Steed And Mrs. Peel #1

Grant Morrison and Ian Gibson, along with Boom! Studios, has just released the best Avengers book on the shelves. No, not those Avengers, the original Avengers: the quirky, hip The Avengers TV show from Britain.

During the late 1960s the adventures of secret agents Emma Peel and John Steed were all the rage on American and British TV. The ABC Network in the United States made the brilliant decision to import the popular spy show to American airways where it became a favorite of TV viewers.

It was the time of the super spy and The Avengers were at the top of the spy game.


Now Boom! Studios has released a brand new comic book series based on The Avengers TV show that captures both the tempo and look of the avante garde and pop culture TV series.


In the first issue of the Crown & Anchor storyline, John Steed’s new female spy sidekick, Tara King, is following a lead to undercover who is the ‘Mole’ who is leaking information out of the spy bureau. Her first tip finds her meeting Admiral Fanshawe, head of the ministry-or so she thinks. Later the real Admiral’s body is found tied to an anchor at the bottom of a river and Tara is missing.


John Steed is summoned to his superior, Mother, and told of the incident. Mother gives him the assignment to track down the ‘Mole’ find Tara and “tidy things up.”


Told to trust no one Steed calls upon the one person he trusts implicitly, Mrs. Peel. Together the newly reunited spy team travels to the Fanshawe residence where they uncover a clue- which leads Mrs. Peel to the Metropolitan Magazines’ Doris Storm.


Arriving at Ms. Storm’s office, Mrs. Peel is told she is giving blood at a bloodmobile. Mrs. Peel arrives just in time to discover Doris has been poisoned by an attending nurse who seems to have performed the act under some kind of control.


Mrs. Peel returns to Doris who manages to, as her last words, say, "Rooks and ravens."


If you are a fan of The Avengers then you are in for a real treat. Writer Grant Morrison has successfully captured the ‘feel’ of the original TV series, while artist Ian Gibson’s stylized art fits perfectly with the story. The Avengers are back, Bowler hat, umbrella, skin-tight leather outfits and all.