Mister Sun Graphic Novel, by Peter O’Donnell and Jim Holdaway
I borrowed a nice Modesty Blaise graphic novel today. It’s a story called Mister Sun and is a compilation of the comic strips for that story, and two others. It looks fabulous. I started reading it. It’s been a very long time since I read one of these. Last time would’ve been as a teen reading the Herald/Sun funnies (which they don’t run anymore). The artist was Jim Holdaway, whilst Peter O’Donnell, as always, provided the script. Holdaway’s art is detailed and clear, if sometimes a little stiff. Modesty’s houseboy, Weng, looks older than he should be. The story involves Weng’s attempts to help his sister leave the South Vietnamese army by being a drug mule for Hong Kong drug lord Mister Sun. But Sun holds him captive as bait for Modesty, whom he wishes to punish for some prior dealings where she and Willie bested him. It’s a nice set up, made even nicer when Modesty again beats Mister Sun and the story pivots onto Weng’s sister and a journey into Vietnam. There’s some great details here. When Weng goes to meet Mister Sun he’s shown to a small waiting room. It turns out the room is an elevator that descends so slowly Weng doesn’t realise he’s going below ground to Sun’s lair. In another scene, Modesty and Willie have a vigorous sparring match in front of an amazed Sir Gerald that gets very physical. At the end of it, what do they do but light up a couple of cigarettes for a post-’coital’ fag! I’m loving this.
I finished the Mister Sun story of the Modesty Blaise graphic novel. The finale was pretty epic with Modesty and Willie and Weng and their friends taking part in a battle against some Viet Cong to help save Weng’s sister. It’s a big spoiler to say, but I gotta say it: turns out Weng’s sister is a traitor who has sided with the Viet Con, and when she threatens Modesty poor old Weng is the one who has to kill her. What a twist! What a story!
I read a second Modesty Blaise graphic novel called The Mind of Mrs Blake. The titled character is a psychic who senses impressions of objects and is based on a real life psychic that author Peter O’Donnell once ghost wrote for (surely as a psychic she could’ve conjured up her own ghost, yuk, yuk?). An interesting premise. He throws in some Cold War intrigue and some good old fashioned revenge into the mix.
I read the last story of the Modesty Blaise graphic novel I borrowed. It was called Uncle Happy. Happy is actually a psycho who runs an extensive prostitute ring with his wife, who is equally psychotic. Modesty and Willie Garvin have to infiltrate his island compound to get evidence of their wrong doing, which includes murdering various hapless people who come into their orbit. The final running battle between Modesty and Willie and Happy’s henchmen plays out in a similar way to the climax of the first novel. It even ends on a similar note with Modesty crying in Willie’s arms after the battle. I really enjoyed these three stories and can’t wait to devour more when they become available.
Modesty Blaise, the novel, by Peter O’Donnell
This is a novelisation of a script he wrote for the film, starring Monica Vitti as Modesty, but which mostly was not used. I used to read the old comic strip of Modesty Blaise, and always enjoyed its cool vibe and Modesty’s teasing relationship with Willie Garvin. I have two Modesty novels, and both are in my bedside draw. I should explain, my bedside draw has a little bookshelf beneath it where I keep my James Bond Complete collection, plus sundry other later Bond books. Since Modesty is a kind of female James Bond I figure she belongs here too, but I can’t fit her on that shelf. So she goes inside the side draw. It feels right. I think everyone should have some Modesty Blaise books in their bedside draws. For easy reference, you understand. At the 
moment Modesty and her lover Paul Hagen are in a bit of strife with a tough guy. I know they’ll get out of it, but how? Will Willie Garvin save the day? Stay tuned!
I finished reading my Modesty Blaise book. It was a terrific, brutal read. The author, Peter O’Donnell, really delineates well Modesty and Willie Garvin’s relationship. It’s one based on mutual respect and dependence, but it’s never romantic. Modesty even undresses in front of Willie, who studiously looks away. Not that Willie’s gay as you might suspect – he has a series of girlfriends throughout the book. The main story about a diamond theft featuring a quirky mob boss called Gabriel is beautifully sketched out. Gabriel and his henchmen have taken over an island near Cyprus and use the monks from the monastery there to do their bidding. It’s a great setting and one where the story’s climax happens. Modesty and Willie let themselves be caught and taken there by Gabriel so they can thwart his plans. Here Modesty encounters the monstrous Mrs. Fothergill, Gabriel’s most fearsome fighter, and dispatches her spectacularly. O’Donnell’s handling of this gender switch speaks volumes for how different and more interesting he is compared to that other spy writer and his creation. Speaking of which, I must now read my next Bond book for contrast (this will be Diamonds Are Forever – haha, a thematic equivalence!). Let’s see who’s the best MC, and who’s the best writer!
Diamonds Are Forever, by Ian Fleming
I started reading Diamonds Are Forever by Ian Fleming. It’s hard not to compare it to Modesty Blaise, and so far the comparison isn’t flattering for Fleming. I came across an alarming detail in the latest chapter. Bond’s American spy buddy Felix Leiter talks about a crim he’s tailing called Budd who’s been involved in ‘larceny, mugging, rape – nothing big’. Rape, nothing big? Really? Okay, so this is the character talking, not Fleming, so we could ascribe this attitude to Leiter. But he’s supposed to be one of the good guys. It certainly brings Felix’s character down in my eyes. And maybe Fleming’s as well.