The Artists Who Might Have Been

Before Holdaway’s published Modesty

Frank Hampson prepared samples for the proposed Modesty Blaise strip before Jim Holdaway became its published artist. Alastair Crompton’s Hampson website places surviving trial material beside Holdaway’s versions of the same scenes. It is an unusual opportunity to compare different visual responses to a script.

The historical distinction is important. These are tryouts for the character, not an additional numbered newspaper adventure. Crompton’s explanation of why Hampson’s approach was unsuitable is an interpretation; O’Donnell’s own dissatisfaction is discussed separately in the 1973 interview.

Sources: [1] [2]

A possible weekly Modesty

Al Williamson’s work belongs to a different proposed format. Daniele Tomasi’s Fumettomania article brings together a sample Sunday-style page, illustrations and interview evidence about a possible weekly version. A multi-tier page would have offered a different rhythm from the narrow daily strip.

O’Donnell’s 1973 discussion confirms his interest in a weekly format. That does not establish a continuing Williamson newspaper run. The surviving page is evidence of a possibility explored, and is best presented with its publication context rather than folded into the daily artist chronology.

Sources: [2] [3]

The value of an unrealised version

Tryouts make editorial choices visible. They show that the familiar look of a character was something developed and selected, rather than inevitable. Keeping these images in a background feature preserves that value while leaving the published story sequence clear. The regular newspaper artists and the artists of separate adaptations still have their own places in the archive.