Secret Agent X-9 is well known by comic strip fans, but is largely forgotten by the public. But even fans of the comic strip only know the character by its two “golden” periods: the first penned by the author of The Maltese Falcon and drawn by the creator of Flash Gordon. Thirty years later, in 1967, Secret Agent X-9 got a makeover by Archie Goodwin and artist extraordinaire Al Williamson. The two eras are extensively and beautifully preserved in reprint collections. The years between, 1935 to 1966 and post 1980 are barely mentioned and less often seen.
Secret Agent X-9 is well known by comic strip fans, but is largely forgotten by the public. But even fans of the comic strip only know the character by its two “golden” periods: the first penned by the author of The Maltese Falcon and drawn by the creator of Flash Gordon. Thirty years later, in 1967, Secret Agent X-9 got a makeover by Archie Goodwin and artist extraordinaire Al Williamson. The two eras are extensively and beautifully preserved in reprint collections. The years between, 1935 to 1966 and post 1980 are barely mentioned and less often seen.
This article means to remedy this lapse, presenting the first comprehensive history of the comic strip and its characters ever attempted. Aong the way a number of intriguing female characters are uncovered, including several kick-ass female spies from the 1940s, a feminist villain from the 1950s, a swindler and philanthropist from 1959, a communist guerrilla sexpot from 1965, and a trio of strong women from the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Mix in an intriguing Indian G-Man named Joe Otterfoot and this strip also has interest for those interest in the history of pop culture.
Primo Pedigree: Dashiell Hammett and Alex Raymond 1934-1935
Secret Agent X-9 debuted in Hearst chain funny pages on January 22nd, 1934. It was written by Dashiell Hammett, the author of The Maltese Falcon, and drawn by Alex Raymond who would soon earn greater fame as the original artist of Flash Gordon. Flash Gordon had debuted just weeks before on January 7th. Written in then popular hard-boiled tradition of detective stories, Secret Agent X-9’s credentials as a secret agent weren’t altogether clear. Nor was the agency that X-9 worked for. Still, the quality of the writing and artwork was enough to give it an initial push.
Hammett also introduced an element of comic relief with the character of Sidney Carp (his full name was Sidney George Harper Carp, don’t you know.) Carp was markedly overweight and something of a scoundrel, offering “confidential advice and guidance at all hours” to the unsuspecting. All of this seemed rather promising until Raymond needed to surrender the strip given the time that the more popular Flash Gordon was taking to draw.
Secret Agent X-9’s Uninspired Transition 1935-1944
The next few years provided little momentum for the comic strip. Hammett had already left as writer and Charles Flanders proved a serviceable replacement as artist. X-9 was now officially said to be working for the F.B.I. whose chief looked remarkably like J. Edgar. Writers and artists came and left.
Efforts were made to ground the character of X-9 with something of a supporting cast, “Wild” Bill (no apparent last name) joining the agent as a less experienced, more eager, blonder version of X-9. Efforts at a continuing romantic interest met with little success, Enterprising reporter Joan Silton (1938-39), new secretary Belinda Reed (1940), actress Katy LaBarara (1940-41) and female agent Savannah Salem (1942) all came and went, with only Belinda proving to have a second life in the strip.
The appearance of femme fatales did inject some much needed energy into the proceedings with the Black Widow (1938), Princess Irina (1939), Agent K and “Grandma” (1940), and the uncertain allegiance of “The Lady” (1941) all adding an element of sex appeal. A movie in 1937 and a movie serial in 1945 also added some luster to the franchise. Still, Secret Agent X-9 was not as popular as King Features Syndicate’s other comic strips, Flash Gordon, The Phantom, and Mandrake the Magician.
Secret Agent X-9 Gets a Name (and Family) 1944-1960
Mel Graff, best known previously for his work on The Adventures of Patsy comic strip, had been drawing Secret Agent X-9 since 1940. When Graff also took over the writing chores, several changes in the narrative were apparent in fairly short order. First and foremost, Secret Agent X-9 was given a name. When X-9 proposed in 1944 to his long suffering secretary, Belinda Reed, she understandable needed to get some personal details. (What woman of the 1940s wanted to be dubbed Mrs. X-9 after all?) Phil Corrigan was the name Mel Graff came up, not all that dissimilar to his Phantom Magician character, Phil Cardigan, who had roamed the panels of his Patsy strip. Not likely a coincidence!
Secret Agent X-9 also began to do battle with grotesque villains inspired those iconic bad guys over at Dick Tracy. Tracy might have Pruneface, Flattop and Shoulders, but X-9 was soon encountering felons and saboteurs with names like Blue-Nose, Liver Lips, Goldplate and Grape-Eyes. While by no means as well developed as the villains in Dick Tracy, these new antagonists livened up the narrative considerably. A few even returned for subsequent mix-ups, including Corrigan’s evil doppelganger Phil Haze.
In addition to a name and an emerging rogue’s gallery, X-9 also gradually gained a family. Phil’s brother Bing joined the FBI in 1945, defying their late father’s wishes that he take up law. In 1950, Corrigan married Wilda Dorray, a successful mystery novelist after a long and troubled engagement. (Belinda had already married Phil’s brother—a long story.) By 1952,Wilda had given birth to their daughter, soon christened Philda, an unfortunate name if ever there was one.
In the meantime, Wilda’s trouble-making Aunt Mildred was introduced in 1948 to make trouble for the otherwise happy couple. Mildred’s scheming was only partially tempered when she fell for Phil’s Uncle Jumpy two years later. The rapidly expanding family was soon spending summers together at Lake Kanda, where Phil crossed swords with an unscrupulous businesswoman and feminist named Bargain Benny and the decidedly eccentric Prince Iquana.
