Udon Street Fighter Comics Street Fighter Legends Ibuki # 2

By Mark Rodriguez

Ibuki has quite an interesting life, juggling her life as a schoolgirl and a ninja. Not only was she openly challenged to a fight by the fight-obsessed Makoto, she also got got attacked by a member of the Geki Ninja Clan. To complicate matters, Elena got accepted to study in Japan, and will soon enroll in the same school as Ibuki and Makoto. Will her appearance complicate things? Let's see.

Makoto trains in her dojo, while admiring her list of dojos she's challenged. Ibuki is spying on her and reveals herself to the Rindoukan Master. Makoto strikes her down and mentions the fight she skipped out on. Ibuki says she doesn't want to fight because she doesn't want the kids at school to know she's a ninja. She just wants to be a normal girl. Ibuki mentions she made a promise to keep the fact that she's a ninja secret, which is why she's allowed to study in a normal school. Makoto respects that since she has her own oath, to show her father that no fighting style can defeat the Rindoukan style. Makoto agrees to keep Ibuki's secret and postpone their challenge for the time being.

Ibuki and Makoto later head to school together while the ninja wonders about the two ninjas that appeared in front of her before. Suddenly they notice a big commotion as Elena has just arrived and introduced herself, and all the guys are going crazy over her. Elena says she's a fighter and wants to travel and meet other fighters from around the world. The guys mention that Makoto is also a fighter, and Elena happily hugs her, eager to make a new friend. Makoto tries to issue a challenge, but Ibuki manages to hush her up. A girl named Naru shows up and takes Elena to her classroom.

Sarai isn't too happy to see that Ibuki seems to be best friends with Makoto now. Between Makoto and Elena, Sarai feels left out and that Ibuki would rather hang with the fighters and not with her. Ibuki goes through her school day and studies the ninja that attacked her by night.

The next day Elena joins Makoto and Ibuki for lunch, while Makoto is rude to her. The Street Fighter Trio later head off to see all the recruiting schools and one of them catches Ibuki's eye. Sarusuberu University. Or rather, the cute guy promoting it. Ibuki liked being called 'cutie' and Makoto complains saying it's a sales tactic.

Later on, Ibuki's masters tell her she has a lot more ninja tasks coming up... even though mid-terms are also coming up. Months go by as Ibuki lives her life as a teenage girl, while still going on all her secret ninja missions.

While relaxing, Ibuki senses someone coming and tosses her kunais at the person. It was Sarai that managed to block all the blades with her bookbag. Sarai apologizes and admits she was jealous of Ibuki and her friends being fighters, while she's just ordinary. The female ninja says she's fine the way she is and also says she has ninja potential since she was able to block all 4 blades. Ibuki says once she's done she can help Sarai become a ninja too.

Ibuki's masters are pleased with Ibuki completing her ninja tasks while having good grades in school. She is now ready for her ninja exam. Their flames reveal the image of Oro... who will be Ibuki's challenge.

My Opinions:

As always, I'm enjoying the Udon comic series and how they flesh out the characters. We see them kick all sorts of ass with their cinematic super combos, but it is fun to see these characters live out their lives on their day-to-day. Despite being a ninja, Ibuki is basically the 'sane one' stuck in between the anime-RAEG Makoto and the overly cheerful Elena. Even though this issue didn't have any fighting (except that brief bit where Makoto knocks Ibuki down), it was so entertaining to see these characters interact that it didn't feel like it needed it.

As for Elena, she's as bubbly and eager to make new friends here as she is in the games. Makoto is downright rude to her and Elena is like 'it's sad to hate people, let's try to understand each other and be friends'.

I also liked the bit with Sarai, and we can see where she's coming from. One would feel left out and 'boring' if your best friend is an awesome fighter with all kinds of sweet moves, and then finds a couple of other fighters to hang with and trade techniques with. I did like the panel with her blocking Ibuki's knives, straight out of the ending in Street Fighter III.

Seeing them side by side made me notice they even copied Ibuki's mid-air pose.

I love when Udon makes callbacks like this.

As for Oro... hoo boy, Ibuki sure has her hands full. For those that don't know, Oro is an experienced Street Fighter over 100 years old and is so awesome and so skilled.... he purposely ties one arm up in a sling to give his opponents a fighting chance. What awaits Ibuki if she has to face him??? Let's find out next issue!!