Codename Knockout: The Devil You Say by Robert Rodi, Louis Small Jr., Mark Farmer and Amanda Conner (graphic novel review).
I the introduction to ‘Codename Knockout: The Devil You Say’, series writer Robert Rodi says he wanted to update the dynamic of Peter O’Donnell’s Modesty Blaise and Willie Garvin and couldn’t understand the lack of sexual dynamic between them. My own reaction to this is O’Donnell conceived the relationship as Garvin saw Modesty as his princess and he is courier so that would never enter his mind. I think I bought this graphic novel a couple years back when I spotted Amanda Conner’s name in the credits.
Rodi’s own solution with his own characters, Angela Devlin and Arrigo ‘Go-Go’ Fiasco is to make the latter gay. Over a dozen years old now, so I doubt if it will be spoiler to say Angela Devlin is the offspring of Celeste St. Grace, the head of G.O.O.D. (the Global Organisation for the Obliteration of Dastardliness) and Damon Devlin, the master of E.V.I.L. (the Extralegal Vendors of Iniquity and Licentiousness). A large chunk of the stories in this graphic novel focuses on this relationship and how Angela deals with her parents.
Considering you would think from the title this was an action-packed series, the issue stop for Angela to have a relationship is a pretty dramatic realistic interlude.
The main adventure is left to the final double-parter and Angela decides they should work for G.O.O.D., find out she’s being groomed for leadership, sent on a mission and got caught up in office politics. That should be enough to miss out on spoilers. Oh, the ‘Knockout’ is Angela’s codename although poor Go-Go doesn’t even earn one because he already has a nickname.
Although I don’t think this is anywhere close to Modesty Blaise and Willie Garvin – who would never complain over any chores for a start, Robert Rodi has at least created some interesting characters. Just a shame this is the only collected volume.
GF Willmetts
April 2022
(pub: Vertigo Comics/DC Comics, 2010. 160 pages graphic novel. Price: when I bought it, it was around £14.95 (UK), although you can pull second-hand copies a lot cheaper. ISBN: 978-1-4012-2798-2)
check out website: www.dccomics.com
