Reunion, Part 7

Reunion, Part 7

Posted by Brian • May 2, 2017

Original Release Date: July 17, 2012

So, as we all know (especially by now), Stu and Evil Bad Guy Ninja don't have the best relationship. The only thing that has stopped them from killing each other in the previous two volumes of Mike and the Ninja is the rise of a greater threat that requires them to team up to overcome. The conflict inevitably leaves them battered and bloodied, at which point Evil Bad Guy Ninja relents, awaiting a fair fight in which each ninja is at their best.

Here, things work out a bit differently. Evil Bad Guy Ninja immediately recognizes the severity of the situation, and puts aside his rivalry with Stu in order to do what's best for the world (but not without some minor trash talk). If you're a fan of G.I. Joe, this is where the relationship between the two ninja feels an awful lot like the relationship between Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow. However, that's not what influenced the relationship between Stu and Evil Bad Guy Ninja--I think of them more like Charles Xavier and Magneto, but your results may vary.

I'm proud of the punchline here. It's probably difficult for a man programmed to kill to break old habits, especially when it concerns his oldest enemy.