Simon N. Kirby, The Agent #9 - G-Man Comics

SIMON N. KIRBY, THE AGENT No. 9, November 2024

For those comic book fans who thoroughly enjoy their senses being smacked straight on the snout just as soon as they open up their latest read, Rik Offenberger’s narrative for Issue Nine of “Simon N. Kirby: The Agent” should land very well. Indeed, combined with an absolutely outrageous mass fist-fight which occurs inside a criminal-laden Tiki Bar towards the end of the publication, this twenty-page periodical’s beginning is arguably pure perfection – and should genuinely draw a sigh of exhilaration from any perusing bibliophile as alleged team-mates Sergeant Flag and Vencejo stand toe-to-toe with one another trading punches.

Just as exciting however, has to be this edition’s covert operation to locate the nefarious Tiki Man and bring “the Kingpin of the Underworld” into custody for questioning. Focusing on the feminine wiles of a disguised Pocahontas, this admittedly dialogue-driven sequence is packed full of tense, threat-laden verbal exchanges, and does a marvellous job in highlighting both how nasty a villain the mask-wearing hoodlum can be, as well as just how close to a painful demise the young Federal Agent actually gets; “Why don’t you come over to my table while I figure out what to do with you. I insist. If I decide you’re trustworthy, I’ll let you leave.”

Of course, probably the most eye-catching event within this comic is the aforementioned smackdown on the drinking club’s malodourous occupants by the titular character’s numerous comrades-in-arms. This rather one-sided battle was clearly a great chance for Offenberger to pen some of his creations (alongside others) having a blast whilst thumping a good dozen roughnecks in the mouth, and the American journalist appears to grab the opportunity with great gusto.

Prodigiously cramming all these adrenalin-fuelled antics into the confines of each printed panel is Gilbert Monsanto, who masterfully manages to capture the look and feel of the medium’s Bronze Age with sensational aplomb. Whether it be Rob McFarlane’s colourfully-costumed alter-ego genuinely appearing to be about to smash the reader straight in the face with this comic’s opening splash page, or the closely-confined combat between The Agent and the Tiki Man in a night-time alleyway, the artist manages to bring every movement to dynamic life with his top-tier pencilling.

The regular cover art of "SIMON N. KIRBY, THE AGENT" #9 by Stefani Rennee