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 STORY No. 18 DRAWN BY JIM HOLDAWAY ( Strips 2044-2098) AND ROMERO (Strips 2099-2162) START DATE OF STORY 12th January 1970 (Monday) END DATE OF STORY 30th May 1970 (Saturday) Modesty and Willie are in Sapporo visiting their old friend Kazumi, a revered master of Japanese martial arts. Walking with him to his home they chase a man they have just seen stab a young girl. The victim is Kimi, Kazumi’s grand-daughter. Her attacker was Asada, her fiancé. The attack is inexplicable and when Asada tries to kill Kazumi, the old man uses his skill for the first time in anger and Asada dies. All Kimi can tell them is that she accidentally learned that Asada was a member of Phoenix and he told her that for this she must die. Police investigations reveal nothing, everyone is baffled. Continuing their holiday in Tokyo, Willie pays a visit to Tamako, a former Network girlfriend who once saved his life. First Modesty later Willie and then Tamako are kidnapped. Modesty and Willie are taken to a deserted island which conceals the underground complex that is the headquarters of Phoenix. It is a secret organisation run by Kato and Fumiya Shojiro, rich industrialists. They call themselves The Warlords of Phoenix and believe there will soon be another atomic war. When this happens, they and their Warriors will survive it and rise from the ashes to take over Japan. They have conscripted Modesty and Willie to instruct their Warriors and Tamako is being held in a secret location as hostage for their co-operation. After having to pass a series of lethal tests they commence their duties as instructors. The brothers order Kazumi’s death and Modesty gives her personal kongo with which to make the kill to the chosen Warrior assassin. The attempt fails and Kazumi recognises the kongo. He finds the message Modesty has hidden inside it. The police rescue Tamako but the Warlords are warned of the danger and immediately order Modesty and Willie to be secured. In a running battle through the u n d e r g r o u n d complex they inflict heavy casualties on the Warriors. In the nick of time Kazumi arrives on the island with a battalion of troops and the complex is captured. The Warlord brothers, accepting their defeat, dress in the ancient armour of the Samurai and commit joint ritual suicide. In hospital, Kimi is recovering. Modesty muses that, for once, neither she or Willie got hurt during the caper. Willie suggests that they must be improving. I I 224