In feudal Japan, there existed a class of secretive operatives known as ninjas, proficient in covert activities, mercenary work and guerrilla warfare.
In the 1980s, there was a cultural fascination with ninjas and kung-fu movies. During that era, two cartoonists, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, financed by a tax refund and a family loan created a black-and-white comic book centred around ninja characters.
