Reviewed: Ninjak 1-12 by Kurt Busiek and Neil Vokes (later issues co-written with Robert L. Washington III)

The plot: High school nerd Denny Meechum solves a complex puzzle embedded in the Ninjak video game, and is transformed into the hero of the game. He takes great joy in his enhanced agility and skill, and battles a number of superbeings comprising The Dark Dozen. Denny also begins to gain confidence in his personal life, but can't seem to get the courage up to tell the girl of his dreams, a clerk at the local comics store, his feelings for her. After a series of increasingly difficult battles, Denny tracks down the writer of the Ninjak software, and learns the truth behind his transformation. He is the inheritor of the skills and drive of an ancient cadre of Ninja warriors, caught up in a struggle for the fate of the world. By the end of the series, his ethics are tested, and he learns if he has what it takes to be a hero.

I bought the 12 issues of Ninjak on sale as a set for the grand total of 2.25. The series was published by Acclaim, and was a reboot of a series originally published by Valiant. I wanted to check it out because of my enormous respect for the writing of Kurt Busiek. I wasn't familiar with the penciling of Neil Vokes, but based on the strength of Busiek's Astro City and Avengers, I was reasonably sure I'd enjoy these issues.

I was right.

The artwork by Vokes turned me off a bit at first--simplistic, almost cartoony. But by the third or fourth page, I had accepted it and by the end of the first issue I realized it fit the mood of the story perfectly. After all, Denny is in an unreal situation; he's a teenager. Also, he has become a superhero.

I soon realized that Vokes was strongly influenced by Steve Ditko; there's nothing wrong with that. After all, the story of Denny learning to use his new skills harkens back to the early issues of the original Spider-Man series. This should come as no surprise, considering the deft handling the wall-crawler received from Busiek in Untold Tales of Spider-Man.

Vokes was also clearly inspired by Joe Staton's work on the original Charlton E-Man--loose and fluid, but suitable to the story being told. By the end of the 12 issues, I was completely won over by his style.

I realize many people will ignore this series altogether because of its bargain-bin status. I paid about 20 cents per issue, and if they had cost cover price, I can't say for sure I would have bought them even now, with my respect for Busiek's work. But I was willing to take the chance because Busiek has never disappointed me in anything he's written, and hell, they were 20 cents each!

I found it helped if I kind of pretended to myself that I was reading about a previously unrevealed corner of Astro City. It wasn't hard to do; the story is that good.

Sure, it's a little light-hearted, despite some true moments of violence that Denny experiences and reacts to. But the pacing, the plot, the dialogue, are all as good as anything else I've read by Busiek, and stand up well to the Astro City comparison. If this book were released today redrawn by Brent Anderson, not one fan of KBAC would be disappointed. But I wouldn't have it redrawn for the world--Vokes is perfect for this story.

I loved the growth that Denny underwent once he became Ninjak. We see his maturation in his relationships with his best friend, his sister, and other people we meet along the way. Most of the usual superhero cliches are included, but Busiek, as is his wont, provides unexpected twists, such as what Denny chooses to do when his family begins to wonder where he's been spending all his time after sneaking out of the house.

In the final few issues, Denny's ethical code (he feels it's wrong to kill, despite what he is told by the ancient master who reveals his origin to him) is tested--and Busiek's logic is perfect.

The character of Denny is a strong one; he's written as a typical teenager, with typical teenage interests (Busiek's inclusion of fairly accurate Internet activities and details was most welcome) that figure prominently not only in Denny's life but Ninjak's origin as well. It's a novel and modern origin that is as innovative in its way as Bruce Banner getting transformed by The Bomb back in the 1960s. I wonder if the Internet won't become the superhero origin for the next generation in the same way radiation and bombs fueled the Cold War era origins of the Hulk, Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four.

He's also written as a good person, who may be wrapped up in his own world, but who doesn't want to do any harm and tries to make up for it when he inadvertently does. It makes for some interesting, unexpected twists in the tale.

The other characters are skillfully handled as well; Denny's best friend Town, Town's girlfriend Shelly (who has a crush on Denny both before and during her relationship with Town, who only has eyes for Denny's sister Anne) and especially Denny's mom, are all entirely believable and sympathetic. Only Denny's Dad comes off as a bit of a cliche (hard-assed military man), but it's not an entirely unrealistic one.

I would love to know what happened next to these characters; Denny and Ninjak are left with an intriguing dilemma on the final page of issue 12 and it's clear Kurt (and co-writer Robert L. Washington III) had more story to tell. Hopefully someday this story will be appreciated as the great, exciting superhero yarn it is, and the next part of the story will get to be told.

The series wasn't meant to wrap up in 12 issues, and the last few pages of issue 12 feel a little rushed, but I was thoroughly charmed and pleased by my enjoyment of Ninjak, and I strongly recommend any fan of Busiek's seek them out. Even if you have to pay cover price.