Enter Joe Otterfoot
If you’re getting the sense that, by the fifties, Secret Agent X-9 was getting overly bogged down with domestic affairs and eccentric characters, you’d be right. That said, the 1950s narratives were saved by the introduction of a smart-talking, intelligent and, yes, hunky Mohawk Indian by the name of Joe Otterfoot. Joe even posed shirtless for an aspiring painter, displaying an admirable physique.
And marvel of all marvels, Otterfoot even had a romantic life, with a white woman no less–the painter who spent hours capturing his likeness. Interracial romance was a rarity for 1950s comic strips. In fact the romance between Otterfoot and publisher Spring Hill may be the only instance of it during the decade. While far from perfect, Joe Otterfoot was a breath of fresh air considering most Indian characters in the fifties were sexless creatures confined to operating out of the Old West.
Joe’s courage and interpersonal skills, as well as his tracking and athletic prowess, prompts the F.B.I. to enlist him for training as a government agent. Otterfoot and Spring are ultimately married and have twins, but the wife soon disappears from the narrative. Perhaps editors felt the interracial angle was too controversial. Or perhaps Spring Hill simply didn’t drive story anymore.
Otterfoot and Corrigan, on the other hand, are frequently paired on cases. Otterfoot has an irreverent manner, frequently mocking Indian stereotypes by saying things like “Ugh or word to that effect.” Otterfoot returns roughly once a year from his debut in 1952 through 1960.
(For more on the treatment of Native American characters of that era, see Indian Heroes of 1940s Comic Books and also the 1936 comic strip Big Chief Wahoo.)
There was one last intriguing character introduced by Graff in 1959. The Angel—no one knew her real name—conned corporate interests out of millions of dollars. What’s more, it looked like she was getting away with it. The Angel was known by that moniker because of her sponsoring plays and other charities with her ill gotten gains back in New York City. The intriguing Robin Hood of the arts premise wasn’t executed quite as well as it might have been, but it was still an enjoyable effort in what would prove to be Graff’s swan song on the series.
The editors at King Features who managed comic strips like X-9 and Flash Gordon must have felt a little shake-up was in order. Graff took over the penciling duties for the Sunday page of the Captain Easy comic strip. Bob Lubbers, who had ghosted on Li’l Abner and was well equipped to draw the pretty girls that inhabited such adventure strips, took over as both artist and writer.
Phil Corrigan Goes Global 1960-1967
What was King Feature Syndicate’s vision for Secret Agent X-9 and what was Lubbers’ is difficult to ferret out at this late date. The shift in storytelling, though, was as noticeable as when Graff had taken over on the strip. There was no more of the antics of Aunt Mildred, Uncle Jumpy and Prince Iquana. Wilda was fairly quickly moved back into the familiar comic strip role as dutiful wife who waited for her man to return home between adventures. Her career as a novelist was soon forgotten, and Philda was soon no longer mentioned or shown at all.
Some of the storyline conventions generally credited to Archie Goodwin in 1967 actually began in 1960 with Bob Lubbers. District chief Tom Ross began assigning X-9’s missions that were increasingly global in nature. Missions no longer blurred into each other and were now distinct adventures with no intervening continuity. Characters were one-offs and didn’t reoccur.
That said, Corrigan’s adventures seemed distinctly more modern now and drawn from headlines. Antagonists frequently hailed from Vietnam or Southeast Asia, including the exotic female guerilla leader Red Tiger. Corrigan was finally leaning more towards James Bond than gangbusting G-Man. That said, the style of storytelling was perhaps too similar to that of strips like Steve Canyon, Johnny Hazard, and Buz Sawyer which were frankly more popular and covered the same plot points more stylishly. The latest incarnation of Secret Agent X-9 did little to reverse the slow decline in the newspapers who subscribed to the comic strip.
Secret Agent Corrigan’s Golden Age 1967-1980
Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson’s version of Secret Agent Corrigan has been much lauded for its slick storytelling and cinematic artwork. The name of the comic strip was reportedly changed from X-9 to Secret Agent Corrigan in order to make it easier to promote the relaunch of the comic strip as a new effort.
Goodwin as the new writer borrowed from nearly every adventure series cliche and somehow made it all seem fresh. A FuManchu-like villain named Doctor Seven returned repeatedly with new schemes of world domination. Professional hitman Joe Ice and Millicent Murkley, grand dame of crime, bedeviled Corrigan on more than one occasion. The comic strip ventured into decidedly science fiction elements with Corrigan encountering an alien, traveling to another dimension, fighting a giant robot, and even discovering a lost valley of dinosaurs. And every single storyline was made a pleasure to take in, grounded by the beautifully detailed artwork of Al Williamson.
After a decade of being pushed to the background, Wilda Corrigan finally filed for divorce. She probably had good reasons, not that writer Goodwin allowed any of those to be mentioned in the narrative. Corrigan was portrayed as the victim here. And now that he was single, there could be more sexual tension with the beautiful women he encountered. Karla Kopak, the niece of a villain previously seen in Brick Bradford, appeared several times in this later period. But she was never given the confining role as Corrigan’s official romantic interest.
But 1979 saw Goodwin and Williamson scoring the exciting assignment of drawing a Star Wars comic strip for syndication. They soon left Secret Agent Corrigan to devote their energies to this new endeavor.
George Evans and Secret Agent Corrigan 1980-1996
After Goodwin and Williamson leave Secret Agent Corrigan, George Evans takes over as both writer and artist. His efforts are admirable, yet still lack the dynamic energy and electric visuals of his predecessors. Evans’ run on the comic strip is most notable for his introduction of two beautiful associates who will appear periodically in the narrative for the next 16 years.
