Ninjak #4 Discussion

[Keith]

So... did anyone else drop a Holy S-Word at the Master Darque appearance in the flashback? (yes, I know, it's the spoiler discussion area, but still, that one was a biggee) I sure did! Roku just became an even more interesting character.

So the Undead Monk in the second story. My first thought is that he was the Bleeding Monk, but the guy seemed decidedly less bloody. So who is that joker?

Need to re-read...

[grendeljd]

So... did anyone else drop a Holy S-Word at the Master Darque appearance in the flashback? (yes, I know, it's the spoiler discussion area, but still, that one was a biggee) I sure did! Roku just became an even more interesting character.

So the Undead Monk in the second story. My first thought is that he was the Bleeding Monk, but the guy seemed decidedly less bloody. So who is that joker?

Need to re-read...

I absolutely did flip out when I saw that character's appearance!!

I also initially thought it was the Bleeding Monk, especially since he was communicating with the disciples telepathically - but the timeline doesn't fit, the actions of that monastic order don't fit, and he is also clearly not ever bleeding. I believe Master Darque was always operating through that monk, whose own identity doesn't really matter.

I also have a massive "Crazy Theory" insight into who Roku actually is after reading this issue twice & making some connections...

[grendeljd]

If anyone would like to hear our OTV:VCR podcast discussing/reviewing this issue, please follow the link below. I think I have one hell of a Crazy Theory this week about Roku's origin that may have even deposed Hawkeyeps from his throne as the King of Crazy Theories...

http://onlythevaliant.com/episodes/vcr20/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks to any who listen in

[Keith]

If anyone would like to hear our OTV:VCR podcast discussing/reviewing this issue, please follow the link below. I think I have one hell of a Crazy Theory this week about Roku's origin that may have even deposed Hawkeyeps from his throne as the King of Crazy Theories...

http://onlythevaliant.com/episodes/vcr20/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks to any who listen in

Just started listening... by gum, that theory sounds pretty reasonable to me!!

[greg]

Her name is Rokurokubi.

That name has a meaning: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rokurokubi" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The source of the Rokurokubi on Wikipedia also includes an Oni: http://jto.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/ ... 502t1a.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The "childlike drawings" in Ninjak #4 are similar to this style of drawing. Though not identical styles, the simple drawings in Ninjak #4 are clearly meant to be "different" from the regular page art.

But the key thing I'm seeing is...

That Rokurokubi image from Wikipedia is Ninjak's greatest fear when he confronts Mr. Flay in The Valiant #3.

[pixierosa]

I think that is the Bleeding Monk. Remember, he didn't start bleeding until after his monastery was attacked and he was gravely injured. Here's what I think is the timeline:

• We know he initially was with the Romans(?) but left them when he began meditating with the wise man.
  
  He meditated so long that his physical appearance was altered - he no longer looked European.
  
  He has the ability to project his thoughts into the minds of other harbingers. We witnessed this with Pete and Harada.

My theory:

Two of the three initial travelers stay with the monk, the two that claimed they could "hear" him. The third couldn't, and left.
Those two, and subsequent harbingers that encountered them, stayed with the monk and built up the monastery around him.

Kannon is a harbinger, or was before he was fundamentally changed by the "evil woo" that the sinister 7 go through. That's why he could hear the monk and why he started on his quest with the prayer wheel. I believe this occurs before he goes all evil.

At some point, the villagers & army, fearing the harbingers, attach the monastery. Thus begins the "bleeding" of the monk.

Enter Harada: the monk called to him as a boy. By the time he finds him, an army is guarding him - he's essentially imprisoned in the monastery. Harada kills them all and leaves with Bleeding Monk, which brings us up to present day.

Now, what about Roku??? She's more like Ninjak than any other character. Just who was she before she became Roku? By the description, she sounded a lot like how Ninjak is. Smart, resourceful, dangerous, and with professional contacts.

The reveal of Darque was a surprise. It's interesting that her power essentially was bestowed by him, and in the future, aka B.O.D. - she looks to be one of the people standing against him. I'm wondering how that might affect her abilities.

This is one of the best Ninjaks thus far!

Greg - could catch on the oni story and fears!

[pixierosa]

Listening to the podcast, Josh. I've got a crazy theory of my own...

What if the 7th villain is the undead monk, and that undead monk is our Bleeding Monk? He did train an order of harbingers. We know he wants to control the fate of the world -- he's tried to further his agenda with Harada then pushed him away when he wasn't needed. Then he left to go his own way. At first we assumed him to benevolent, but there's not a lot of support for this -- he's a very gray area character.

[Hasmot]

So... did anyone else drop a Holy S-Word at the Master Darque appearance in the flashback?

