Irregular’s Intel – I Miss Ninjas

Blog-IIThere was a time when you couldn’t walk two feet without seeing a book, movie, or image of those black clad masters of espionage and assassination. For some reason they flourished in the 80s. There were novels, tv shows, movies, comics, and numerous video games that featured their presence. I devoured all of it that I could. Looking back, a lot of it was stupid, but that didn’t matter. On some level I knew that the ninja that I was being exposed to were far from the actual historical representation. I mean, why would a master of espionage run around covered head to toe with a sword tied to his, or her, back? For that matter, why would they still use ancient weapons of assassination when a sniper rifle could easily do the trick? But, that wasn’t the point. It was about being over the top. The combat was amazing to behold, and I got to see a lot of nunchuck action! Honestly, Sly and Arnold weren’t offering that kind of variety.

It wasn’t enough to have ninjas hanging out with each other, either. Snake Eyes turned out to be one in G.I. Joe. Plus, if you served in the military during WW2, Korea, or Vietnam, there was a possibility you ran into a ninja master who was hiding from his/her former clan and was in need of a pupil. I’m kinda chuckling as I write this, remembering how many times that particular trope showed up!

Eventually, America’s love for ninjas gave way to our own version: special ops! I’m a fan of special ops – if you took a peek at my book and movie collection, you’d see how true that is. But their actions are so tied to the real world. There are terrorists, drug cartels, and other very bad people out there right now, doing the things that are written about or shown in movies and video games. It hits a little close to home sometimes, you know. At least with the ninjas, for the most part, you just had to worry about the cartels and terrorists hiring said ninja clan to help fulfill whatever was necessary for their over the top plan to work.

I do miss ninjas, but I also understand why we don’t see them in entertainment like we used to. The world isn’t quite as naïve anymore and we’re a little more aware of the true state of things. But that’s what movies and books are for. So, I think I hear the entire run of Nth Man: The Ultimate Ninja calling my name!

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