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SPYBOY

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Full Name: Alex Fleming
Nationality: American
Organization: S.H.I.R.T.S.
Occupation Agent

Creator: Peter David
Time Span: 2001 - 2005

ABOUT THE SERIES

SpyBoy is an agent with S.H.I.R.T.S.

Alex Fleming is an average, ever-so-ordinary teenage boy trying to survive high school.

First, a brief explanation of the organization for which SpyBoy is an operative. That acronym stands for Secret Headquarters International Reconnaissance, Tactics, and Spies. It seems to exist largely to counter the villainous activity of its main rival, S.K.I.N.S, of the Supreme Killing Institute. SpyBoy will also have other opponents but S.K.I.N.S. is by far the main attraction.

Back on SpyBoy and Fleming, the two individuals could not be any more different since the latter is as shy and stumbling and inept around girls and stress as one might fear being while the former is an ultra-cool, super-self-assured operative who not only excels at handling danger and excitement, he craves it. The interesting thing about this dichotomy is that the two personalities reside in the same physical body; SpyBoy is Alex Fleming and knows it while Alex Fleming has no clue about SpyBoy. One blurb for the first adventure put it very nicely with "What if you were an international super spy? What if you had the latest technology at your fingertips? What if you had martial-arts training to hone your mind and body into the perfect living weapon? What if you didn't know it? But what if others did?"

The premise for the action in that first adventure is summed with: "High school student Alex Fleming isn't your typical teenager. Lately, in fact, his life has been typically terrible since a gang of drug-dealing bullies began targeting him for a rash of beatings and general humiliation. But everyone - even shy, young Alex - has a limit, and when Alex's limits are tested, some rather interesting abilities begin to surface. When did Alex perfect high-level martial arts moves? Where di he get all that hot, bizarre technology that's been saving his butt? And why on earth are so many people calling him 'SpyBoy'?! Alex is just beginning to get a grip on his life as a normal American teenager; what does he do now that he's also an international super spy with a mysterious past, a foxy sidekick named Bombshell, and a workload that would make James Bond cry like a baby?" [Okay, that last part was a bit harsh!]

Another very interesting and enjoyable statement ask the question "What IS it about SpyBoy that's so darn cool? The slick costume? The cutting-edge motorcycle? The stylin' goggles? Yes, yes, and yes! But that's not all! He's the only teen that could break into Fort Knox, yet fail his math test. He's "man" enough to take on a gang of thugs armed to teeth without breaking a sweat, yet shy enough that he'd trip over a raisin when he asks a girl to the prom. While SpyBoy is a dashing -- and deadly, if need be -- secret agent, Alex Fleming, his alter ego, has about as much street cred as your grandmother."

The Bombshell mentioned is a female agent who so definitely deserves her own set of tales as does another major female player who comes onto the scene after a bit, the incredible Japanese equivalent of SpyBoy called SpyGirl.

Good Lines:
- Said by a bad guy going up against SpyBoy, "We're drug dealers! We get to shoot people in the back! It's one of the perks!"

COMIC BOOKS, GRAPHIC NOVELS, AND MANGA

Number of Stories:9
First Appearance:2001
Last Appearance:2005

1 The Deadly Gourmet Affair The Deadly Gourmet Affair
Published by Dark Horse
Contributors: Peter David (writer), Pop Mhan (pencils), Norman Lee (inks), Guy Major (colors), Clem Robins (letters)
Copyright: 2001

A graphic novel combining SpyBoy #1-#3, Oct-Dec 1999.
"High school student Alex Fleming's life is the standard teenage mix of homework, dating anxiety, and getting his face shoved in the toilet by school bullies until one day when his dormant abilities begin to surface as he is drawn into a hidden world of mystery, intrigue, and bizarre villainy. Everybody's out to get SpyBoy...but Alex Fleming doesn't know why!"

2 Trial and Terror Trial and Terror
Published by Dark Horse
Contributors: Peter David (writer), Pop Mhan (pencils), Norman Lee (inks), Guy Major (colors), Clem Robins (letters)
Copyright: 2001

A graphic novel combining SpyBoy #4-#6, Jan-Mar 2000.
"While teenager-turned-superspy Alex Fleming learns more about his hidden past and the battling secret organizations -- S.H.I.R.T.S. and S.K.I.N.S. -- responsible for his dual existence, Alex/SpyBoy winds up on the deadly docket of the criminal justice duo of Judge and Jury. Will SpyBoy get the mandatory minimum -- death? And why is the eye-popping assassin Barbie Q working undercover at Alex's school? And who is she working for, the evil and exquisite Gila, mastermind of S.K.I.N.S., or the mysterious femme fatale Madam Imadam? Every guy wants to be a babe magnet, but this may not be what Alex had in mind!