Anina Kreemar is the Bureau Chief’s very attractive and feisty dark-haired niece and Corrigan’s cousin. Anina is also extremely wealthy. Jennever Brand is the spirited female agent of a rival clandestine spy agency and Corrigan’s friendly rival. She harbors an attraction to Corrigan that she would never admit. After a few appearances, Anina and Jennever meet and soon become close friends. Their appearances in the narrative are the highlight of Evans’s run.
Information is scanty on the last several years of Secret Agent Corrigan as it was featured in very few newspapers towards the end. The strip finally comes to a close on February 10th, 1996.
There are many reasons to remember Secret Agent X-9, but one never mentioned is its many strong female characters. Hopefully this article and the information that follows helps remedy that neglect and gives some leads for interested researchers to explore. I list dates of appearances both as a historical record but also a guide to those interested in exploring these narratives in several of the online newspaper archives which have proved the basis of most of my own research.
Mark Carlson-Ghost
Secret Agent X-9 Timeline
Dashiell Hammett/Alex Raymond Narratives
1934 X-9 must uncover the identity of the Top and the Mask in his first two cases.
1935 X-9 and Sidney Carp encounter the mysteries of the Fixer and the Phantom.
“Robert Storm” Narratives
1936 X-9 discovers the counterfeiting Fang is just part of a larger global crime cabal.
1937 X-9 deals with diamond smuggler Eve Nicol and enterprising reporter, Joan Silton.
1938 X-9 gains a partner, Wild Bill Munroe, and meets the deadly Black Widow.
1939 Princess Irina and her spy ring square off against X-9.
1940 X-9 undoes K and Grandma’s scheme.Belinda Reed becomes X-9’s secretary.
1941 Actress Katy LaBarbara falls for X-9. “The Lady” teams up with X-9.
1942 X-9 meets Savannah Salem, an agent for another secret government agency.
1943 Circus acrobat, Alexander the Great, escapes from prison. X-9 dates his secretary.
1944 X-9 fights Blue-Jaw, a gas ration bootlegger, and is dumped by Belinda Reed.
Mel Graff Narratives
1945 Corrigan meets Wilda and tangles with Goldplate. Brother Bing joins the F.B.I.
1946 Enter Phil Haze, Corrigan’s double. Plus, a vengeful Liver-Lips is out of prison.
1947 Grape-Eyes debuts. Haze and Liver-Lips return. Phil chooses Wilda over Linda.
1948 Joe Florida teams with Phil for the first time, helping bring down Laffless.
1949 Phil Haze’s swan song and “Music” Masters deceives an amnesiac Wilda.
1950 Joe Florida exits. Phil and Wilda finally marry. Wilda’s sister Bunny turns up.
1951 Wilda’s sister is held captive. Aunt Mildred and Uncle Jumpy fall in love.
1952 Joe Otterfoot rescues Wilda, falls for Spring Hill, and is enlisted by the F.B.I.
1953 Phil and Joe partner up. Prince Iquana brings tigers to peaceful Lake Kanda.
1954 Bargain Benny, a feminist trafficking in illegally gotten goods, makes the scene.
1955 Joe and Spring are expecting twins.Bargain Benny and Prince Iguana join forces.
1956 Out West, Corrigan encounters the diminuitive gang leader, the Elf.
1957 Both Bargain Benny and Prince Iguana appear to die, but only one is actually dead.
1958 Phil and Joe Otterfoot investigate Ilsa Kane. Aunt Mildred fades from the narrative.
1959 Prince Iguana returns a final time. Enter the Angel, swindler and philanthropist.
Bob Lubbers Narratives
1960 Mara Maranova sabotages American missile launches and ensares men’sdesires.
1961 Corrigan sinks the illegal Chinese import business of Dirk Moray.
1962 Corrigan rescues a missionary kidnapped in Vietnam.
1963 Corrigan takes out hitman, Kid Cobra.
1964 Corrigan assists the lovely Princess Sophia and stops the drug trade of Chaca.
1965 Corrigan discovers the identity of the mysterious Asian guerilla, Red Tiger.
1966 Donna Durand double crosses the Viet Cong. Corrigan contends with UFOs.
Archie Goodwin/Al Williamson Narratives
1967 Enter Millicent Murkley, matriarch of a modern crime dynasty.
1968 Corrigan dispatches Chang Wu. Princess Sophia reenters X-9’s orbit.
1969 Hired killer Joe Ice makes the scene. Millicient Murkley escapes prison.
1970 Gorstrom hunts human prey. Russian agent Tanya Greb discovers living dinosaurs.
1971 Corrigan clashes with international criminal genius, Dr. Seven, for the first time.
1972 Dr. Seven and Corbeau form Triad, a collaborative global criminal enterprise.
1973 Corbeau is killed by Joe Ice, bodyguard of Lucian Omar, now sole heir to Triad.
1974 Dr. Seven returns, using Avil Blue’s giant robot. Corrigan meets Karla Kopak.
1975 Corrigan undoes the schemes of Madame Satan and also encounters an alien.
1976 Phil notes Wilda has divorced him without any rationale.
1977 Karla Kopak returns and she and Corrigan engage in interdimensional travel.
1978 Corrigan and Karla Kopak get caught up in an interplanetary war.
1979 Corrigan and Kopak are joined by Dr. Seven to bring down Mr. Neptune.
George Evans Narratives
1980 The Chief’s extremely wealthy niece, Anina Kreemar, makes the scene.
1981 Corrigan and Anina Kreemar continue to cross paths as a feisty chemistry emerges.
1982 Corrigan meets the lovely Jennever Brand, an agent for the rival E agency.
1983 Corrigan protects the mischievous Brits, Roger and Scotty Peterkin.
1984 Anina Kreemar and Jennever Brand meet. The Peterkin boys return.
1985 Roscov, a Russian colonel heading ESP research, bedevils Corrigan.
1986 Quitus Earl King must kill Corrigan to join elite Snuff for Sport Club.
