SECRET AGENT 21

Brent Cleever, Secret Agent 21, is an agent with the Universal Secret Service.

The USS is a bit presumptuous since it really seems to just operate in this solar system in the far future of 2046. Even though that is only two and a half decades from when I write this, it is eight decades from when the recorded adventures were first presented. Humanity has spread out from the third planet to have colonies on Mars and Jupiter and other orbs.

The USS has its headquarters in Kahra, capital city of the Mars colony. It disguises its headquarters as a factory for the Century 21 Toys Incorporated, the largest toy manufacturer "in the universe". Its agents go about the solar system pretending to be toy salesmen and carry sample cases whose toys are really quite useful and in some instances deadly tools of their trade. It is led by a stern older former agent named 'S' and though that man now spends most of his time behind a desk sending the younger people out on missions, he shows quite often how much he still has what it takes.

The best agent that the organization has is Cleever. This man, who lists his nationality as Terra-Martian, makes his home in Kahra but he is off on assignment so much it is doubtful he spends much time there. What we see of Cleever shows him to be a tall, rather thin but athletic shaped man with dark hair neatly trimmed and a handsome clean-shaven face with a strong pronounced chin. However, we are told more than once that "in the interests of security this is only an artist's impression of 21, and not a true likeness."

Thanks to a biography sheet made available in his chronicles, we know that Cleever was born William Frazer in 2018, the "eldest son of space pioneer Sir William and Lady Frazer who had settled on Mars in 2009". He graduated from university with degrees in mathematics, space navigation, and music. He "joined the Martian Space Academy and graduated as an astronaut in 2036".

Soon thereafter he was transferred to the World Space Patrol in Washington and became aide to Air General Steve Kaliski. When Kaliski was promoted to the position of Director of the Universal Secret Service, Frazer went with him. As was said to be normal USS practice, once they joined the intelligence organization they changed their names to protect their families. Kaliski became known as Zodiac while Frazer took on the name Brent Cleever.

It was Cleever who first contacted the Century 21 toy company to make him his very special toys, i.e., weapons and tools disguised as something quite a bit different and totally non-threatening. Eventually he would convince Zodiac, now renamed "S", to buy the company and use it as a cover for the agents.

Eventually, we learn from that biography, Cleever would stay on to become the head of the organization with Kaliski/Zodiac/S retired. The adventures we are permitted to enjoy take place during his agent days between 2045 and 2055. During the numerous adventures available about this man we watch him routinely getting beaten up, drugged, or injured in one way or another on each mission but he never falters and never fails to get the job done.

And then the change came. After a whole lot of adventures and tremendous excitement, Cleever decided to retire and moved to some property in Gluchestershire where he would spend his time tinkering with inventions and gadgets. A freak accident would result in his having magnetic powers allowing him to pull metal objects towards him as well as adhere to metal surfaces. He quickly came up with a dampening field which would cancel out his new powers to give him a normal life. The control for turning the dampener on or off he put in his shoe.

With his new abilities came a new drive to use them for good and he would eagerly take a position as the World President's personal, unofficial agent. He would perform several missions in this capacity.

Eventually his powers abated and he returned to normal. In appreciation for what he had done and knowing he was still wanting action and excitement, Cleever accepted the offered job as head of USS. But he would not be stuck behind a desk.

While Cleever will have a variety of enemies, chief among them, especially at the beginning of the series, is the Solar Organization for Revenge and Murder (S.O.F.R.A.M.), lovely chaps whose leadership wear pointy hoods even when in secret cloister. They definitely give Cleever a run for his money.

In my mind Brent Cleever was designed to be James Bond in space though toned down to suit the younger audience. No dalliances for Cleever but a whole lot of nifty gadgets to use on his missions. Most of these 'toys' comes disguised as, well, toys, since the character's cover was a toy salesman. One is a toy soldier with a toy gun which is also a laser he uses to cut his way into things. You get the idea.

The originality of the series is quite good, IMHO, though the settings on planets like Jupiter tend to leave scientific facts by the wayside. But then, it is meant for kids and if I were a kid, which emotionally I still am, I would have loved it (and kinda still do).