3 Bet Your Life Bet Your Life
Published by Dark Horse
Contributors: Peter David (writer), Pop Mhan (pencils), Norman Lee (inks), Guy Major (colors), Clem Robins (letters)
Copyright: 2001

A graphic novel combining SpyBoy #7-#9, Apr-Jun 2000.
"A deadly nerve gas and a plot against the United Nations puts SpyBoy and Bombshell hot on the trail of the insidious Madam Imadam, head of the international Palindrome terrorist organization! Their search leads them to the exotic city of Marispan, where Butch is on vacation with his mother, Barbie Q is doublecrossed and fights for her life against a diminutive, cyborg samurai, secrets about Alex's mother come from an unexpected source, and Sean Fleming gets lucky (sort of). A mysterious city and a casino filled with spies and danger...what more could a SpyFan ask for?"

4 Undercover, Underwear Undercover, Underwear
Published by Dark Horse
Contributors: Peter David (writer), Pop Mhan (pencils), Norman Lee (inks), Guy Major (colors), Clem Robins (letters)
Copyright: 2001

A graphic novel combining SpyBoy #10-#12, Jul-Sep 2000.
"Flying high above ground, he faces a death-defying plummet with bad guys hot on his tail, and nothing but a handful of new super-spy gadgets to save him. If he survives, he'll have his hands full with the shark-like Slackjaw. So where the dickens is his cute-but-deadly partner, Bombshell? She's fighting for her own life in an action-fueled chase through the desert sands of the Middle East. Then it's off to the hyper-sensory streets of Tokyo and the debut of Japan's own teen spy...SpyGirl! All of Bombshell's incendiary expertise still may not be a match for this cunning young martial arts master!"

5 Spy-School Confidential Spy-School Confidential
Published by Dark Horse
Contributors: Peter David (writer), Pop Mhan (pencils), Norman Lee (inks), Guy Major (colors), Clem Robins (letters)
Copyright: 2002

A graphic novel combining SpyBoy #14-17, Nov. 2000 - May 2001.
As Alex Fleming tries to change his image by running for class president, his alter-ego SpyBoy joins with "SpyGirl and spy-wanna-be Butch [to take] on the roughest, toughest hombre ever to bathe in the Rio Grande - Hanging Chad!"

6 The M.A.N.G.A. Affair The M.A.N.G.A. Affair
Published by Dark Horse
Contributors: Peter David (writer), Pop Mhan (pencils), Norman Lee (inks), Guy Major (colors), Clem Robins (letters)
Copyright: 2003

A graphic novel combining SpyBoy #13.1-#13.3, Apr, May, Aug 2003.
"When Japan's premiere spy is both the nation's leading comedienne and an expert secret agent, it's often tricky to sneak away to spoil the latest evil villain's global plot...but SpyGirl does her best! The beautiful Yukio, a.k.a. SpyGirl, finds an old photograph on the set of her television show that throws her into a complete frenzy. Why was she photographed with Japan's Minister of Defense? More importantly, why doesn't she remember any of it? And what does SpyBoy have to do with it?"

7 Final Exam Final Exam
Published by Dark Horse
Contributors: Peter David (writer), Pop Mhan (pencils), Norman Lee (inks), Dan Jackson (colors), Michael David Thomas (letters)
Copyright: 2005

A graphic novel combining SpyBoy Final Exam mini-series, May-Aug, 2004.
"This is it, boys and girls! Alex Fleming, a.k.a. SpyBoy, comes face to face with his greatest challenges ever-his senior prom, his graduation from high school, and the long-awaited revelation of the truth about his mother! Tossed into this already volatile mix is SpyGuy, a deadly new villain who cleverly disguises himself as a substitute teacher! In this collection, Alex's world is turned upside down when the local police discover his hidden stash of weapons and conclude that he's a terrorist. Will SpyBoy clear his name and survive graduation day, or will he be blown to SpyBits?"

MY COMMENTS

When I was a young teenager, I kinda sorta imagined a life like SpyBoy has; meek and mild kid who gets picked on a fair amount but who can secretly, albeit unknowingly, have the ability to kick butt! Of course, over the passage of many decades, that silliness has ... well, pretty much stuck around.

Enough that I had a blast reading these stories. And really appreciated whenever Bombshell made an appearance. I also really like SpyGirl. As for SpyBoy himself, yeah, he's okay, too. I mean, in my fantasy, I would have ... alright, probably not.

Fun pure escapist entertainment. I like it!

GRADE

My Grade: B

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