Danger Girl #2 - Image Comics

DANGER GIRL #2, May 1998

Absolutely crammed full of high octane car chases, gun-toting helicopters and shadowy spycraft, J. Scott Campbell and Andy Hartnell’s narrative for Issue Two of “Danger Girl” clearly gave its 82,251 strong audience “something that seems familiar, but at the same time is brand new”. For whilst the twenty-two page periodical’s plot undoubtedly reminded its fans “of greats like James Bond, Indiana Jones, and G.I. Joe”, the sheer sassiness of Abbey Chase, unorthodox nature of Sydney Savage, and cringeworthy smoothness of Johnny Barracuda also imbues the comic’s leading cast with their “own distinct personality and feel.”

Foremost of this utterly engaging world is the fast developing friendship between the team’s newest recruit and its well-established Australian operative. Agent Chase’s frantically-fast car pursuit on the outskirts of Paris is as gripping as it is pulse-pounding, especially when she decides her “heavily modified Porsche Boxster” would make a better land-to-air missile than mode of transportation. Yet her success in destroying two heavily-armed helicopters with some quick thinking, a grenade pin and a two-seater sports cars isn’t just for show, but also provides Savage with all the evidence she needs to readily accept her new co-player; “Abbey. About those Danger Girl physical requirements… I think it’s safe to say you’ve qualified.”

Setting aside all its sense-shattering, roadside shenanigans, “Dangerous Liaisons” also delivers when it comes to presenting this seven-part series’ resident “girl magnet”, the Barracuda. Apparently exuding a charm which is “more effective than guns”, the C.I.A.’s finest literally skis into this book as if he was the main protagonist of Peter Hunt’s 1969 film “On Her Majesty's Secret Service”, and even gives the reader a cheeky, fourth wall breaking wink, which is seemingly pencilled by Campbell to be highly reminiscent of Bond actor George Lazenby.

Johnny’s introduction admittedly somewhat slows the pacing of this comic’s storyline a little. However, this ‘breather’ is short-lived, and quickly leads into a wonderfully tense exploration of a soiree “being held tonight, hosted by former cohorts of the Peach” in Switzerland. Undercover and surrounded by red-beret wearing, gas-masked goons, a scantily-clad Abbey’s search for a mysterious ancient shield owned by the aforementioned special weapons smuggler, genuinely resonates some tension, particularly when the murderous owner of the artefact pays an unhelpful visit back to his "very own suite complete with a bona fide sweetie!"

Plot: Andy Hartnell & J. Scott Campbell, and Pencils: J. Scott Campbell