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JAYSON WILDE

topsecret_cb_25 topsecret_cb_26 topsecret_cb_29 topsecret_cb_30
 
Full Name: Jayson Wilde
Series Name: Jason Wilde
Nationality: British
Organization: Department Q
Occupation Agent

Creator: Unknown
Time Span: 1975 - 1975

ABOUT THE SERIES

Jayson Wilde is an agent with Department Q.

That is a "secret international security force" with less than stellar ways of doing things as evidenced by a brother series about John Havoc who is blackmailed into working for them. Wilde's participation is a different matter but still interesting.

When we first meet him in his four recorded adventures, we learn that he is, before he knows about Department Q, a unique individual. "To Jayson Wilde, the world was a place to enjoy. And he wanted it to stay that way, which is why, whenever he saw evil threatening to spoil his world, he chose to go and do something about it. Unluckily for some ..." Those are the first words spoken about Wilde and they introduce a scene where four rowdy gents with trudgeons are about to beat up a defenseless older man. Wilde does not approve.

The London headquarters of Department Q is a very run-down "seemingly deserted" warehouse. Why such a dilapodated facility would be chosen is not mentioned but must be related to the "secret" aspect of the far reaching, always scheming, group. The men who make up the leadership of Department Q are depicted as extremely serious, somber individuals who do not quite take to Wilde's almost flippant attitude. When he refers to his first real assignment after three months of training as "quite a caper!", most are extremely wary of him in general.

It is alluded to that Wilde had a "pretty shady" background, not quite criminal but certainly not on the straight and narrow. When talking about stopping a robbery, he states "knocking-off factory goods isn't my scene. The odd fiddle maybe ..." He does not elaborate on what an odd fiddle might entail but the grin and a wink that accompanied the remark lets the reader know that Wilde has skirted the legal line a tad here and there.

As in keeping with the younger generation of the early to mid 70s, Wilde sports a bushy hairdo, not too long but certainly way over the ears. He frequently wears a medallion hanging outside his shirt and always dresses in a relaxed, casual style befitting his demeanor.

COMIC BOOKS, GRAPHIC NOVELS, AND MANGA

Number of Stories:4
First Appearance:1975
Last Appearance:1975

Jayson Wilde first appeared in the Digest-Size Graphic Novel series "Top Secret Picture Library" that was published twice a month by IPC Magazine.

That magazine, one of many put out by IPC in the 50s-80s, did not have the longevity of some of its siblings, lasting only 40 issues (1974-1976) but while the other magazines were anthologies with many different series going on in each one, these were single-character, single-story issues.

Most of those issues dealt with a test pilot named John Havoc, forced to be a secret agent for Department Q. Four, however, were pulled "From the Jayson Wilde dossier".

Note 1: Each adventure is 64 pages of largely 2 big panels per page. That is a bit much to present here. I have given the first three pages of each adventure to give a taste.

Note 2: The incredible British Comics is a fantastic source for these and a whole lot more!


1 Secret Enemy Secret Enemy
Published by IPC Magazine
Contributors: Juan Escandell (artist)
Copyright: 07/1975

From Top Secret Picture Library #25 - An upcoming meeting between Britain and some oil-rich Middle East countries hinges on a young MP whose brother has gone missing in Holland. Jayson Wilde's first mission is to find who might have snatched him and get him back.
Click here to read the story.

2 The Victim The Victim
Published by IPC Magazine
Contributors: Juan Escandell (artist)
Copyright: 07/1975

From Top Secret Picture Library #26 - [plot unknown]
Click here to read the story.

3 The Smoke Job The Smoke Job
Published by IPC Magazine
Contributors: Juan Escandell (artist)
Copyright: 09/1975

From Top Secret Picture Library #29 - [plot unknown]
Click here to read the story.

4 Dice With Death Dice With Death
Published by IPC Magazine
Contributors: Juan Escandell (artist)
Copyright: 09/1975

From Top Secret Picture Library #30 - [plot unknown]
Click here to read the story.

MY COMMENTS

I have read quite a few illustrated spy series in my day. I love the genre. I love the variety that the different authors and artists give us.

Most tend to follow a motif, with the main character being a stalwart guy or gal doing whatever is necessary to get the job done. With Jayson Wilde, though, we get a man who relishes his job. He really gets into it a lot and loves the excitement and danger to a point that you know he is going to get his butt shot up, he is so cocky. And then he doesn't and you don't really mind the improbability of it all (at least I didn't).

Not realistic but a lot of fun. Too bad the publisher only gave a small number of his stories.

GRADE

My Grade: B

Your Average Grade:   B+

YOUR OPINIONS

B+ 2022-06-18

Entertaining. I do not remember Wilde but i think i preferred Havoc which i hope to read next


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