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Modesty Blaise: Yellowstone Booty by Peter O'Donnell, Enric Badia Romero and John Burns
01/05/2008 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
pub: Titan Books. 104 page graphic novel softcover. Price: £11.99 (UK), $19.95 (US), $22.95 (CAN). ISBN: 978-1-84576-419-7. Buy Modesty Blaise: Yellowstone Booty in the USA - or Buy Modesty Blaise: Yellowstone Booty in the UK  check out website: www.titanbooks.com
One of the many virtues I like about reviewing books is that we always look forward to a fix from our favourites. 'Modesty Blaise' isn't really that much Science Fiction but she is the character that SF fans read when they want a change. The thirteenth volume from Titan Books brings three more classic Modesty Blaise stories and each is a joy to read.
The first, 'Idaho George', focuses on an American con-man and his girl-friend posing as Indian gurus with the ability to pluck money and rare metals out of thin air. Modesty and Willie Garvin recognise them on television. So, too, does criminal gang leader Anastasia Bone but doesn't see the con but believes it possible. Things aren't helped when George and Modesty is mistaken for his girl-friend are kidnapped. In getting them back, Willie has to employ various friends to trail as George's girl-friend has been ordered to rendezvous with the gang. Peter O'Donnell confesses that he didn't remember much about this story but this belies the intense characterisation in this story that gives everyone something to do. It's also the first appearance of Steve Collier to the comicstrip having appeared in two of the novels, 'I, Lucifer' and 'A Taste For Death' as well as cameos of Willie's sometimes companions, Lady Janet Gillam and Maude Tiller.
The second, 'The Golden Frog', has Modesty and Willie going to Cambodia to rescue one of their combat teachers, Saragam, and his daughter when they run foul of the local insurgents. Even worse, they both know they could be running into a trap. This tale has more than its share of martial arts this time and also another reminder that the pair of them will do anything for their friends.
The third story, 'Yellowstone Booty', is also the first to be illustrated by John Burns. The next twenty stories are illustrated by other people than Romero. It's odd that O'Donnell says nothing about this switch although the introduction shows a variety of Burns' unused Modesty and Willie illustrations. Hopefully, this is only an introduction to what O'Donnell has to say next time.
The setting this time is in Yellowstone Park and Willie gets in the way of people while on a camping trip. Rendered unconscious, he is let loose in the river in a canoe to die in the rapids. Willie is rescued by a married couple, Brad and Lucy Grant, who are there for their own purposes. Sensing something wrong, Modesty arrives on the scene. With Willie injured, they both have to improvise when they don't have their normal weapons.
Telling a story well in three daily panels is an art form that is dependent on both writer and artist to do well. The transition from Romero to Burns and there isn't a missed beat from O'Donnell. All three stories are classic Modesty Blaise and if you haven't got hooked yet, then break in with this one before hunting out the earlier volumes. With so many British newspaper strips being replaced by American syndication strips, there's a need to remind people of how much decent quality material we've generated before and capable of doing so again. These books truly rock and will have you begging for more books to be release annually.
GF Willmetts
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