Titan Books continues their collections of Peter O'Donnell's classc Modesty Blaise with the publication of the latest volume Live Bait. Containing the stories 'Samantha and the Cherub,' 'Milord' and 'Live Bait', the strip clearly reflects its tumultuous period of original publication, 1988-89. The Iron Curtain was almost drawn and the Berlin Wall would soon fall, and the strip that began in the 1960s was deep in domestic espionage in all its forms.

Illustrated by Enric Badia Romero, the three strips capture Modesty and circusman Willie Garvin - who stars in the introduction by Modesty expert Lawrence Blackmore - at the top of their game.

Modesty Blaise had a great, decades long run, and always seemed at its best during turbulent periods of geopolitical change. Watching the story effortlessly shift footing as the stage changed was very impressive, and as with all things Modesty it was lots of fun. Unsurprisingly, I had a blast reading Live Bait and I recommend it, and Titan's other Modesty Blaise collections, wholeheartedly.