quote:

This story was written against the background of the Hyde Park and Regent's Park bombings perpetrated by the IRA in July 1982 in which eleven members of the Household Cavalry and Royal Green Jackets were murdered. Seven horses were also killed. Terrorism, and the threat of terrorism, was an everyday fact of life in the UK at the time and it is only to be expected that so topical and universal a subject would inspire a story, particularly one in which the terrorists lose. That such groups exchanged information provided an interesting storyline which was later to prove all too factual.

The groups named in this fictional story actually existed at the time and some of them still do. One of the most consistent of Modesty's characteristics is her hard-line attitude to terrorism. Her credo is that failure to immediately resist any such attempts in the strongest terms will lead to further escalations of violence. To put such a credo into practice takes courage and the acceptance that this will almost certainly result in casualties. It is easy to forget that every major country in Europe has suffered from its very own terrorist group; it is neither a new nor recent phenomenon but is now accepted as a "normal" part of modern life worldwide.

A more light-hearted feature of this particular tale is the creation of two new "good" characters, Guido Biganzoli and his long suffering girlfriend, Aniela. Visually created by Neville Colvin, they make their first appearances here and will turn up later in a further three adventures. As is so often the case, the new character, Guido, is brought to life with an immediate history and background, being presented as having already involved Modesty in a Camorra shootout, a football riot and a six-car pile up. Typical situations for Modesty to find herself in and wish to avoid but once again her essential curiosity and sense of adventure allow her to be lured into a trip in - of all things - a hot air balloon.

Manuel Calavera posted:

Compu-Toon

Forktoss posted:

Now that multiple people are posting Abhorrent Gilchrist Nancy, Slightly Less lovely Guy & Brad Nancy, and Actually Good Bushmiller Nancy, does anybody happen to have a source for Mostly Inoffensine Jerry Scott Nancy? That's the one I remember sporadically reading as a kid, and I wouldn't mind seeing it posted.

Transmodiar posted:

Modesty Blaise in The Balloonatic






If you want to get caught up on Modesty, my archive is here.

Manuel Calavera posted:

Foob

Haifisch posted:

Jokes? Storylines? No, we need more complaining about PEOPLE THESE DAYS and MY HORRIBLE CHILDREN.

Haifisch posted:

Nancy

Johnny Walker posted:

I meant to ask this yesterday but can anyone decipher the first letter in title of the "Next" thing? I'm guessing "Dorrit," which is a woman's name, but I can't tell. Perhaps that's Val's mother's name (it looks like they have never named her in the comic)?

Some Guy TT posted:

Tracksuit



Wow, what a racist comic.

Johnny Walker posted:

Mary Worth

Aardmania posted:

Judge Parker

Julet Esqu posted:

Julet Esqu posted:

Angular Cyrus posted:

Nekonaughey

Simian_Prime posted:

Goddamit I actually laughed at a Working Daze what the hell

FrumpleOrz posted:

Kevin & Kell What is this supposed to be??? Besides bad.

Pancho Jueves posted:

Missed an opportunity for a "harespray" joke.

Calaveron posted:

I still don't understand what the joke's even supposed to be

BigglesSWE posted:

This one was actually pretty good. It happens, broken clock etc.

Tiggum posted:

He's pretending to be a giant, herbivorous dragon. To this end he has used hairspray to make his ears stay in the shape of horns. There is no punchline.