Ninja High School Highly recommended

Publisher
Antarctic Press
Writer
Robby Bevard
Artist
Ben Dunn
Country of origin
US
Year
2007

Ninja High School Volume 1

By David Rasmussen
25th Jun 07

As I write this it’s Thursday night… June the 14th, 2007.
Tomorrow is the day Bob Barker retires from The Price Is Right.
After 35 years of solid service he retires.
I haven’t thought of it, but one day we’ll also have to say goodbye to Mr. Dunn… one of these days.
At present Ninja High School has reached it’s latest milestone with 20 years logged in, and 150 issues served. A long history, not quite yet as long as the history behind Bob Barker… but it’s long.

So before we look forward at the latest milestone moment let’s look back (briefly).
Meet Jeremy Feeple.
These days he is no longer much relevant. His little bro is the new lead of the series, has his own love triangle problems, and Jeremy now looks like a giant mutant furry skunk… or raccoon… something. But back when the series first started he was king… sorta… as this ordinary student of Quagmire High (with a not so normal life) ended up being “engaged”… “engaged”… (blinks)… wait a minute… no, no, what am I thinking, let’s not have a Patrick Stewart moment now.

Anyway he’s “engaged” to Ichi-kun (who he has abit of history with) AND he’s also engaged to the alien Asrial (from the alien race of skunk people… raccoon people… marsupial people… whatever…) at the same time, which unleashes an all out fight for his soul (and body) that lasts for the longest time (but as of this volume has a twist when somebody else looking for Ichi’s hand (and hot bod) seeks to interfere with what is to happen)… instead he eventually gets the girl he wanted, because Jeremy marries Asrial.
Yeah. Didn’t see that coming. Really. Guess sitting out so long of the history of NHS wasn’t my brightest idea ever. Oh, and the rest of the issue shows Asrial settling into her new life in Quagmire.

Anyway if you are just getting back into the franchise, long term fan, or newbie then (if you don’t already own the issues proper) you should pick up the series from the beginning and experience it from word one and moment one… like here, with this first volume.

Ninja High School has changed greatly since it’s origin.
Jeremy was replaced by his bro, and the love triangle shifted greatly.
New cast came in, old cast left (while some remained).
And even the creative staff changed with Ben Dunn stepping down from the writing position to take on a full artist only status on the title, while new writer Mr. Bevard writes the series.
But as you pick up this first book, and refresh yourself on the origins of the series, you’ll find out (maybe for the first time or refreshing old memories) why this is one of the essentials of AmeriManga, as well as the backbone and soul of it’s distant origins as well as one of the things you should be reading now.

20 years hasn’t diminished the worth of the origins of Ninja High School in any sense, and 20 years hasn’t made the title any less collectible than it is now (or as less worthy of your time as it is still a worthy read).
Ninja High School Volume 1, the origins of the “series”, gets 5 runaway love triangles out of 5.

Ninja High School is ™ & © Ben Dunn

-- David Rasmussen 25th Jun 07