Ninjak #23 Review: Sharpening the Seven Blades

The Seven Blades of Master Darque starts here for Ninjak

By Nolan P. Smith

After last issue’s spectacular silent set up, the latest Ninjak storyline is here with The Seven Blades of Master Darque. This issue sets up what is bound to be a big showdown between MI-6’s favorite ninja themed agent and the lord of death by putting all of the players on the chessboard first.

From Matt Kindt, who is also writing the amazing Divinity III: Stalinverse series, and artist Marc Laming (Planet Hulk), this issue serves as a jumping on point of sorts, even though it ties together much of the 22 previous issues in the series. We see the unification of the Shadow Seven, a group of highly skilled killers that Ninjak took down, now being gathered by the dangerous Roku. Her intentions? It seems it is to get the gang back together to take down Master Darque. So where does Ninjak fit into all of this? That last page will leave you to ponder that, and wonder what happens next.

Kindt and Laming create another amazing issue here. Sure, it was a little slow, but it served as a set up for what is to come. Not familiar with the Shadow Seven? No problem, this story fills you in on what you need to know about each one. Not familiar with Ninjak? You also get some background on the deadliest man in the Valiant Universe right here. I read the whole Shadow Seven storyline, I am familiar with them all, and yet, this was still a very enjoyable romp of a book. The Seven Blades of Master Darque is bound to get explosive; this is just the calm before the storm.

Rating: 9.0 out of 10.

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