Valiant Entertainment is launching a new Ninjak series by writer Jeff Parker and artist Javier Pulido next year, as the duo take the former MI6 superspy on all-new adventures. CBR has an exclusive interview with Parker and Pulido, as the Ninjak creative team discussing their plans for the relaunch. We also have an exclusive double-page spread featuring Pulido's art.
"I think there are a couple of subjects that will be of interest for readers," Pulido told CBR. "First, who is Ninjak? The easy path is to compare him to other characters everybody knows, to explain/define him from there, but Colin King is more than the sum of the parts, as they say. We're re-defining his outline, exploring what makes him special, and always in the more dynamic way, not giving the reader a moment to breathe."
"I love spy thriller stories, so when senior editor Lysa Hawkins approached me to discuss ideas for a new Ninjak series, I was pretty fired up to brainstorm stories. When she told me that Javier Flippin' Pulido was going to be the artist, I probably did a fist pump and audible cheer. Javier and I worked together on a single issue at Marvel years ago and I've wanted to work with him again ever since but our projects haven’t connected until now," Parker said.
"It’s a constant challenge to give Javier the details he needs to work with yet somehow stay out of his way so he can cut loose with his imagination. I feel like we click really well and I think readers are going to enjoy the experience. Even with a massive global pandemic throwing our initial plans for a loop, the Valiant team have been a dream to work with."
Before he concluded, Parker gave one last hint at what is in store for Colin King. "I don’t want to give too much away about the storyline of DAYLIGHT just yet. But it’s rude to not at least hint so: Colin King is going to see the mighty institution he’s served most of his career turned inside out and left vulnerable to all its enemies, and the same happens to him," he said. "It’s extremely hard to be a ninja or spy when all your secrets are exposed. Over the year Ninjak is going to experience a serious paradigm shift."
Ninjak #1 by Jeff Parker and Javier Pulido comes out in 2021.