1987 Corrigan joins a good will tour and thwarts hackers.
1988 Mysterious and dangerous Konchak Khan helps Phil with Russians.
1989 Corrigan is assigned to undo the schemes of “the Master.”
1990 Corrigan must deal with the madness of a president.
1991 Corrigan attends the far from innocent World Convention of Antique Collectors.
1992 No information available.
1993 Corrigan, Anina and Jennever share a mission in Dobranitza.
1994 Corrigan, Anina and Jennever encounter exotic torch singer Black Velvet.
1995 Corrigan must deal with an irate cowboy violinist.
1996 Corrigan, Anina and their “adopted” boys march off into the sunset.
Secret Agent X-9’s Family
Wilda Dorre/Dorray. Beautiful blonde detective novelist and chronicler of the Golden Scorpion. Wilda long senses that she doesn’t have Phil’s entire heart, telling him she is willing to play second fiddle, but only for so long. By mid-1947, Phil finally chooses, and the two are engaged. Wilda’s Aunt Mildred appears in 1948 to do everything she can to undermine Wilda and Phil’s relationship. Phil and Wilda are finally married on June 19th, 1950. Wilda’s actress sister Bunny appears at her doorstep in deep trouble late that same year. Wilda gives birth to their daughter in February 1952 who is promptly named Philda. (You can blame Phil for that one, his idea.) By the sixties, Wilda gradually fades from center stage of the narrative, only occasionally sharing an adventure with her husband, her careers as a novelist, agent and even mother forgotten. In August 1976, Wilda is referred to having drawn up divorce papers without allowing Phil to make his case for the marriage. She is never seen or referred to thereafter. 11/30/44-1/45, 4/45, 10/45-2/46, 1/47, 3/47-6/48, 9/48-3/60 (regular appearances), 3/61, 8/61-9/61, 10/63-11/63, 2/65, 9/67, 5/68, 10/68, 1/69, 6/69, 9/69, 2/70, 10/70, 2/71, 5/71 … 2/75, 4/75-5/75, 4/76-7/76, (referenced 8/76).
Bing Corrigan. Phil’s younger brother who he helped through law school before Bing enlisted in the army. Once released from service, Phil assumed Bing would pursue their late father’s dream of him becoming an attorney. But Bing now had a taste for adventure and applied to become an F.B.I. agent. Phil told the Chief that he would quit the Bureau if they admitted Bing and, when they did, he followed through on his threat for a time. Soon enough, however, Bing and Phil were working together on cases. When Phil got engaged to Wilda, Bing decided to romance his brother’s former flame, Linda. When Phil next appears in 1953, he’s quit the FBI to make more money to support Linda’s increasingly expensive tastes. He takes on a questionable trucking assignment that ultimately allows him to help his brother bring down Herkimer Snade’s smuggling operation. 9/24/45-10/45, 12/45-1/46, 5/46-10/46, 6/47-9/47, 11/47, (6/49 ref.), 1/53-1/54.
Aunt Mildred. Wilda’s maternal aunt, who evinces concern for her niece. Though Mildred lacks self-awareness, Wilda knows the story of how Mildred loved Wilda’s father and lost him to Wilda’s mother, her sister. As Mildred never found love thereafter, Wilda believes her aunt acts out her resentment by trying to thwart Wilda’s romance with Phil. Even after their marriage, Aunt Mildred tries to undermine their relationship. She only slightly softens after falling in love with Phil’s uncle in 1950, and soon afterwards marrying him. Aunt Mildred and Uncle Jumpy frequently spend summers with Wilda and Phil at Phil’s camp (a collection of cabins) on Kanda Lake. 10/1/48-12/48, 3/49-5/49, 9/49-1/50, 7/50-9/50, 2/51, 8/51-10/51, 2/52-5/52, 9/52, 1/53-4/53, 3/54, 7/54-9/54, 10/55, 1/56, 9/58.
Uncle Jumpy. Phil’s horse-faced uncle and retired police officer who ends up falling for and marrying Wilda’s Aunt Mildred. 7/50-9/50, 8/51-10/51, 9/52, 7/54-9/54, 1/56, 9/58.
Bunny Dorray. Wilda’s younger sister and a television star, her life was threatened because of her status as a potential witness in a murder trial that would implicate Bug-Face Boag. Wilda impersonates her for a time to keep her safe. After a plane crash taking her to safety, Bunny is nursed back to health and held captive (after a fashion) by an unstable, if handsome physician named Dr. Martir. Bunny is attractive and has curly red hair. 12/50-3/51.
Philda Corrigan. Phil and Wilda’s daughter, born in February 1952 and seen occasionally thereafter until 1961. Philda is a good-humored little girl with blonde hair like her mother. Philda’s existence is not mentioned in the narrative thereafter.
Secret Agent X-9’s Friends and Allies
Sidney George Harper Carp. An endearing and markedly rotund rogue who provides “confidential advice and guidance at all hours” to individuals in need and money to burn. X-9 encounters him on his first recorded case and he operates as X-9’s “klinging” companion and unofficial assistant in several cases thereafter. 5/34-9/34, 3/35-3/35, 5/35-1/36.
The Chief. Head of the F.B.I., who send telegrams initialed J.E.H. and who increasingly resmembed J. Edgar Hoover in the 19402. It is only in the 1980s that the Chief’s name, Oliver Chadwick, is officially given in the narrative. The Chief, it turns out, comes from a wealthy family, the business end of the family enterprise handled by his niece Anina Kreemar. 4/35 and at the beginning of most case assignments thereafter.
F-21. A rather non-descript and rather sober fellow agent who assists X-9 on several cases in 1936 and 1937.
