EXTRACTS: The Modesty Blaise Companion Expanded Edition © 2018 The Book Palace (425 PAGES in Full edition)

T H E M O D E S T Y B L A I S E C O M P A N I O N I I VALDA STORY 60: “THE DOUBLE AGENT” STRIP 6431 Member of Hakil’s Beta Team sent to murder Willie. Unconvincing as a panic stricken newlywed and not very pretty after being dumped in the bath and given a cold shower to keep her subdued. The team fails. VALE Mr. STORY 3: “THE GABRIEL SET-UP” STRIP 221 The top chemist in a large plastics company. As a patient at The Phoenix Sanatorium he is having the “Cloud Nine” treatment and is being systematically pumped for sensitive information. It is expected to prove valuable enough to be sold by Gabriel to the company’s rivals. VANCE, Simon STORY 90: “THE HANGING JUDGE”: STRIP 9535 A vicious criminal convicted of a multi million pound bullion robbery during which he murdered two security guards. The proceeds were never found. When his sentence is increased from twelve to twenty years by Home Secretary, Sir Robert Beaumont, he vows to be revenged. Released after serving fifteen years of his time he disappeared and changed his appearance and fingerprints. Now exacting his revenge by degrading and arranging to hang Sir Robert’s daughter, Hannah, but only after sending him an horrific video of progress so far and promising a further video of the actual hanging. To do this he, with a small gang, has taken over the monastery of a silent order of monks on St. Oswald’s Isle, off the south coast of Ireland. He revels in both the mental and physical torture of his victim but his nerve breaks when he faces Modesty. He tries to escape in a power boat and Modesty, Willie and the now rescued Hannah give chase, also in a power boat. When he triggers the bomb he thinks is planted in the chasing boat he brings about his own destruction. VARCHI STORY 23: “THE PUPPET MASTER” STRIP 2630 A member of Mahmoud’s gang. Part of the team that fakes Modesty’s death in a car crash and takes part in the tests devised by Dr. Baum to make sure she is reacting to his treatment. Caught by Willie on a chair lift and put out of action. VARLEY Dr. STORY 3: “THE GABRIEL SET-UP”: STRIP 212 In charge of “The Phoenix Sanatorium”, set up by Gabriel. Using a technique called “Cloud Nine” his staff can extract sensitive information from their unsuspecting patients which can be used for criminal purposes. Warned not to speculate on the uses made by Gabriel of the information. Tells him that a patient called Jane Lester has revealed herself to be Modesty Blaise under “Cloud Nine” treatment. VARNA, Alex STORY 49: “THE MOON MAN”: STRIP 5335 Hungarian artist who defected to the U.K. with his daughter Julie. They obtained asylum but he is, in fact, a sleeper agent. Friend and occasional lover of Modesty whose nude portrait he is painting. When his masters try to reactivate him as a spy he initially refuses. When they kidnap Julie he has no choice but to comply. Deliberately takes a bullet meant for Modesty, but recovers in time to help in the rescue of Julie and capture of The Moon Man, his control. Emigrates to Australia with Julie to start a new life. VARNA, Julie STORY 49: “THE MOON MAN”: STRIP 5362 Daughter of Alex, brought by her father from Hungary when he defected and given asylum with him. Now twelve years old, at school and in love with Willie. She is kidnapped in order to force her father to act as a spy. When he insists on talking to her to make sure she is still alive she tries to give him information about her captors. During her rescue she warns Modesty when Brodz tries to kill her. Emigrates to Australia with her father to start a new life but before she goes she first makes Willie promise not to marry anyone else until she is seventeen and can come back and marry him. 176 Drawn by Neville Colvin Strip 6434 15th May, 1986 Drawn by Jim Holdaway Strip 221 14th January, 1964 Drawn by Romero Strip 9535 7th September, 1998 Drawn by Romero Strip 9559A Not published in the Evening Standard Drawn by Romero Strip 9609 18th December, 1998 Drawn by Romero Strip 2703 26th February, 1972 Drawn by Jim Holdaway Strip 224 17th January, 1964 Drawn by Neville Colvin Strip 5336 29th December, 1981 Drawn by Neville Colvin Strip 5364A Not published in the Evening Standard