjak reached Japan as it is ascending into orbit and Gin-Gr breaches the hull with his powers, crashing inside. Ninjak invades New Japan and heads to the artificial gravity generator and/or power center. However, aftern an epic tactical performance getting there, at the last moment Ninjak's body is sliced in two by the first Rai!!

+1 that would have been a great ending!!!

+1,000,000

[SwiftMann]

I've gotta go against the overwhelming love for this issue. Yes, it threw a ton of teasers out there for the next hundred years of the Valiant Universe, but that's all it was; the actually story was meh and the climax was anti-climatic. There's a lot of my reaction coming from my disinterest in Kindt's writing style and VEI's 4001 stuff. But it also comes from my doubt that we'll see most (any?) of the events teased.

[bygranddesign]

I've gotta go against the overwhelming love for this issue. Yes, it threw a ton of teasers out there for the next hundred years of the Valiant Universe, but that's all it was; the actually story was meh and the climax was anti-climatic. There's a lot of my reaction coming from my disinterest in Kindt's writing style and VEI's 4001 stuff. But it also comes from my doubt that we'll see most (any?) of the events teased.

I think you could make a better case with this perhaps with Bloodshot ... but most of the teases were actually revelations of what is established in Rai and New Japan. This was very much an origin story of New Japan. You could have called it Rai: New Japan #0

I thought it was excellent. Kindt has been bringing his A Game and its pretty damn impressive

[Dallow Spicer1]

I've gotta go against the overwhelming love for this issue. Yes, it threw a ton of teasers out there for the next hundred years of the Valiant Universe, but that's all it was; the actually story was meh and the climax was anti-climatic. There's a lot of my reaction coming from my disinterest in Kindt's writing style and VEI's 4001 stuff. But it also comes from my doubt that we'll see most (any?) of the events teased.

I thought it was excellent. Kindt has been bringing his A Game and its pretty damn impressive

+1
Kindt is definitely bringing his A game to both Rai and Ninjak!!

[DirtbagSailor]

Love this book (AND Fall of Bloodshot).

The only way the endings might have occurred to make this book perfect would be this;

Ninjak reached Japan as it is ascending into orbit and Gin-Gr breaches the hull with his powers, crashing inside. Ninjak invades New Japan and heads to the artificial gravity generator and/or power center. However, aftern an epic tactical performance getting there, at the last moment Ninjak's body is sliced in two by the first Rai!!

I have decided to actually commission two pages where the alternate universe ending I described above occurs.

I plan to then post for everyone to enjoy.

[Dallow Spicer1]

Love this book (AND Fall of Bloodshot).

The only way the endings might have occurred to make this book perfect would be this;

Ninjak reached Japan as it is ascending into orbit and Gin-Gr breaches the hull with his powers, crashing inside. Ninjak invades New Japan and heads to the artificial gravity generator and/or power center. However, aftern an epic tactical performance getting there, at the last moment Ninjak's body is sliced in two by the first Rai!!

I have decided to actually commission two pages where the alternate universe ending I described above occurs.

I plan to then post for everyone to enjoy.

Brilliant idea!