Joan Silton. Enterprising investigative reporter who shares two adventures with X-9. In the second, she’s kidnapped by a gangster named Morey because she’s established enough dirt on him to put him away. 9/37-2/38.
“Wild” Bill. Initially portrayed as a middle-aged man, he is soon established as a young, well built blond-haired man who is both more eager, impatient and easily swayed by women than X-9. Wild Bill’s initial loyalty to X-9 is due to his brother having been rescued by the agent. Wild Bill is first X-9’s driver, but soon becomes his full-fledged associate. He appears only sparodically after 1942, having become increasingly competent and capable of independent missions. 1/17/38-2/38, 4/15/38, 8/38-3/42, 11/42, 3/43-8/43, 1/44-3/44.
Belinda “Linda” Reed. F.B.I. administrative assistant and faithful Gal Friday to X-9, referred to as Linda from 1944 on. Belinda also goes undercover on rare occasions in 1943. Linda and Phil share a very slow burning romance, with as many as six months between dinner dates early on. X-9 proposes to Linda between cases in August 1944 and for the first time reveals his real name to her. The two plan to be married in Hawaii after his next case is over. Somewhat inexplicably, however, Phil receives a wire from Linda in December in which she declares “Our marriage is off. All a mistake” without any further explanation. The mysterious manner of the break-up proves an obstacle to Phil’s growing attraction to Wilda Dorre. In 1947, Phil hears from Linda who claims to married with a son, though it turns out she is caring for the child of her criminal brother, “Hands” Brownwell. When Phil becomes engaged to Wilda, his brother Bing decides to romance Linda, and big bro is none too happy about it. Within months, Linda and Bing are married in November that same year. Linda is only seen one more time, pregnant and wrongly worried that Bing is having an affair. Wilda mistakes Phil’s attentiveness to his old flame and lingering attraction and leaves the scene, gets in a car accident and develops amnesia. In 1953, Bing explains that he quit the FBI to try and pay for Linda’s increasingly expensive tastes. 8/6/40-9/40, 12/40, 3/43-10/43, 4/44, 8/44, 11/44-12/44, 6/47-9/47, 11/47, 5/49-6/49, (referenced 2/53).
Katy LaBarbara. Beautiful actress who is pursued by enemies of America in an attempt to influence her father to reveal information about a secret bomb. These efforts are headed by a man named Fitz-Johns, who is initially thought to be a friend. In an extended narrative, Katy falls in love with X-9, while X-9 declares no romantic entanglements within a week of rescuing Katy and her father. 12/40-5/17/41.
“The Lady.” Attractive blonde double agent known only as “The Lady” assists X-9 in an espionage case. Her allegiance is in doubt for much of their time together. Prior to their association, X-9 had only heard rumors of the notorious figure having been exectuted in the Balkans for espionage. 5/19/41-10/11/41.
Savannah Salem. Daughter of a former U.S. ambassador, Salem works under Colonel “M”, the head of a secret American counter-espionage agency. Salem and X-9, both undercover, seek to bring down Prince Caesar, supposedly in exile but actually a foreign sleeper agent. When X-9 thinks Salem is asleep, he declares, “I think you’re the cleverest, bravest, sweetest girl I ever met.” 4/42-8/42, 11/42-12/42.
Joe Florida. F.B.I. agent from the Southern Bureau. Joe has something of a drawl and a more relaxed style of investigation than Phil, who hails from California it turns out. The two men work together and in their final case together it looks as if he may be relocating to the same office as Corrigan. A permanent partnership, however, never occurs. 7/48-9/48, 12/48-1/49,12/49-4/50, 10/50-12/50.
Joe Otterfoot. Self-described “hook-nosed Mohawk injun,” Otterfoot initially pretends to be an Indian ghost when he saves Wilda from a barracuda attack on Kanda Lake. Soon afterwards, he is posing shirtless—showing off notable abs—for aspiring painter Spring Hill, who just happens to be Wilda’s book publisher. Joe’s courage and interpersonal skills, as well as his tracking and athletic prowess, prompts the F.B.I. to enlist him for training as a government agent. Otterfoot and Spring fall in love, but only after Joe realizes that Wilda is already taken. The two are married and have twins, though Spring is little seen in subsequent years. Otterfoot and Corrigan, on the other hand, are frequently paired on cases. Otterfoot has an irreverent manner, frequently mocking Indian stereotypes by saying things like “Ugh or word to that effect.” 9/25/52-10/52, 12/52-5/53, 8/53-1/54, 12/54-8/55, 9/56-10/56, 1/58-2/58, 8/58-9/58, 5/59, 2/60-3/60.
Spring Hill. Spring Hill is Wilda’s book publisher. She is also an aspiring painter who falls in love with Joe Otterfoot when he sits for her. The two are ultimately married and she gives birth to twins, though these events are not shown in the narrative. 12/52-1/53, 4/53-5/53.
Tom Ross. F.B.I. District Chief who often assigns cases to Corrigan. 3/60, others, 2/67, 4/67, 7/67, 9/67, 12/67, 2/68, 5/68, 7/68, 1/69, 6/69, 11/69, 2/70, 5/70, 8/70, 10/70, 8/71, 10/71, 1/72…
Princess Sophia. Future queen of the small European nation of Alpsberg When Corrigan next encounters Princess Sophia he must thwart Baron Zorloff’s scheme to prevent her coronation and force her abdication. 6/64-9/64, 11/68-1/69.
LuShan. A loyal (and shapely) disciple of Dr. Seven, LuShan initially served her master by instructing Prince Jamal of Kalipur in the principles of Universal Meditation. A year later, she is betraying Seven and assisting Corrigan in his defeat. 2/71-4/71, 1/72-4/72.
