X-9: Secret Agent Corrigan v. 2 [Tapa dura]

The new book starts with the introduction:
(Anne T. Murphy:) What's it like to live with Al Williamson,
what's the real Archie Goodwin like?

The book is edited by Scott Dunbier and designed by Dean Mullaney

- the first story is about a prince of Turistan, and the throne of Turistan

- The second story sees Phil Corrigan with Wilda in Venice. Phil needs to guard Byron Jagger who is researching his latest book based on the life of a man known as Cain

- A new assignment takes Phil to snowy Washington, and his path crosses with Clete Bowman (who has had a successful espionage career so far). And Phil continues to a ghost-town following a film group

- Phil receives a new assignment after returning home. He is to go to Caribbean, a small Caribbean island called Torterra. Mr. Gorstrom is this time the enemy.

- Phil returns to states again and is assigned to look for Quentin Amberson's daughter Charlene. She is kidnapped.

- South America is the next destination. A famous scientist is missing/dead. Jonas Branveldt's plane has crashed in jungle 5 yrs ago, but then a metal scrap of the plane is found...

- Phil is taking another assignment: someone is using Kalipur as a base to down the satellites. CIA is not allowed to Kalipur, but FBI is.

- Phil is back in States. At the airport he sees a famous movie executive talking with a syndicate member.

- Ambassador of Balkania is worried for a series of demonstrations at his embassy. He visits the FBI and Phil is assigned to the case

- Jonas Garth, a killer and a dealer is in North-Africa. The police notices Garth and Phil is sent to look for him.

- Phil continues to Europe next. A girl has asked for asylum but someone tried to kill her. She has important information for the FBI. Phil knows the girl. She is Lushan. She used to work on opposite side to steal U.S. satellites, but now she is asking for Phil's help...

This book is a very good collection of Agent X-9 comic strips.
I would recommend this for anyone who is interested in the old black and white daily comic strips and the world of spies.

This second volume of Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson's classic comic strip builds on the excellence of the first. The pair continue to stretch their artistic wings, and the boundaries of the strip's format. While still ostensibly about the exploits of an FBI agent, this volume (covering the years 1969-1972) sees Corrigan assigned to missions that take him to exotic locations around the world, fighting mobsters, spies, and over-the-top pulp villains. The backdrops range from European castles, Asian monasteries, Hollywood backlots, and a lost world populated with dinosaurs.

The fast-paced stories are always just the right length, and transition from one to another flawlessly. The strips, originally published daily, read like one seamless whole, without unnecessary repetition or duplication.

As for the book itself, the reproduction is gorgeous, really showcasing Williamson's beautiful artwork. The introduction, by the late Archie Goodwin's widow, Anne Murphy, really puts a human face on these two legendary creators. All in all, IDW is really giving this strip the showcase it deserves.

Thank you IDW Publishing, I've been looking everywhere for these strips, I found a collection in comic form (Pioneer) about 15-17 years ago but I couldn't find the whole collection, only gasps. Book is beautiful. 6 stars