Yes I did

I think that is the Bleeding Monk. Remember, he didn't start bleeding until after his monastery was attacked and he was gravely injured. Here's what I think is the timeline:

We know he initially was with the Romans(?) but left them when he began meditating with the wise man.

He meditated so long that his physical appearance was altered - he no longer looked European.

He has the ability to project his thoughts into the minds of other harbingers. We witnessed this with Pete and Harada.

My theory:

Two of the three initial travelers stay with the monk, the two that claimed they could "hear" him. The third couldn't, and left.
Those two, and subsequent harbingers that encountered them, stayed with the monk and built up the monastery around him.

Kannon is a harbinger, or was before he was fundamentally changed by the "evil woo" that the sinister 7 go through. That's why he could hear the monk and why he started on his quest with the prayer wheel. I believe this occurs before he goes all evil.

At some point, the villagers & army, fearing the harbingers, attach the monastery. Thus begins the "bleeding" of the monk.

Enter Harada: the monk called to him as a boy. By the time he finds him, an army is guarding him - he's essentially imprisoned in the monastery. Harada kills them all and leaves with Bleeding Monk, which brings us up to present day.

Now, what about Roku??? She's more like Ninjak than any other character. Just who was she before she became Roku? By the description, she sounded a lot like how Ninjak is. Smart, resourceful, dangerous, and with professional contacts.

The reveal of Darque was a surprise. It's interesting that her power essentially was bestowed by him, and in the future, aka B.O.D. - she looks to be one of the people standing against him. I'm wondering how that might affect her abilities.

This is one of the best Ninjaks thus far!

THIS! THIS! THIS! I am thinking along the same lines of your Bleeding Monk theory (it just has to be).

This first arc has been a lot of fun so far. This whole group of villains reminds me of something straight out of a Metal Gear Solid game with their uniqueness and crazy wild backstory. Not that the the rest of the Valiant Universe's villains are boring or anything like that (they aren't), it is how they are presented here with the hero (a ninja spy) and how he encounters them. Alone. I have probably looked at too many solicitations, but it is a lot of fun mixing James Bond 007 and Metal Gear up in my head.

[kjjohanson]

I'll check out the podcast later. Some quick thoughts on the issue:

• My guess is that Roku was Angelina previously. At NY Special Edition, the panel mentioned that the backup was going to tie back to the lead story by the end of the year and you'd want to re-read the whole thing, so that would make a certain amount of sense.

• In the backup, one of the three was wearing a baseball cap. When did that become common everyday apparel? That might help point to the timeline (or maybe it's just being overly nitpicky).

[QUARTZ]

This was the first comic I read out of my pull list yesterday.

Fantastic origin. Original origin! Really good stuff, probably my favorite issue of Ninjak so far, and left a lot to mull over.

[Bl00dsh0t]

This was the first comic I read out of my pull list yesterday.

Fantastic origin. Original origin! Really good stuff, probably my favorite issue of Ninjak so far, and left a lot to mull over.

Agree. Great origin that still leaves some mystery. Liked the Kannon / Bleeding Monk (surely it's him?) too. Def one of the best Ninjak books published.

[dornwolf]

Truly happy to see Darque it's the type of world building that we need. Also nice to know that Roku's origin doesn't lie in some cute name trick that Kindt's been favoring.

[kjjohanson]

The origin had a sort of video game feel to it, with occasional bosses to face before proceeding to the next level.

[greg]

The origin had a sort of video game feel to it, with occasional bosses to face before proceeding to the next level.

It also looked a little like Dig Dug on that one child drawing.

[greg]

Truly happy to see Darque it's the type of world building that we need. Also nice to know that Roku's origin doesn't lie in some cute name trick that Kindt's been favoring.

You sure about that?

What if it is Rokuroku-B?

[jmatt]

Her name is Rokurokubi.

That name has a meaning: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rokurokubi" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The source of the Rokurokubi on Wikipedia also includes an Oni: http://jto.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/ ... 502t1a.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The "childlike drawings" in Ninjak #4 are similar to this style of drawing. Though not identical styles, the simple drawings in Ninjak #4 are clearly meant to be "different" from the regular page art.

But the key thing I'm seeing is...

That Rokurokubi image from Wikipedia is Ninjak's greatest fear when he confronts Mr. Flay in The Valiant #3.

KJJ and me beat ya to it on June 7.

One cool item tweeted out by someone in attendance was that Roku is a mythological being...interesting.

It was mentioned that Roku is short for something else (I forget what exactly), and the full name is that of a Japanese mythological monster.

Maybe this?: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rokurokubi" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Didn't we see something like that (the long neck) with Ninjak in The Valiant? Or was it Divinity?

