As a kid Modesty Blaise didn't do much for me, but as an adult I appreciate the feel of it. It is very British in its tone, and a good example of the British Newspaper strip tradition. It has been said about Modesty that her appeal to readers is her well shaped body, and namely her breasts.
That might also have something to do with it, but the appeal of the strip also has something to do with the elegance of it, and the 1960's spy/secret agent phenomenon, to which I consider it a part of. To some the style may seem a bit "dry" and boring, but I think the style has a charm of its own. An interesting thing is that the two leading characters are everything but sexless. They are like brother and sister towards each other, but constantly amuse themselves with new lovers. It is evident though that these lovers are just playthings. Their real devotion - platonic as it may be - is always to each other. A bit strange idea, but an essential part of the strip. I got a couple of collected volumes by the original team O'Donnell & Holdaway, and the American book O'Donnell did with Dick Giordano. I love Giordano's DC work, a lifelong fan, and he's good here too, but he does make Modesty a bit too "cute". Holdaway's original, and Romeo's too I suppose, is a more feisty looking mysterious lady. Giordano's girls are always beautiful, but he has a tendency towards beautiful in the cute way, which is perfect for Black Canary, but not so much for Modesty Blaise.
I was in Manchester, England last year, and had to get some British comics back home. I always try to find comics from that country. in the original language when I go abroad, or I have people going get some for me. 15 different nations and 12 original languages are now represented in my collection. A little collection within the collection.
I chose on my Manchester trip a collection of Modesty Blaise and one of Jeff Hawke, the British Flash Gordon you might say.
Being European and Danish, I was exposed to both American, British, French-Belgian, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, and, of course, Scandinavian comics, and wouldn't miss any of them. Each country's comics has its own characteristic tradition.
Holdaway:
Giordano:
And Romeo has already been shown. Of the three artists He's the one I like the least.
