The Gabriel Set-Up, the third Modesty Blaise episode illustrated by Jim Holdaway, ran in the Evening Standard in 1964. It was the episode when Holdaway truly found his style that came to recognise his subsequent work on Modesty Blaise. O'Donnell's storyline is filled with intrigue, emotion and humour and Holdaway's artwork exquisite. The episode plays out in the U.S. and Canada and introduces Modesty Blaise's arch enemy Gabriel.
When the long forgotten Modesty Blaise original artwork was uncovered in the archives of the Evening Standard in London some 15 years ago, only one of Holdaway's 20 episodes were complete. This episode - The Killing Ground - was apparently sold to one of the legendary Marvel Comic artists in the U.S.. The rest of the artwork was sold piecemeal. Luckily most of The Gabriel Set-Up was still available once I found out about this treasure sale at The Book Palace in Crystal Palace, London. I acquired the lot and spent the following 10 years searching for the 15 missing strips. I had a final breakthrough some 5 years ago when Enrique Romero, himself a great fan of Holdaway, kindly agreed to recreate the then 7 missing strips in his own style. It was a thrill to see Romero's interpretation alongside that of Holdaway. The strips are displayed below alongside vintage carbon copies of Holdaway's originals also retrieved from the archives of the Evening Standard. Carbon copies were made of strips gifted away by Holdaway during his lifetime. I would be extremely grateful for any tips of the whereabouts of the remaining 7 strips.
When the long forgotten Modesty Blaise original artwork was uncovered in the archives of the Evening Standard in London some 15 years ago, only one of Holdaway's 20 episodes were complete. This episode - The Killing Ground - was apparently sold to one of the legendary Marvel Comic artists in the U.S.. The rest of the artwork was sold piecemeal. Luckily most of The Gabriel Set-Up was still available once I found out about this treasure sale at The Book Palace in Crystal Palace, London. I acquired the lot and spent the following 10 years searching for the 15 missing strips. I had a final breakthrough some 5 years ago when Enrique Romero, himself a great fan of Holdaway, kindly agreed to recreate the then 7 missing strips in his own style. It was a thrill to see Romero's interpretation alongside that of Holdaway. The strips are displayed below alongside vintage carbon copies of Holdaway's originals also retrieved from the archives of the Evening Standard. Carbon copies were made of strips gifted away by Holdaway during his lifetime. I would be extremely grateful for any tips of the whereabouts of the remaining 7 strips.
I am hoping to see the entire episode on display at an exhibition or in a museum one day. Until then, die-hard Modesty Blaise fans are welcome to view the collection at my home in Dubai.