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 POTTER, George STORY 5: “THE MIND OF MRS. DRAKE” TEXT ONLY STRIP 523 Neighbour of blind Roger Challon who reads to him. POTTS, Alfred (Deceased) STORY 39: “IDAHO GEORGE”: STRIP 4344 Constantly referred to with great pride by his widow, Anastasia. It was at his suggestion that she married his former planner, Gilbert Bone, and she now runs the gang with Gilbert still doing the planning. Seen here in the large portrait under which Anastasia sits when addressing the gang. POULTER STORY 5: “THE MIND OF MRS. DRAKE”: STRIP 557 One of Sir Gerald Tarrant’s agents accompanying him in the raid on Korzon’s flat where Jeannie Challon is being held. Watches as Modesty and Willie chase and deal with her killers. Gets on with the hushing up the two dead bodies they have left behind requires. PREACHER, The STORY 61 “BUTCH CASSIDY RIDES AGAIN” STRIP 6570 Hit-man and fast draw specialist wanted by the police in England who has now made a name in the U.S.A. Never works in cities, only in country and western. Employed by Mort Bailey for “Operation Butch Cassidy” to terrorise Jake and Martha Freeman into selling the Lazy H ranch cheaply so that Bailey can cash in on its huge manganese deposits. Forces Willie to face him in a gun duel. Beaten when Willie throws the gun at him rather than trying to outdraw him and fire it. PREMM STORY 3 “THE GABRIEL SET-UP” STRIP 301 One of Gabriel’s lieutenants at the meeting at “Lakeside”. Is involved in the chase after Modesty and Willie steal Gabriel’s microfilm records. First victim of Willie’s berserker attack. PRENDERGAST, Miss STORY 88: “TRIBUTE OF THE PHAROAH”: STRIP 9342 Former Governor of the orphanage in which Willie grew up she still has the ability to reduce him to a gibbering mass of jelly – for the moment at least. A member of the Sudan Archaeological Society, acknowledged as a world expert on Kushite hieroglyphics, it is her translations of some of these Kushite tablets has led to the belief that she knows the burial place of an ancient treasure. When Uthman and his gang attack her they are foiled by Modesty and Willie but a little later they are unable to stop Jezzar from kidnapping her and forcing her to reveal to him the location of King Taharqa’s tomb, the supposed burial place of the treasure. Modesty and Willie rescue her from Jezzar’s fort and take her back to the safety of her hotel. Once there she seeks the aid of one of the fellow members of the Sudan Archaeological Society, Colonel Teti, who also happens to be a senior officer in the Sudanese Army. Her belief that there really is no treasure is confounded when the statue of Amun in the tomb of King Taharqa is found to be of solid gold. PRESTON, Mister STORY 24: “WITH LOVE FROM RUFUS”: STRIP 2757 A new dealer in stolen goods on the crime scene in London. Insists on being addressed as MISTER Preston. When he learns that Rufus Marsh is trying to sell stolen jewels he kidnaps him in order to find out where his loot is hidden and take it. He also kidnaps Josie Carter, Rufus’s girl friend, in order to force him to talk. Tries to shoot Willie before Willie can throw his knife, which is something you only try once. Buried at sea. PURLEY, Mrs. STORY 86: “THE MURDER FRAME” STRIP 9163 Housekeeper to Sir Arthur Brockley at Thaneby Manor. It is she who discovers Sir Arthur’s murdered body and reports it to the police. Deeply shocked, she tells of the recent bust up between Sir Arthur and Willie making him the prime suspect, She assures the police Mister Garvin would never do a thing like this. 129 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 Romero Strip 6614A Not published in the Evening Standard Drawn by Jim Holdaway Strip 568 25th February, 1965 Drawn by Romero Strip 4357 13th February, 1978 Drawn by Jim Holdaway Strip 301 17th April, 1964 Drawn by Romero Strip 9344 1st December, 1997 Drawn by Romero Strip 2808 28th June, 1972 Drawn by Romero Strip 9166 18th March, 1997