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 RATH, Nicole STORY 25: “THE BLUEBEARD AFFAIR” STRIP 2849 Fourth wife of Baron Rath, niece of René Vaubois, rich but plain and timid. Overhears the Rath family plotting her death. Manages to get a message to Modesty who is visiting Villa Beaumaris posing as yet another possible rich wife for the Baron. Rescued by Modesty and Willie with help from Chloe the elephant and the Aziz Brothers of Gogol’s circus. Put into a nursing home by her uncle. RAUT, Colonel STORY 1: “LA MACHINE”: STRIP 86 Ex-Foreign Legion, ex-OAS, believed dead. He has killed a priest, Father Marasin, and taken his identity as senior monk at a home for elderly monks called “La Retraite”, in the south of France. It is the perfect cover for him as the boss of a murder group for hire known as “La Machine”. It fails to kill Willie in the fake job set up by Modesty in her efforts to find the group. When he receives the message she sends him through his Paris area manager he captures her and brings her to “La Retraite”. He tortures her but Willie arrives and the final outcome is decided by a single shot pen gun invented by Willie hidden in Modesty’s bandaged hand. RAWSON, Major John STORY 43: “EVE AND ADAM”: STRIP 4780 Leader of the two man force of the Burenzi Army which has been sent with Professor Elijah Kumosi to recover the Government photo satellite which has landed in Paradise Valley. Faced by a mercenary force led by Colonel Q which is also seeking the satellite, he is both out numbered and out gunned. He is powerless to stop Kumosi being shot down in cold blood. Wounded while trying to recover Kumosi’s body he is rescued first by Sula and later by Modesty and Willie. It is Modesty who has to remove the bullet from his back, having first told him that she is a qualified surgeon. He is hidden and left in the care of Sula. Modesty and Willie deal with Colonel Q. and then return to take him back to Burenzi to recover in hospital. RAYBO STORY 77: “BLACK QUEEN’S PAWN” STRIP 8190 Member of the gang run by Koch for his boss, Salim, searching for the treasure of Queen Ranavalona. It is his view that killing Modesty would not be a problem and that there would be no come back. Tries to stop Willie going to Mandofo but fails. His last chance goes when he meets the ghostly nailer. RAYBURN, Simon STORY 29: “TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER”: STRIP 3318 Senior member of the crew of Daniel Simm’s yacht “The Swan” and an active participant in Simm’s aliens conspiracy on Sentinel Island. One part of his role is to pretend to have met the aliens and been tested by them. When his story fails to convince Modesty and Willie he is left with no alternative but to take them as prisoners to the land based operations centre of the plot. When they escape he leads the chasing party but fails to re-capture them as they dive off a high cliff into the sea. REDMONT, Jethro STORY 48: “THE SCARLET MAIDEN”: STRIP 5231 Eighteenth century pirate and Captain of “The Scarlet Maiden” caught by a British frigate off St. Cyprien in 1730. He chooses to scuttle his ship rather than surrender, thus denying the hated British Navy of his treasure and the chance of hanging him. Consuela, his woman, survives and pregnant with Jethro’s child, gets ashore on the island and founds the dynasty. REDMONT, Major (Retired) STORY 48: “THE SCARLET MAIDEN”: STRIP 5282 Eccentric and elderly descendent of Jethro Redmont and self appointed guardian of his sunken treasure which he located in his youth while scuba diving on the island. Attempts to warn off Barney, Rick and Lisa by paying Dimples Calhoun to frighten them thereby causing multiple problems. Sees the light in the end and helps in the capture of the Calhoun gang. 134 Drawn by Romero Strip 2948 9th December, 1972 Drawn by Jim Holdaway Strip 96 31st August, 1963 Drawn by Pat Wright Strip 4781 12th October, 1979 Drawn by Romero Strip 8220 17th June, 1993 Drawn by Romero Strip 3377 1st May, 1974 Drawn by Neville Colvin Strip 5231 30th July, 1981 Drawn by Neville Colvin Strip 5282 12th October, 19