By Kendra Hibbert
October 17, 2003
There comes a time in every one’s life when they think they’ve got a handle on pop culture, when they believe they’ve at least heard of everything the masses have to offer in terms of entertainment. Then there comes a time, usually a day after, when something completely new pops onto their lap and they think ‘Was I sick that day they declared this cool?’ Such was the case two weeks ago when I was sent the newest re-print of the “wildly successful” Modesty Blaise novels SABRE-TOOTH and LAST DAY IN LIMBO. “Who the hell is Modesty Blaise?” I thought. “How the hell did she get so wildly successful without me hearing something about it?”
Turns out Modesty Blaise has been around since the ‘60s. Her first novel (aptly titled) MODESTY BLAISE was published in 1965, the last one called THE COBRA TRAP was put out in 1996 and there were 11 other books in between. Her daily adventure comic strip first appeared in ‘The Evening Standard’ newspaper out of London eventually running in papers in over 40 countries around the world until 2001 when her creator Peter O’Donnell retired on his 81st birthday.
Modesty has been described as a female James Bond but she’s more of an early version of Lara Croft. The ‘Legend of Modesty’ is this: She was first discovered at the age of 6 wandering the streets of Greece with no memory of her childhood. She later turned to a life of crime, stealing for her food, occasionally getting caught and forced into servitude or prostitution until she daringly escaped. Still young, Modesty met up with Professor Lob who taught her how to read and speak several languages giving her the edge she needed to break out of her impoverished life. During a gang war in Tangier, Modesty took control of a dangerous criminal organization she named The Network and despite being a woman, was still able to control these ruthless dangerous men with her intelligence and charm. This is the allure of Modesty Blaise. Though she’s deadly and dangerous she’s still able to convince men, both criminals and high-ranking European officials, to help her out in her adventures. She’s just that sexy.
The strip and the books start after Modesty disbanded The Network retiring from a life of crime with her sidekick and closest companion Willie Garvin. Though retired they (thankfully to anyone who’s a fan) often return to a life of adventure, usually on the
other side of the law as spies and mercenaries against evil doers everywhere. Their exploits take them around the world in exotic places from London to New York to the Middle East to ancient Mayan Temples that serve as the background to foul plots to rule the world by heinous underworld egomaniacs Modesty and Willie must take down to save the world. The 13 Modesty Blaise books have recently been re-published by Souvenir Press and Independent Publishers Group and re-released with the same cover artwork as the originals. The most recent of these releases (the books that I read) are SABRE-TOOTH and LAST DAY IN LIMBO.
SABRE-TOOTH originally published in 1966 concerns a nefarious general of the criminal underworld trying to take over Kuwait for its oil (keep in mind this is about 25 years before the first Gulf War). Modesty and Willie are contacted by Sir Gerald Tarrant, their contact in the legitimate world and regular to the series. He asks them to infiltrate the dangerous delinquent group and stop their villainous plot. To do so Modesty and Willie must convince these naturally distrusting band of outlaws that they have come out of retirement and are desperate enough for work that they would consider joining their band. Adventure and hijinks ensue.
In LAST DAY IN LIMBO the bad guy is a woman – the Mistress of Limbo – Mayan priestess who has been keeping people captive in the secluded jungles of Guatemala with no hope of escape or rescue. Unfortunately for her one of her captives is Danny Chavasse, friend of Modesty Blaise. When Modesty and Willie arrive on the scene ready to take on the malevolent mistress she orders them to be sacrificed to the Gods. Can Wllie and Modesty escape her clutches and free the people of Limbo? Is there any doubt they can?
One thing that I have to make abundantly clear is that Modesty Blaise is a pulp hero. If you read the press release that came with this book her greatest claim to fame is being
featured in PULP FICTION as the book Vincent Vega is reading on the toilet before he’s blown away. One look at the cover art and you can understand pretty much everything you ever wanted to know about these books. They revel in their pulpiness. 60s kitsch, sex, intrigue, adventure set in a political background. It’s like Johnny Quest for adults.
Keeping in mind these are pulp novels, therefore not really subject to the same kinds of criticism that, say, THE LIFE OF PI might be the biggest problem I had with the re-release of these books is their size. Though they’re still paperbacks the newest edition of these books are larger than the pocket-sized ones meaning you can’t stick them in your Levis and go out for a night on the town. You could possibly fit them into the pocket of your cargo pants but they’d still be bulky and awkward to carry around. It kind of disrupts the ‘pulp’ fiction reading experience if you ask me. What good is a sexy, cheaply produced novel if you can’t sneak it into your back pocket for when boredom emergencies pop up?
Other than that, the Modesty Blaise series is just what it advertises itself to be – a sexy adventure in the spirit of 007. But despite the PR and fanboy’s wishes to the contrary it’s doubtful that she’ll rise above her cult status. There was in 1966 a (by all accounts) horrible movie put out called MODESTY BLAISE and a TV movie in the 80s, rumoured to be the pilot of a television series about her that never saw the light of day. Recently there’s been some hope in the Modesty fan base about a series of straight-to-DVD movies set to be put out by Miramax. Though rumours were floating around that the first in the series MY NAME IS MODESTY would be written by Quentin Tarantino and Neil Gaiman, the IMDB has the script written by Lee and Janet Scott Batchler the dynamic duo behind the BATMAN FOREVER screenplay. I would wager then that this franchise won’t be breaking any box office records any time soon meaning reading Modesty Blaise won’t get you any cool points of becoming a fan way before the phenomenon hits the rest of the world. What it will get you however is a fun little series to read which, while not literary gold, is still an entertaining way to pass an afternoon or two and a great source of 60s kitsch to possibly impress your friends with especially if they, like me, have never heard of Modesty Blaise.
Next Column: In a contest to see who hates the political right more I pit Michael Moore’s DUDE WHERE’S MY COUNTRY? up against Al Frankin’s LIES AND THE LYING LIARS WHO TELL THEM to see who deserves the title of King of Conservative Bitch-Slapping. Don’t miss it.
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