ah the early 1980 . how i miss them . the era embody a sort of innocence which dissipate towards the end of the decade and have sadly yet to return . who can forget the fad of the time while in music we bop along to the sound of new romantic and pioneer synth pop act and additionally be bless with a wonderful array of big hair heavy metal band . on tv we enjoy such classic a knight rider and airwolf and the incomparable and the a team and in cinema we be treat to probably the best decade for horror and action movie . yes and the eighty . ah and they be the day . there be actually another craze that sweep the western world during the early part of the decade also while what be it you may ask . why it be ninja mania . we just couldn not get enough of these enigmatic stealth assassin in fact . the public obsession first begin proper when the cannon film group release the sho kosugi outing and enter the ninja in 1984. kosugi himself go on to a semblance of super stardom literally overnight this despite the fact that he be actually play the film main villain . such be the mystique and allure that these historical figure exude on screen . needless to say and more ninja flick be swiftly put into production by a plethora of film company and each try to out do the last and cash in on the public apparent insatiable fixation on all thing connect to the ninja . it be inevitable of course that these seemingly semi mystical being would break out into other entertainment medium also . this they do in the form of numerous comic book and novel and toy and game and in the instance review here and a television series star veteran actor and lee van cleef and a it happen and the by this time live legend and sho kosugi . the plot concern cleef character return from japan where he have spend year study the ninja art and in order to find his estranged daughter . also along for the ride be the token wise crack side kick ( a be a somewhat unfortunate trend of the eighty . ) who become cleef new student . unfortunately and our veteran ninja be also be hotly pursue by a fellow ninja from his clan ( kosugi ) who be incessantly intent on send him to the great beyond . despite ninja mania in full swing at the time and the show curiously last for only one season before disappear as quickly a . um . well and a ninja in fact . whilst mildly enjoyable in it own right and it have to be say that the series be unfortunately hamper by it incredibly formulaic treatment . a with the vast majority of eighty tv show and the plot be never more ambitious than to set our hero ( who just like in every other eighty show ) and travel around from place to place help out those in trouble ( invariably a sexy and feisty female ) from evil property developer and the like . every now and then to spice thing up and kosugi put in an appearance and it no coincidence that these episode be the best of the series which sans his presence be somewhat pedestrian at best . for a bit of nostalgia or else those still desperate for a fix of anything ninja relate the series be probably worth a look as long a you do not set your expectation too high .