Ninjak #16 continues with Colin hunting Roku for orchestrating the plot to destroy his life in every aspect. This issue opens up with Ninjak realizing everything he’s done up to this point has been a trap laid out by Roku. However, he’s trying to understand why it was so elaborate considering there were easier ways to get to him besides destroying his home and framing him for multiple crimes. The pen he was given that partially exploded contains his next lead, which he follows knowing it’s still a trap. But he has to do so in order to get to Roku so he makes his way from lead to lead acquiring information and hunting for the next piece in Roku’s web. Finally he’s led to Venezuela where his plan is to be kidnapped in order to acquire weapons he knows he’ll need in his fight with Roku. It’s easy for him to play the part of a clueless wealthy male, which attracts the attention of the local kidnapping ring. He’s eventually able to take them down and loot all of their weapons. But with Roku steps ahead of his every move, has Ninjak lost before the battle even starts?

I know a big deal can be made at times about jumping on points but when you’ve been reading comic books for years you know that there are times when you just have to dive in. And that’s because there are some stories that take time to build up, and the reward is worth it. Ninjak #16 is an example of that because there are story threads that have been building since the start of this series and they begin to pay off here. After Ninjak found Roku’s final location it would all start to come together. Flashback’s from Ninjak’s childhood would come into play with some updates about the character(s) from his past, and Roku’s true goal would start coming into view. I won’t give away any spoilers but it was great learning more about Roku’s identity and shocking to learn the connection to Ninjak. This revelation has been coming for some time and I’m satisfied with the way it unfolded.

SUMMARY

Ninjak #16 is a solid issue that brings back some of the earlier boldness in the story arc by revealing more about Roku’s identity and Ninjak’s past. From the beginning of this issue with Ninjak re-examining Roku’s possible motives to the end when Ninjak would have a revelation this issue is intense. At times Ninjak’s hunt for leads feels similar to last issue, and that would be my only complaint about it. Considering how intriguing the story becomes I wish more was devoted to that. And more than ever, the Lost Files segment at the end of the issue feels like mandatory reading because it’s just as entertaining as the rest. I started to feel that this story arc wouldn’t be as bold as it seemed at the start but now I have renewed hope, and it feels good.