[jmatt]

Crazy Theory: As in VH1, Ninjak is the head of the Weaponeer organization and is infiltrating his own group.

He's one of the Shadow Seven, the guy wearing the wacky helmet which may have some kind of anti-psiot tech built in to keep his identity unknown.

[greg]

Her name is Rokurokubi.

That name has a meaning: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rokurokubi" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The source of the Rokurokubi on Wikipedia also includes an Oni: http://jto.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/ ... 502t1a.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The "childlike drawings" in Ninjak #4 are similar to this style of drawing. Though not identical styles, the simple drawings in Ninjak #4 are clearly meant to be "different" from the regular page art.

But the key thing I'm seeing is...

That Rokurokubi image from Wikipedia is Ninjak's greatest fear when he confronts Mr. Flay in The Valiant #3.

KJJ and me beat ya to it on June 7.

One cool item tweeted out by someone in attendance was that Roku is a mythological being...interesting.

It was mentioned that Roku is short for something else (I forget what exactly), and the full name is that of a Japanese mythological monster.

Maybe this?: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rokurokubi" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Didn't we see something like that (the long neck) with Ninjak in The Valiant? Or was it Divinity?

[greg]

Crazy Theory: As in VH1, Ninjak is the head of the Weaponeer organization and is infiltrating his own group.

He's one of the Shadow Seven, the guy wearing the wacky helmet which may have some kind of anti-psiot tech built in to keep his identity unknown.

I like it!

[Michael_Ayer]

Just re-read this and harbinger 0 with the monk. Observations:

This monk can't be the bleeding monk. He has been bleeding since 1755. So unless there is a HUGE continuity problem. Or unless Kannon is really old...This is not him. Nor is it one of his monasteries.

However, the bleeding monk did send other monks away in 1950ish. So it could be a prodigy of the bleeding monk. I really hope Kindt and Simmons have thought this out (I really like kindt) but if this is supposed to be the bleeding monk I'm going to be very annoyed with the Blatant discrepancies.

I like the idea above of Ninjak leading the weapon ever already. We know that he builds crazy weapons already (armor hunters). And when Roku climbs out I only see 6 of the 7 shadow seven (she is their enforcer right?). So many ninjak was missing when she came out.

[Michael_Ayer]

And yes. I think Roku is Angelina too.

So much good stuff. I really do hope it all works together!

[jmatt]

Crazy Theory: As in VH1, Ninjak is the head of the Weaponeer organization and is infiltrating his own group.

He's one of the Shadow Seven, the guy wearing the wacky helmet which may have some kind of anti-psiot tech built in to keep his identity unknown.

I like it!

Well, to be fair I think there was some speculation akin to this in the Valiant Comics Review podcast. One of the guys pondered if Ninjak could have been one of the group, not sure if they took it all the way to the point of him being the leader of the group.

But it would be in keeping with VH1, and it would explain where he got his martial arts training and technical prowess.

[agent_graves]

This was an interesting origin story, Rokurokubi, what a name, lol Originally, Bennett was drawing the entire issue minus the lost files, but I like the way the issue was broke down instead, with different artist handling different parts, I thought it meshed well, even the children story parts. So, Roku and Kannon are a part of the Shadow Seven, with ties (Roku) to Master Darque and Bleeding Monk (maybe), and where exactly does Ninjak fit into her origin, being as though, she claims to know/remember him from some point in her life. I really like this character, even though her powerset is similar to Medusa (Inhuman) it's also different enough to distinguish the two apart, plus Roku's nice with her hands, whether it be hand to hand combat or with weaponry.

[tiredofmyself]

Best of Ninjak because of the last couple of pages... I must say that Matt is very good at weaving mysteries, but not at writing the words/story itself...

I remember his greatest fear in Valiant is Roku with his mother's face... or at least he recognized it as his mother

In the children's story, isn't the girl trying to find her brother? Who is Roku trying to find? Ninjak? This still fits well if Ninjak is among the rank of Weaponeer.

By the way what happens to her power of suggestion? It's only mentioned once when she broke out of that Russian prison and used it to make everyone kill themsevles.

[Phoenix8008]

Best of Ninjak because of the last couple of pages... I must say that Matt is very good at weaving mysteries, but not at writing the words/story itself...

I remember his greatest fear in Valiant is Roku with his mother's face... or at least he recognized it as his mother

In the children's story, isn't the girl trying to find her brother? Who is Roku trying to find? Ninjak? This still fits well if Ninjak is among the rank of Weaponeer.

By the way what happens to her power of suggestion? It's only mentioned once when she broke out of that Russian prison and used it to make everyone kill themsevles.

I would guess they could explain it with the 'total body control' as her having the ability to generate pheromones on demand for some kind of low level mind control.