MAX MALONE

Max Malone is an agent with the British Secret Service.

The period of time for this operative's activities in World War II. The principle area of interest is the Far East with Malone combatting the Japanese while traveling throughout the entire region from the Indo-China region all the way north to Japan itself.

Prior to his first recorded adventure being printed, this 'press release' detailed important information about the agent"

"[Max Malone] moves like a silent, deadly shadow in the jungle battlegrounds of the Far East. His daring missions by land, sea and air carry him far behind the Japanese lines to face overwhelming odds in some of the most gripping adventures of World War II. He's Max Malone, Britain's toughest undercover agent!"

In that initial story, we learn a few interesting facts about Malone in the first few paragraphs. He holds the rank of Major in the British Army. He has already earned the D.S.O. from some unspecified previous mission. While exactly how many missions he had already gone on is unknown, this noted "British saboteur" was marked as "the man the Japs feared". This does not tell us whether the Japanese forces knew of him by name but they definitely knew of him by action.

From a drawing of him, we can tell that he is of slightly taller than average stature, lean and honed. He is likely in his mid-30s. He is extremely confident in that he routinely operated, at least in the beginning, all on his own. We are told that he "was an old hand at jungle warfare, both in the air above it and down here, in its depths".

Malone, who is prone to using the exclamation 'By Thunder!' quite a lot as well as the almost obligatory 'By George', switches from being a solo operative shortly after his recounted tales begin. It is in the fourth of those that we meet Hutch Hall, a man about ten years younger than Malone with whom Malone will share several dozen harrowing assignments. Hall will be a sturdy and dependable sidekick for over 100 harrowing adventures, able to assist when needed and to be witness to Malone's derring-do's.

     In the 108th adventure, Malone and Hutch were joined in the mission by legendary British aviator and adventurer, Battler Britton, a chap about whom a considerable number of terrific stories had already been written. The very next mission would see Hutch suffer a dangerous head would and be sent home to convalesce. Britton tells him, "Don't worry, Hutch. Until you're fit and about again, I'll stand in for you with Max". Britton would keep that promise for the next 22 exciting escapades.

     The adventures told after the time with Britton have Max Malone "Behind Enemy Lines" and depict the two dozen or so missions that Malone handled for the British Secret Service in Europe. These may have been before he was transferred to the Far East as an intro to the first one mentions it took place in "the early days of World War II". In these he works closely with the French Resistance getting numerous aid from a fellow names Jules.

Good lines:

- "To Malone, the impossible was a stirring challenge."

     153 adventures! That is a lot of action that Max Malone of the Secret Service saw, or at least those that we the readers were told about. If you reckon a couple of weeks to get to and from each assignment, as well as planning and the actual execution, that is six years of solid, no-rest-for-the-weary service to his country. Awe inspiring.

     So, too, is the output of Trevor Hugh, the author who penned most and probably all of the stories. Not only is that a whole lot of ideas to have to come up with and put onto paper, to do so each and every week is impressive.

     The stories are action-filled and well crafted. We do not learn much about Malone outside of his duty but then again, he obviously had no time for any personal life!