Karla Kopak. A doctoral level scientist, Kopak is an attractive blonde-haired companion to Corrigan on adventures that transcend the typical limits of contemporary science. She is also the niece of famed scientist, Kalla Kopak, an associate of Brick Bradford’s in the 1930s and 1949s. In 1977, along with her associate Professor Questor, she is exploring interdimensional travel. In 1978, they investigate UFOs and are plunged into an interplanetary conflict. In their final shared adventure, Kopak and Corrigan gain a surprising ally, Doctor Seven, against the machinations of Mr. Neptune. No romance is ever suggested between the two, though each clearly enjoys the other’s company. 11/74-2/75, 2/77-6/77, 3/78-7/78, 2/79, 11/79-2/80.
Anina Kreemar. The Chief’s very attractive and feisty dark-haired niece and Corrigan’s cousin, Anina is the head of Kreemar, Inc. Anina is extremely wealthy. 8/80-10/80, 2/81-5/81, 9/91-12/81, 4/82, x/83-x/83 , 3/84, 5/84-6/84, 11/84-3/85, 6/85-7/85, 2/86-5/86, others., x/93-x/93, 1/94-5/94, x/xx-2/10/96.
Jennever Brand. A spirited female agent of the clandestine “other agency” and Corrigan’s friendly rival. She harbors an attraction to Corrigan that she would never admit. The two first meet in the Dr. Tott Caper. She and Corrigan team up again in 1986 to rescue a kidnapped Anina Kreemar. 9/82-1/83, 3/84, 5/84-6/84, 3/85-7/85, 2/86-5/86, others, x/93-x/93, 1/94-5/94.
Roger and Scotty Peterkin. Anina and Phil’s “kids”, a mischievious pair of English boys they first encountered in the Stealth Plane Caper. x/83-x/83, 11/84-2/85, others, x/xx-2/10/96.
Big Jim. Bearded fellow whom Corrigan befriended and who looks after his property during his long absences. This service almost resulted in his death when Quitus Earl King attempts to kill Corrigan with a bomb. 1/86-2/86, others.
Secret Agent X-9’s Notable Adversaries
Adrienne Widdoe. Beautiful brunette who employs slave labor (criminals on the run whom she cons out of their ill-gotten gains and uses as work horses) to achieve maximal profit from the Caribbean gold mines she inherited from her honest father. She is assisted by Captain Drumm, who is enamored of the cold-hearted Widdoe. 4/67-6/67.
Alexander the Great. Convicted murderer and “great former circus daredevil,” the man known as Alexander the Great effects a daring prison break to escape his upcoming execution. His acrobatic skills make him an especially dangerous enemy. He is assisted by his lovely wife, Mascara, who X-9 helps reform after her husband’s death. 10/43-3/44.
The Angel. Beautiful swindler with short blond hair, the Angel earned her nickname—amongst her many aliases—for contributing generously to her pet charities, including funding many New York plays. After a multi-million dollar stock swindle, Corrigan tracks her down in India. 11/16/59-1/21/60.
Avil Blue. Demented scientist who in 1938 stole the giant robot creation of Kalla Kopak and reprogrammed it into an instrument of mass destruction and potential extortion on a national scle. He scheme was undone by Kopak and his associate, Brick Bradford (see Brick Bradford). Decades later, Blue is abducted by Doctor Seven who uses hypnosis to make Blue reveal secrets as to robot’s undersea resting place. Seven activates the robot to reexecute Blue’s original global extortion scheme. Blue frees Corrigan to defeat Seven. With that apparently accomplished, Blue betrays Corrigan in an effort to regain control of his robot. The two villains are last seen within the robot plunging into the depths of the Sangre Trench. 11/74-2/75.
Bargain Benny. Early feminist businesswoman who runs Global Service, a clandestine operation which fences stolen goods on a massive, international scale. Benny, given name Bennita, is an attractive dark-haired woman with her hair clipped short. When a prospective business partner is surprised to discover that she’s a woman, Benny sets him straight on 1/5/55 in no uncertain terms. “Don’t think for a moment you can take advantage of the gender. I drive a hard bargain. The age of male supremacy in the world’s markets is past. A woman will one day be president of the United States.” Corrigan succeeds in bringing down Benny’s Global Service organization. Despite her feminist bona fides, Benny isn’t beyond using her looks to her advantage, in 1955 seducing a gullible Prince Iguana into assisting her revenge scheme against Corrigan and turning over his ownership of an import business, Any Service, Inc., similar to her old one. The two are ultimately married. However, Benny tires of the portly Iguana and by 1957 has started an affair with a decidedly more virile Dave North who is the general manager of Any Service. Prince Iguana soon rightly fears for his life. When it suits her purpose, Benny also attempts to kill North and successfully kills her attorney when he attempts to horn in on her profits. In a moment of genuine remorse, Benny confesses her crimes in a letter just before she is killed in an auto accident. 12/54-4/55, 8/55-10/55, 12/56-2/57, 4/57, 6/57.
“Beady” Brusst. Defector. 3/84-6/84.
The Black Widow. Also known as Madam Noir. 8/38-10/38.
Blue-Jaw. Last name, Kazonni, a physically adept killer and former racketeer who has always managed to escape conviction. He comes to the attention of the F.B.I. as a draft dodger and a gas ration bootlegger. Corrigan infilitrates his gang and is unexpectedly knocked to the ground by Blue-Jaw, who declares, “I don’t want anyone working for me I can’t lick.” The origin of his nickname isn’t detailed, though it is worth noting “blue jaw” was once a racial slur for an African American male. In later appearances 4/44-8/44.
Corbeau. One of three founding members of Triad, an international crime cartel. With Dr. Seven presumed dead as 1973 draws to a close, an unseen power struggle for control of Triad results in Corbeau being ousted by Lucian Omar. Corbeau then enlists Corrigan’s help in bringing Triad down. In the process, however, Corbeau is killed by Omar’s bodyguard, Joe Ice. 1/72-4/72, 7/72-9/72, 11/73-12/73.
