“Steed and Mrs. Peel” is based on the 1960’s The Avengers TV series that your parents probably think of whenever you’re actually talking about Cap, Iron Man, and Thor. Sounds like a good opportunity for a fun throwback property for Mark Waid & Co to take a swing at. We’ve seen him handle the Golden Age of comics to much acclaim, but does he fair as well with the swingin’ 60’s?
Written by Mark Waid
Illustrated by Steve BryantThey are needed again, and MARK WAID is the man to swing them into a new era! England’s greatest spy duo finds that the Hellfire Club has reformed, no longer looking to the past, but instead determined to bend the British Isles to their warped version of the “future”. Their first target is right in the heart of London — — are John Steed & Emma Peel ready for the unorthodox foes? Find out as legendary writer Mark Waid (DAREDEVIL, IRREDEEMABLE) leads the iconic super spies into ALL-NEW adventures. A bold new chapter ties into the fan-favorite episode “A Touch of Brimstone,” the original inspiration for the Hellfire Club and Black Queen from the X-MEN!
For the uninitiated, John Steed and Emma Peel are two of the principle characters in the British spy show The Avengers – a stylish and witty romp that typified the 1960’s aesthetic we think about it today. Think early James Bond with even higher concept plots and a female companion that outshines her male counterpart. The issue begins with a pre-title sequence that nimbly sets up a murderous conspiracy that Steed and Peel will be investigating. The set-up is executed in the tried-and-true manner of mystery stories – an unidentified cadre questions a man who has just awoken, they don’t get the answers they need, and things turn sinister. There’s a delightfully strange sci-fi twist that I dare not spoil, but I will say that the circumstances allow Waid and artist Steve Bryant to play with a 1960’s setting with hyper-futuristic aspirations. We pick up after the title page with Steed and Peel taking their first steps to solve the murder – and off we go.
Looking at this purely as an adaptation of an existing property, Mark Waid replicates the tone and universe faithfully. There were times that The Avengers TV series treaded into some really wacky science fiction territory and Waid is clearly not afraid to go there either. The witty repartee between Steed and Peel is plentiful and even factors into a few very charming scenes that put an emotional spotlight on their unique relationship. If Waid fails Steed and Peel anywhere, it’s in defining their professional qualities. Steed and Peel are thrown into action, without really touching on who they’re working for or the extent of their skills. Waid nails the relationship, but too much is left unsaid about who Steed and Peel are as spies. If you’re not into The Avengers already, you’re left in the cold a little bit.
It’s worth mentioning that Waid taps into the Hellfire Club, a name that should be familiar to X-Men fans, but was originally known for its place in The Avengers. (Is my use of The Avengers confusing the hell out of any comic fans yet?) We get a better sense of the motivations and abilities of this group than we do our heroes. In fact, they are being set up as a formidable foe for Steed and Peel, as they throw layer after layer of traps at their feet.
Bryant’s art nails the 1960’s fashions and hairstyles, matching Waid stride-for-stride in establishing an authentic adaptation. Emma Peel’s outfits are as eye-catching as they were when Diana Rigg wore them all those years ago. Keeping the tone and feel of groovy 60’s spy fare, Bryant creates a fun title sequence that is definitely worth mentioning; that one panel goes a long way toward placing this series in a specific era. The Hellfire Club looks as if its operations were designed by asking, “What would a 1960’s visionary think the world will look like in 50 years?” As a result, there’s a lot of fun little technological designs and flourishes to look at.
Continued belowBut while there is a fun sense of style running throughout the entire issue, the art is decidedly spotty from a technical standpoint. A breezy spy romp is going to contain several action-heavy sequences and unfortunately they mostly come off stiff and awkward. One sequence in particular shows Steed locked in battle with a startlingly unresponsive, static look on his face throughout its entirety. The characters’ expressions are often noticeable enough in their dissonance with what is occurring in the panel.
This is one of those books where there are some wonderful parts that don’t quite add up to a whole. The banter between our heroes is enough to carry you through to the end, but without establishing the players it’s a little shallow on reflection. And while there are fun things to look at throughout, there are also too many noticeable art stutters along the way to ignore. One would hope this world will open up a lot more once the series gets going.
Final Verdict: 6.5 – If “retro fun” is what you’re looking for, check this out.
