Ron Fortier and Ron Davis give a great spin on an old, pulp favorite: SECRET AGENT X!!! And let me tell you folks, this 30-page, Redbud Studio comic book is beyond action-packed!!!
In the presented adventure, "Race with the Devil", the mysterious "Man of a Thousand Faces" pursues Nazi Era intrigue, with Fortier's script capturing the tense flavor of the perilous time and Davis bringing it all to life through his stupendous illustrations.
Fortier's tale ideally places X within all aspects of the excitement, even when the agent's presence isn't necessarily discernible. By tradition, we shouldn't know X's real identity, let alone his actual face, yet at the same time, Fortier allows us to know the famed agent inside out. He's a hero we can easily cheer on and call a friend, despite his blending into the scenery.
X's lovely Betty Dale is also on hand, as well as his Washington "controller", the resourceful K-9, plus the sadly misled Inspector John Burks, in what becomes a tense pursuit to protect a foreign dignitary before the dastardly Colonel Kraunz does him in.
X made his debut decades ago in Ace Magazines, and within recent years (thanks to Airship 27 Productions) the character has gained a remarkable resurgence. X is a veritable forerunner to James Bond, Derek Flint and Napoleon Solo, but he was also a contemporary of the Shadow, the Spider and Doc Savage. Though X's escapades more than hold up to those of any modern avenger, he thrives best in the luxurious and atmospheric past. Fortier and Davis strike just the right balance with "Race with the Devil", so fans of the disguise-switching crusader needn't worry. This one delivers the goods from both ends of the imaginative spectrum.
In a time when some find it fashionable to tell comic-book tales in shades of gray, we need more straight-forward variations like Fortier/Davis' courageous concoction. On this basis, I hope "Race with the Devil" proves successful enough (and it darn well should) to spawn many Redbud Studio sequels.
Purchase "Secret Agent X: Man of a Thousand Faces" today at ... http://www.indyplanet.us/product/157620/.
PS: "Race with the Devil" is capped by an informative, touching essay by X author, Frank Schildiner. Definitely a must-read!