Doctor Seven. When he first appears in the narrative, Dr. Seven leads a mysterious cult called Universal Meditation, a front for his wide-ranging criminal endeavors. Based in East Asia, Dr. Seven sports long fingernails and a FuManchu mustache. In 1972, with Corbeau and an American named Breck Buxton, Seven forms an international criminal collaborative called Triad. Later that same year, Buxton is replaced by Lucian Omar. In 1973, after an encounter with Corrigan, Dr. Seven is presumed dead and a power struggle emerges over control of Triad. But in late 1974, Dr. Seven reappears on the scene, as healthy and devious as ever, but bitter over “the once-mighty criminal empire lost when my incompetent associals clashed” with Corrigan. 2/22/71-4/71, 1/72-4/72, 7/72-9/72, 2/73-5/73, 11/74-2/75, 4/79-6/79, 11/79-1/80, (7/80 unseen but behind the scenes).
Dreamer. Nickname for an innovative gang leader who engineers the hijacking of a rail car. Dreamer is assisted by his hired muscle, a unibrowed fellow going by the name of the Mandrill. 6/45-9/45.
Egg-Head. Bald and portly criminal seeking a diamond he clipped to the tail of a trout in an unlikely scheme to keep the foreign gem hidden. 10/49-11/49.
The Elf. Dimunitive gangster who operates out West. He sports a holster gun on either hip and a broad-brimmed black cowboy hat. 6/56-9/56.
Goldplate. Eccentric gangster who, when horse racing is deemed illegal, starts a gambling operation around projections of when trains will arrive at central station. Leaving nothing to chance, Goldplate hires operatives to pull emergency brakes to insure the trains arrive at a time most lucrative to him. When one girl catches on and wants a cut of the action, Goldplate kills her. The bald Goldplate is also delusional. He believes he still has a full head of hair and is constantly brushing his bald head and having his underlings order more hair cream. 4/45-5/45.
Grape-Eyes. A petty racketeer with bulging eyes due to his Tourette’s syndrome. “Hands” Brownwell saw to his escape from jail due to his acute intelligence. Grape-Eyes always tried to wear round sun glasses to cover us his disability. Hands was soon killed the treacherous Grape-Eyes in the latter’s attempt to take over his territory by framing a third party rival. Grape-Eye’s scheme is uncovered by Corrigan and he is soon on the run. Treacherous to the end, Grape-Eyes breaks a leg while trying to escape. In acute pain, he calls on Corrigan for help but then tries to shoot the agent for his trouble. Corrigan, the better shot, manages to kill Grape-Eyes in the exchange. 1/47-8/47.
“Hands” Brownwell. Hands is a power broker, the owner of the lucrative Orchid Club with his “hands” into side rackets and politics. Hands typically wears gloves so no fingerprints will be left to reveal he was “Miff” Boole, a convicted killer, in a previous life. When he first appears in the narrative it appears that Hands is married to Belinda Dean, but it is soon revealed that Linda is his sister who is there to take care of his son, whom she convinced her brother to name Phil. Hands is ultimately killed by Grape-Eyes, a criminal who he ironically so to his jailbreak to join his operation due to his exceptional craftiness. Linda inherits the Orchid Club after Hands’s death. 2/47-3/47.
Herkimer Snade. Ensnares Phil’s younger brother Bing in an illicit trucking operation that involves smuggling in the service of communist powers. Shade hopes to become the transportation commissar of America. 2/53-4/53.
Joe Ice. Deadly American hitman hired by a Red Chinese operative named Madame Lei to eliminate Corrigan. Ice subsequently works for Dr. Seven’s Triad in 1972, serves as Lucian Omar’s bodyguard in the winter of 1973/1974, and is employed by Dr. Seven in 1975. Ice always wears sun-glasses and is as cold-blooded as his name would imply. 1/69-3/69, 6/72-9/72, 12/73-1/74, 11/74-2/75.
K and “Grandma.” K (her codename) and “Grandma” are female saboteurs working in tandem. K is a killer, beautiful with dark hair and a cruel expression. Grandma appears innocent but is clever and dangerous, more than willing to use a gun. Both meet accidental deaths while pursued by Corrigan. 6/3/40-8/40.
Kid Cobra. Venal young, wavy-haired hitman hired by Las Vegas casino owner Danny Domino to take out the key witness in his upcoming trial. 5/63-7/63.
Kreemar. P.A. Kreemar, Anina’s father, a fiercely ambitious and arrogant businessman whose influence reaches national and global proportions. In 1981, Kreemar attempts to frame and ultimately kill Corrigan for interfering with one of his businesses, all the while making Anina believe he as trying to clear Corrigan’s name. 8/80, 2/81-5/81, others.
Kroi. During the Chief’s absence in 1981, the scheming Kroi serves as acting director and Corrigan’s boss. In June 1984, he is transferred to head up defector Beady Brusst’s E Agency, where he will need to command Corrigan’s feisty female counterpart, Jennever Brand. 2/81-5/81, 3/84-6/84.
Laffless. Former gang leader who has romanced the wife of one of his men, the aptly named Tom Pathettic, while he was in prison. Laffless is very intent, and entirely without mirth, on learning where Tom, who is trying to go straight, hid the money from their last bank robbery. 7/48-9/48.
Little Corporal. Short, cigar smoking racketeer who also serves as a theatrical producer. 7/43-9/43.
Liver-Lips. Gangster with a wide mouth and especially prominent lips. When an associate asks if he’d actually kill the two people he’s holding captive in cold blood, Liver-Lips sarcastically replies, “What do you want me to do, warm it up first?” His violent, thuggish behavior is in marked contrast for his love of his pink silk Oriental pajamas. 7/46-12/46, 6/47-12/47.
