X-9: Secret Agent Corrigan, Vol. 2

X-9: Secret Agent Corrigan #2

by Archie Goodwin, Al Williamson (Artist)

This second volume of X-9: Secret Agent Corrigan collects Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson's classic adventure comic strip - that's over 800 comic strips, from September 1, 1969 through April 8, 1972. Each strip is beautifully rendered with delicate precision by master craftsman, Williamson, and elegantly scribed by master wordsmith, Goodwin.

Genres: Comics, Adventure, Comic Strips

283 pages, Hardcover

First published April 12, 2011

About the author

Archie Goodwin was an American comic book writer, editor, and artist. He worked on a number of comic strips in addition to comic books, and is best known for his Warren and Marvel Comics work. For Warren he was chief writer and editor of landmark horror anthology titles Creepy and Eerie, and for Marvel he set up the creator-owned Epic Comics as well as adapting Star Wars into both comics and newspaper strips. He is regularly cited as the "best-loved comic book editor, ever."

Reviews

[Viggo Pedersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it! Al Williamson & Archie Goodwin are the perfect newspaper strip duo!

[Robert Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second CORRIGAN volume delivers more crackling adventure tales of the titular FBI agent. As we enter the 1970s, we can again see the influence of the James Bond films in that every story features a beautiful woman and at least one evil (and typically colorful) villain. Yet, Phil Corrigan himself remains a very American character - tough, noble...and compared to Bond, largely chaste. While frequently encountering lovely ladies, he remains faithful to his wife Wilda, who barely appears here (Wikipedia tells me that Goodwin and Williamson would later give the Corrigans an "off panel divorce," but that does not occur in this volume.).

Once again, Al Williamson delivers some lush, detailed and frankly gorgeous art. I noted in my review of Volume One that Williamson pays "an amazing amount of attention to matters such as facial expressions, fashion, hair styles and types of automobiles" and "makes great use of light and shadow." All this remains true in Volume Two, and I could add that Williamson especially seems to like drawing motor vehicles and the aforementioned beautiful women.

Writer Archie Goodwin does his part as well, as he again delivers reliably entertaining adventure tales. What's somewhat remarkable to me is how he manages to bring so much variety to what's otherwise well-done but mostly standard fare. There are the expected crime, mystery and espionage stories, but also, for example, a story of buried treasure in the jungle, a story where Phil Corrigan works as a movie stunt man and even a couple stories with science fiction elements. In one of the latter, Corrigan actually finds himself in a lost valley populated by dinosaurs! No real FBI agent ever experienced such a diverse case load, but anyone suspending disbelief is in for a good time.

Put simply, then, if you liked Volume One, then you'll Volume Two just as much. Pull up a chair and enjoy your visit to Phil Corrigan's world.

[Patrick McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this volume the writing and art team of Goodwin and Williamson really hit high gear. The art especially goes to a whole new level (and for Al Williamson, that's really saying something). The "Lost World" story arc, in particular, has some of the best strip art ever printed. You can't go wrong with this one!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second volume of Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson's classic comic strip builds on the excellence of the first. The pair continue to stretch their artistic wings, and the boundaries of the strip's format. While still ostensibly about the exploits of an FBI agent, this volume (covering the years 1969-1972) sees Corrigan assigned to missions that take him to exotic locations around the world, fighting mobsters, spies, and over-the-top pulp villains. The backdrops range from European castles, Asian monasteries, Hollywood backlots, and a lost world populated with dinosaurs.

The fast-paced stories are always just the right length, and transition from one to another flawlessly. The strips, originally published daily, read like one seamless whole, without unnecessary repetition or duplication.

As for the book itself, the reproduction is gorgeous, really showcasing Williamson's beautiful artwork. The introduction, by the late Archie Goodwin's widow, Anne Murphy, really puts a human face on these two legendary creators. All in all, IDW is really giving this strip the showcase it deserves.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Williamson's artwork is a joy, as always, though he doesn't have the real estate to play with layouts very much in the strip format. Still, his staging and lighting are powerful and few artists capture motion in the static comics form better than Al. Archie Goodwin's scripts seem more assured and confident working within the strip formats confines in this volume. Many of the plots are still too straight-forward and need a good wrinkle, but the beats still work, the femmes manage to be alluring without being cliche, and Corrigan's resourcefulness (and ability to be only grazed by bullets) keep him coming against all odds. Also, a beautiful introduction by Archie's widow that reminds readers of the reality of the men who created this enjoyable adventure strip.