BLACK X

Black X is an agent of Espionage.

Espionage in its usual usage is a noun indicating an action or a line of work. As used in this series, though, it is apparently the name of the governmental department that employs the main character. On many occasions, there are references to working at Espionage (with the capitalization) or how things are done at "Espionage" or "we of Espionage".

In fact, the very first adventure states quite clearly: "Espionage, a dangerous branch of the Service in which there is no turning back. No rescue if you are caught. No glory if you succeed."

In that opening story we learn that the ruggedly handsome government employee Richard Spencer is killed in a plane crash. That, somehow, frees up Spencer to abandon his previous life and become the mysterious "X" (no reference to color). Why Spencer had to die to become this operative is never mentioned so it must still be classified. Where the "Black" came to be added to X is also not explained. Nor the reason for the name often having "the" precede it as in "a message from the Black X". Still another enigma is why for a while he was called Black Ace instead of Black X but shortly thereafter went back.

His boss in Espionage is Colonel Atwater, a white-haired spy-master with an impressive mustache, who will over the next several years send the dashing Black X out to perform many acts of bravery, survive not a few stunts of brashness, and make far too many calls upon incredible luck.

Black X is tall and very good looking. He is usually immaculately dressed but he can also show himself to be a master of disguise so the old man on the train, the lovely lady on the bus, or the beggar on the street could all be him.

When he is not made up as someone else, he invariably is seen wearing a monocle over his right eye. Now, he obviously takes it out when he assumes a different identity but when it is in place, it is firmly fixed there as no amount of physical violence seems to dislodge it. He also loves to wear a brown derby that is just as compliant about staying atop his head.

Spencer, aka Black X, aka Black Ace (for a short time), is in terrific physical condition. On a few occasions, he is shown without a shirt and he has washboard abs and a healthy set of muscles. He also does not seem to have any scars which is odd because he gets shot and stabbed and other unhealthy things done to him on a regular basis.

Aiding Black X is his valet, Batu, a man of many talents, exceptional loyalty to his employer and friend, and an occasional practitioner of occult arts. Batu is sometimes able to communicate feelings to others and even make people think he is in two places at once. He does not do this often because it is so draining but obviously it is handy at times. Batu is referenced many times as Hindu (though I thought his headdress made him seem to be a Sikh). Batu is credited with being a mystic and he proves that over and over in many adventures by showing he can project a lifelike image of himself (even being able to do physical things with that image like punch people in the nose), He is also quite good with telepathy, at least with Black X.

The world of espionage (with or without the capital letter) is a harsh one for Black X but one he clearly enjoys and one he is very good at. He can be compassionate on occasion (even foolishly gallant when he lets a lethal female beauty escape) but he can also be deathly severe. The latter is clearly part of his job because he is told once by his boss while on a hunt for a spy ring, "don't bring back any prisoners - spy trials get too much publicity."

Over time, and the tales depicted run more than a decade, Black X seems to leave the world of Espionage and enter the one of adventurer. He no longer reports to an officer but wanders the city of New York and sometimes the rest of the world and steps in when strange cases pop up. They pop up a lot and they are all strange. He becomes close friends with an NYPD inspector named Beef Burton and helps him on many cases.

He still works with Batu and still dresses immaculately and still sports the monocle. He also still uses the moniker "Black X" though it has stopped being a codename and now is an actual name as in "Hi, Black X, how're you doing?" No one seems to find that odd.

I greatly appreciate staying power and Black X demonstrated his with over a decade worth of month adventures. That is a lot of brushes with death and an almost uncountable number of blows to the head and other indignities to the body. And never once did the monocle pop loose. Amazing!

I tease a bit but it is not meant mean-spiritedly. The monocle is an affectation that is carried a bit too far but it does not hurt anything and, truth be told, it does identify him to, well, everyone he meets and that has stopped more than a few incidents of friendly fire when he comes upon soldiers and guards and police folk.

Batu is a terrific partner for Black X. He is called valet and servant and he definitely carries out those duties but he is also a close friend and there is not doubt that the bond between he and Black X is tremendous and goes both ways. They have saved each other's lives on numerous occasions and both have willingly offered their own to help the other.

Batu's mystic abilities endures some alterations over time. At first he has little and uses it sparingly. After a couple of years, though, he starts being able to project an image of himself. Initially it is just standing there but after a while (and obvious practice) he gets to move it and it can even engage in hand-to-hand combat. That is useful! As the series progresses, though, especially in the later years, he stops using it. Let's go with it being too draining.

The entire series made a huge swing in direction with the 73rd adventure. All 72 stories leading up to that had been titled Espionage, most with the subtitle of "Starring Black X". In each one he was the star operative of that U.S. intelligence agency.

From #73 on, though, the title of the series was simply Black X and his previous employment is never really touched upon. He is still available for calls for help and is always eager to jump into a conflict but his official status seems to have stopped. Retirement?

It is in #82 that we are introduced to Beef Burton, a NYPD inspector Black X calls an old friend. It is also the start of the final phase of Black X's adventures. No longer joy-hopping around the world saving damsels and nations. He is very much an amateur detective now, famed around the city and still well respected.

At least he still has his monocle.