Lucian Omar. Omar replaces Breck Buxton as the third member of Triad, joining Dr. Seven and Corbeau as a leader of the global crime syndicate. When Dr. Seven is presumed dead, Omar wrests control of the organization from Corbeau in 1973. Omar retains Joe Ice as his personal bodyguard to retain control. 7/72-9/72, 11/74-2/75.
LuShan. An exceptually beautiful disciple of Dr. Seven’s who instructs unknowing pawns in the ways of Seven’s Univerisal Meditation. When she falls for Corrigan, LuShan’s ambivalence contributes to the agent’s success in undoing Seven’s scheme. When LuShan reappears in America in 1972, she admits Dr. Seven blames her for his defeat and wants to see her dead. LuShan assists Corrigan in trying to undo Seven’s latest scheme, an international crime cartel. 2/16/71-4/71, 1/72-4/72
Madame Lei. Red Chinese agent of the same organization that sponsored another operative, Chang Wu, and his unsuccessful struggle with Corrigan in 1968. A lovely and thoughtful strategist, Madame Lei hires a hitman named Joe Ice to take Corrigan out. Their failure leaves Lei’s fate in the hands of her unhappy superiors. 1/69-3/69. .
Madame Satan. Mistress of the cultish Church of Darkness and various voodoo practices which depend on the superstitious nature of others, the darkly beautiful Satan is aided by her turbaned associate, Asmodeus. 2/75-5/75.
Mara Maranova. Elegant dark-haired American who joins forces with the Russian Captain Smirkov to sabotage a series of U.S. missile launches. Both Smirkov and X-9 are taken by her beauty. Maranova apparently drowns after an explosion at sea thought her body was never found. 3/60-5/60.
Millicent Murkley. Stout older woman who favors sun glasses, pearls, cigarette holders, hats, capes and a cane she is more than willing to use as a weapon. Assisted by her sons, the brilliant Willard (adept at brainwashing), the brutal Tobin and the powerfully built Eustis. Her family used to be conventional criminals, but Mr. Murkley’s “lack of vision” contributed to his demise. Now the family traffics in espionage and sabotage. In her second struggle against Corrigan, Murkley’s beautiful daughter Amanda is introduced, ultimately turning against her mother. 9/67-12/67, 3/69-6/69.
Mr. Magnus. Sun-glasses wearing criminal who kidnaps scientists for sale to foreign powers. 1/67-4/67.
Mr. Neptune. Unhinged genius who has developed an underwater realm. He is interested in gathering together scientists of exceptional abilities such as Doctor Seven and Karla Kopak to assist in creating a new world order after he succeeds in destroying life on the surface of the planet with a plot of nuclear destruction. Neptune is stout with a thick black beard. 12/79-1/80.
Moray. Dirk Moray is a Hawaii-based smuggler dealing in Red Chinese antiquities. He is assisted in this endeavor by a Chinese, Kay Chong. 8/61-11/61.
“Music” Masters. Takes advantage of an amnesic Wilda Dorray who believes she is a night club singer, actually a character from one of her novels. 5/49-9/49.
Phil Haze. Phil Corrigan lookalike, as crooked as Corrigan is straight. Haze appears three times in the narrative, Haze intentionally doubling as Corrigan in their subsequent encounters. The possibility that Haze might be Corrigan’s identical twin is never explored. 4/46-6/46, 10/47-12/47, 3/49-5/49.
Prince Iguana. Exiled prince of Abysmalstan, Iguana is a charming if very eccentric opportunist whose enthusiasm for exotic animals often endangers those around him. Spending summers at his Lake Kanda retreat, “Iggy” regularly encounters Phil and Wilda who also vacation there. In his first summer at Lake Kanda, in 1953, Iguana let a tiger loose in the woods around the lake. In 1954, Iguana released alligators in a channel adjoining the lake which resulted in the death of Moody Judy. Iguana turnsd the death to his advantage, however, taking over Judy’s questionable business interest, Any Service, Inc. In 1955, Bargain Benny seduces the Prince into marriage, and they run Any Service together. By 1957, Benny has tired of her husband and Iggy fears she and her new lover intend to kill him. Benny fakes his own death, returning later that year to struggle with his cousin, Ahaz Yandi, over possession of the Abysmalstan crown jewels, which Iggy has hidden in the lake. In 1959, Prince Iguana asks for Corrigan’s help in preventing the communists who have taken over his country from finding the location of a diamond mine that Iggy worked years before. While Iguana frequently skirts the edges of lawful behavior, he is never arrested and Corrigan comes to consider him a friend.
Princess Irena. Beautiful blonde leader of a spy ring undone by Corrigan. She attempted to frame a woman named Lola for a murder she committed. 5/39-7/39.
Quitus Earl King. Wealthy businessman and outspoken if insincere environmentalist, King seeks to join the S.F.S., which the public thinks stands for the altruistic Servants for Society, but which actually stands for Snuff for Sport. Would be members must kill an individual picked at random, with the promise that the “club of unimpeachable citizens provide the ‘hunter’s’ alibi… at a price, a very high price!” Unfortunately for him, King just happens to pick Phil Corrigan as his target. Once he realizes who he’s dealing with, King kidnaps his business rival, Anina Kreemar. 1/86-5/86.
Roscov. Russian colonel, also known as the Beast, a communist office in charge of ESP research. Roscov kidnapped Jennever Brand in Poland while on a mission. He was aided in his efforts by his brother, a sleeper agent in the State Department named Courtney Frost. 1/85-7/85.
“Wrinkles” Reynard. Gangster whose face is never shown in the narrative. 1/54-2/54.
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