ALL PULP REVIEWS-Reviews by Ron Fortier
MODESTY BLAISE
(Lady in the Dark)
By Peter O’Donnell
& Enric Badia Romero
Titan Books
One of the great pulp heroes of all time was the comic strip
character Modesty Blaise created by writer Peter O’Donnell with artist Jim
Holdaway for the British newspapers back in 1963. It was remarkable when one considers she arrived on the
scene when most newspaper action strips were dying out. After Holdaway left the strip, several
new artists took over to include Enric Badia Romero featured in this
volume. Over the years Modesty
& Willie appeared in several movies and series of 13 novels and short story
collections.
Now Titan Books is collecting these daily strips in large,
handsome packages each containing three complete storylines; all of which are
filled with humor, suspense, mystery and tons of explosive action; all traits
that have become synonymous with the deadly brunette lovely.
This volume starts with “The Girl from the Future,” wherein
Modesty and her loyal sidekick Willie Garvin come to the aid of their American
friend, Paul Gant. Gant, a rich
tycoon, has been asked to construct two massive spheres of gold valued at
millions of dollars. His customer
is an eccentric sci-fi publisher who believes he has been visited by a
beautiful young woman from the future.
Of course both Modesty and Willie know the so-called time traveler is
working some kind of scam. Their
challenge is to unravel the con and expose the conspirators before innocent
people get hurt.
In “The Big Mole,” Modesty and Blaise are on holiday when
they learn a group of terrorists known as the Paladins are holding a dozen
nurses hostages in a nearby country retreat where they have fled with their
prize, a wounded espionage agent working for a foreign government. Hiding out in the retreat, the Paladins
have orders to kill the spy rather than let him be recaptured by the British
S.A.S. Thus a double dilemma is
posed; how to attack the facility, rescue the nurses while somehow preventing
the spy from being assassinated at the same time. It seems an impossible task until Modesty learns that an
historical military reenactment between the Cavaliers and Roundheads is
scheduled for that same area. Can
she and Willie adapt the old Trojan Horse gambit in a new, modern twist and
save the day?
It all wraps with “Lady in the Dark.” Dinah, a blind woman and close friend
of Modesty and Willie, possesses a remarkable dowsing gift which allows her to
find underground water sources and mineral deposits. No one is surprised when she is hired by the widow of
European count to help find a century’s old Roman treasure worth millions said
to be hidden in an underground cave on her estate. When Dinah’s husband, Steve, injures his back, Willie offers
to accompany her on the assignment leaving Modesty to nursemaid Steve back to
health in England. But no sooner
are Dinah and Willie settled into the old castle then the ever suspicious
Garvin discovers they have been duped by Salamander Four, a secret criminal
organization. They are holding the
true countess prisoner, having replaced her with one of their own agents, and
want the Roman treasure for themselves.
Can Willie foil their plot while at the same time protect a blind girl
and innocent countess? Or can he
somehow get word back to Modesty in time for her to fly to the rescue? “Lady in the Dark” is a typical Modesty
Blaise adventure that zips like hot lead and never misses its target.
We applaud Titan Books for this beautiful designed and
packaged collection in their efforts to preserve one of the greatest newspaper
action strips of all time. Modesty
fans should be thrilled at the opportunity to collect the entire run at such an
affordable price in such gorgeous, easy to read books. As for those of you who have never met
the lovely and dangerous Ms. Blaise, we can’t think of a better way for you to
do so.
