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

E X P A N D E D E D I T I O N The NETWORK (continued) STORY 46: “THE LADY KILLERS” The two assassins sent by Suleiman to publicly murder Modesty in one of the casino’s she operated shortly after having taken over the old Louche gang were foiled, first by Modesty herself, and then by the intervention of Gunnar Hove. They were sent back to Suleiman intact which was designed to really scare him. STORY 50: “A FEW FLOWERS FOR THE COLONEL” Modesty walks into a trap set by a Maracaibo trader in young girls after she had put the North African flesh peddler Bora out of business. She was aided at the time by a Venezuelan taxi driver named Fernando de Larra. STORY 56 “PLATO’S REPUBLIC” An operation to smash Mallo’s mob of white slavers. Mallo was captured and searched by Phil Krolli who failed to find the small gun hidden in his ankle holster. When Mallo later tried to use it to kill Modesty, Krolli deliberately threw himself in the way and took the bullet. STORY 66: “LIVE BAIT” An operation to smash Malik and recover the kidnapped Network courier, Rosina. It spelt out Modesty’s response to kidnap demands – never pay. Lie, cheat, pretend, fight, do anything required, but never pay. STORY 68: “THE BIG MOLE” An operation to smash Lobel’s gang which sold little girls. Lobel himself was dumped penniless in Calcutta. The operation was barely over when Modesty was told of a wounded British Army Officer being stalked in the Kasbah by Polisario assassins. She found him and put off the assassins while the rest of her team dealt with any peripheral problems. STORY 80: “THE KILLING DISTANCE” The ex-C.I.A. man who faked the death of Ivan Brodsky and gave him his new identity retired to Tangier. He became a friend of Modesty. On his deathbed told her Brodsky’s secret. STORY 84: “HONEYGUN” The meeting with Raoul Kiffis at the Hotel Zerna to discuss the smashing of Suleiman’s flesh rackets turns out to be a trap. It is Modesty’s first encounter with Honeygun, who saves her life. NICCO (1) STORY 6: “UNCLE HAPPY”: STRIP 713 Dog handler employed by Walter Dee and used to hunt Modesty and Willie on Harmony Island. One of the problems of leading the chase is that you are likely to be the first one killed. The dog, Delphine, was unharmed. NICCO (2) STORY 17: “TAKEOVER”: STRIP 1920 Mafia hoodlum, assistant to Sabini when rehearsing the bank robbers. Is ordered to set up the gallows for the demonstration in which two of the locals who tried to sell information about the organisation are topped. Seen to by Modesty in the final gun battle at Sonoracast film studios. NICCO (3) STORY 76: “A PRESENT FOR THE PRINCESS”: STRIP 8157 One of Azul’s bandits. On his way to guard duty the night Willie and Modesty agree to break out of the bandit camp. Fires a warning shot but it is the last thing he does before being killed by Willie with a knife throw . NICK THE DIP STORY 39: “IDAHO GEORGE” STRIP 4371 Member of the Anastasia Bone gang. Gets the rough end of her tongue for turning up late for a meeting to discuss the kidnap of the Guru Ram Dal Singh. Is the target of a club thrown by Willie in the final battle. Presumed picked up with the rest by Inspector Brook. NICO, Brother STORY 56: “PLATO’S REPUBLIC”: STRIP 6017 Former thief and pickpocket, who saw the light and is now a monk in the monastery on the island of Voulakis, which has been taken over by Salamander Four. His fellow monks pray for help but he wants to do something. His lock picking skills give him free run of the monastery and after Modesty has contrived to get a message out to Willie he helps her to meet up with him and free Melinda and Phil Krolli. Shot by Cedric but fortunately not fatally and is airlifted out to hospital in London for treatment. Thinks being a monk rather than a thief is working out very well. 119 T H E M O D E S T Y B L A I S E C O M P A N I Drawn by Neville Colvin Strip 6032 10th October, 1984 Drawn by Romero Strip 8920 25th March, 1996 Drawn by Romero Strip 7249 4th August, 1989 Drawn by Jim Holdaway Strip 713 14th August, 1965 Drawn by Jim Holdaway Strip 1921 19th August, 1969 Drawn by Romero Strip 8161 22nd March, 1993 Drawn by Romero Strip 4438 2nd June, 1978 Drawn by Neville Colvin Strip 6062 21st November, 1984