Part four of the first article in the SPECIAL PROJECT MODESTY BLAISE, which discusses practical aspects of the adventure, including Modesty’s combat uniform and her and Willie’s weapons of choice.
To summarize, the first part focused primarily on its creator, Peter O’Donnell, how and why he received the assignment, what inspired him, and how the character’s editorial life and career evolved.
The second part focused on Modesty, describing her early history and the psychological characteristics that make her a compelling and three-dimensional character.
The third part explores Willie Garvin, Modesty’s adventure partner and best friend, and the deep and special nature of their relationship, like that of two brothers who are very much in tune and very close.
We bid you farewell today with our best wishes for a happy reading and a goodbye until next Monday.
Mario Benenati and Daniele Tomasi, editors of the SPECIAL PROJECT MODESTY BLAISE
Note: this Special Project, like all others on this digital magazine, is non-profit and just for informative purposes, as the images used which are © of the rights holders.
The Italian association FUMETTOMANIA FACTORY – APS, which has been operating nationwide since 1991—while never neglecting the activities carried out within its headquarters in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto (Messina, Sicily)—has the aim of promoting, disseminating, and enhancing themes related to the language of comics.
Fumettomania’s mission is to attract young people of all ages by promoting projects dedicated to them, addressing current and engaging topics, using comics, which emerge as an autonomous art form that embodies the linguistic code of literature (words), its modes of consumption, but also the sequentiality of cinema and the figurative focus of traditional visual arts.
The Association’s commitment—35 years after its foundation (on May 14, 2026)—is to continue spreading comics culture and to continue its cultural and social projects in the area with workshops for young enthusiasts and schools, solo and group exhibitions dedicated to comics, illustration, and related fields, comic book presentations, and meetings with authors.
MODESTY BLAISE, THE PRINCESS – part 4: clothing and weapons
– by Joe7 –
For her missions, Modesty often wears a tight black jumpsuit to better hide herself in the dark.
The idea apparently came to O’Donnell while watching the “Avengers” TV series, which featured secret agent Emma Peel‘s black suit.
Modesty’s costume has been a trendsetter: first with Black Widow, the Marvel superhero who is also a secret agent.
And Fujiko Mine from Lupin’s gang couldn’t be missing.
Modesty and Willie typically use bladed weapons, such as knives or sticks, although they have no problem using pistols or rifles.
They also have considerable physical combat skills: Willie in particular can use Muai Thai, an oriental fighting method that involves the use of elbows and knees.
Being deadly, he rarely uses it.
Modesty’s favorite weapon is the kongo, also called yawara wood: a small dumbbell-shaped stick with two rounded ends, which can be hidden in one hand.
With this, she can strike the enemy’s nerves, paralyzing them.
Furthermore, it is very easy to conceal: Modesty often hides it in her hair bun or in the handle of her purse.
Willie, on the other hand, uses a pair of knives, which he wields with masterly skill, strapped to his chest: usually, the first is for warning and the second for killing.
This indicates that he’s not a bloodthirsty person: but when he has to kill, he does it without thinking twice.
[to be continued in part 5]
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Modesty Blaise © Modesty Blaise Ltd.
All images are used for informational purposes only and are © their respective owners.
The opinions expressed in the article by the author do not necessarily reflect those of the Fumettomania Association, which aims to offer a platform that always guarantees the right to free expression through its website.
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NOTE:
To access the index and links to all the articles in the SPECIAL PROJECT MODESTY BLAISE, visit this page with the introductory article::
– Italian version: https://www.fumettomaniafactory.net/progetti-di-fumettomania/contenuti-web-extra-dal-2012-in-poi/modesty-blaise-la-principessa-delle-spie/
– English version: https://www.fumettomaniafactory.net/fumettomania-presents-the-special-project-modesty-blaise/
EXTRA
Biography
DANIELE TOMASI is a multifaceted creative in the field of ComicArt, acting as artist, letterer, colorist, editor.
With the DTE brand, “the smallest publishing house in the world”, he edited and published three volumes of the “DebbieDillinger” series (where he is even the artist), the first number of “TetroTeatro” magazine (author of texts and drawings), the digital magazine “Continua…” (a free-distribution magazine with comics of various genres and authors, seven issues so far) and three issues of the magazine “Gli Archivi del Fumetto” (new issues and large-format volumes are planned).
He has created comics and illustrations for various Italian publishers (Tunuè, ProGlo, ComixCommunity, UndergroundPress, BotteroEdizioni, Pegasus/Comicus, Antani, Apache, AltaFedeltà).
He has worked as graphic designer for Italian publishers ProGloEdizioni, GreencomService, Shockdom, Palabanda Edizioni and Chimbe.
He has made lettering for Black Velvet and RW Edizioni.
He organizes courses about the Language of Comics.
In Internet you can see some of his artworks on the website danieletomasi.altervista.org , see other works and read some of his thoughts and opinions on the blog danieletomasi.blogspot.com , read for free some of the DTE publications in issuu.com/dteditore, read for free a fake storyboard of the “Spider-man” movie by James Cameron downloading the pdf (screen or print resolution) from the site spidercameron.altervista.org , write to him at the e-mails danieletomasi@gmail.com and dteditore@gmail.com
