"Didn't have you down as a comic book man, Steed...."

I'VE STARTED WATCHING THESE GLORIOUS THINGS!!!!!! THEY'RE FREAKIN' BRILLIANT!!!!!! Now I just need to find a way to get them that isn't too taxing on my wallet. Wait... what's that? A new set of the comic adaptations came out? ALONG WITH A REPRINT OF THE COMICS?!?! Excuse me for a moment, me luvvies....

Yep, they just as brilliant as last time!

THE AVENGERS: THE COMIC STRIP ADAPTATIONS
STEED AND MRS PEEL: VOLUME 2

By Jack Ryan

BEWARE: THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK

To say that the Avengers completely fit into the world of comics very easily, is both a true and confusing statement. True, as Agents Steed and Peel's adventures have existed in this medium since the sixties and show no sign of dying, even with a recent crossover with Adam West's Batman! And confusing because I guarantee you, mention the words "Avengers" and "comics" together in the same sentence and someone will immediately think of the other crowd. So, after April's critically successful first set, how did the second one fair? It's the Avengers, what do you think?

+++URGENT - MESSAGE BEGINS+++
THIS IS AN URGENT MESSAGE FOR MINISTRY AGENT JOHN STEED.
MOTHER, MINISTRY HEAD, HAS REQUESTED YOUR EXPERTISE AND ASSISTANCE WITH CERTAIN OPEN CASES ONCE AGAIN. CASES THAT WILL REQUIRE AN AGENT OF SUCH CALIBRE, DEDICATION, DETERMINATION AND EXPERTISE. AS WE WERE UNABLE TO CONTACT MR DRAKE AT HIS NATO OFFICE, YOU WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE MATTERS. CALAMITOUS CHILDREN, AGRARIAN ANIMALS, HEINOUS HATTERS AND A SINISTER SEXTET OF DESTRUCTIVE DEVIANTS ARE THE VILLAINS YOU AND YOUR ACCOMPLICE, DR EMMA PEEL, WILL FACE TO SECURE THE FUTURE OF NOT ONLY BRITAIN, BUT THE WORLD.
ALL I CAN SAY STILL, ONCE AGAIN, IS, GOOD LUCK, STEED AND MRS PEEL.
+++MESSAGE ENDS+++

Closing off The Avenger's 55th Anniversary year, and preparing anticipation for Big Finish's final set of Series 1 adaptations, this second set evokes the same tense drama and utter British quirkiness of both the first set and the original series. Every plot is a mix of realism and utter ridiculousness and that's what makes every last one memorable. The first story, Robert Kahn and Tom Salinsky's Playtime Is Over, shows Steed and Peel battle a group of dastardly thieving children. But what is the secret behind this group of youthful yobbos? Then, in Paul Morris and Simon Barnard's The Antagoniser, our detective duo discovers a series of bizarre murders of noted scientists. But as they investigate it, they discover an old TV show holds the key, as do some rather irate creatures. Matt Fitton's The Mad Hatter, then has the agents assigned to care for the visiting Princess Helga of Varania. But when they stop an assassination attempt, they're drawn toward an odd hat maker with a penchant for explosives. Finally, in John Dorney's The Secret Six, Steed and Peel are invited to a fancy dress party. The only problem is, so have the six most dangerous criminals in the world. And they want to play a game. A game where the losers end up dead... Every story is brilliantly adapted and oozes pure delight from every word. The set's finale is a particularly good one to listen to, as it serves as a nice send off (though hopefully, there'll be more from Steed and Peel) and it's written by John Dorney. You all already know how high I praise that man's talents.

And bringing such scripts to life is a large and star studded cast. With the likes of  Hollyoaks' Lizzie Roper, Mr. Turner's Michael Keane, Big Finish mainstay John Banks, Dr. Watson himself Richard Earl, Red Dwarf's Maggie Service, video game voice actor Andrew Wincott, Davros himself Terry Molloy, plus the like of Michael Lumsden, Eve Webster, Paul Chahidi, Anita Booth and more, the guest cast are not only a joy to listen to, but make the episodes a pure delight in the times their delivery is that little hint of completely over the top but restricted enough to be believed. The Avengers really seems to be one of the few series you can get away with being both serious and silly in perfect harmony. But, as with the last one, the star turn of this set is always our leads. Julian Wadham and Olivia Poulet pull of another cracking performance as the King and Queen of British Badassery, delivering their perfectly mixed style of drama and humour, reminiscent of Macnee and Rigg, but again making it their own. It is never misfortune to have the opportunity to listen to these two in action.

The music and sound design? Perfectly on par with the first set, if not better. Steve Foxton and Alistair Lock have excelled themselves on their sound and music work, perfectly evoking the era of the 1960's. Again, it matches the theme of being serious when it need to and chirpy and silly when required. And the exemplary sound design makes everything feel real; every drive through the city, every death-defying battle with dastardly delinquents, everything.

It's not easy to make lightning strike twice in the same way, but Big Finish and StudioCanal have perfectly managed that with this collection of dramatically silly stories. I can safely say that the two sets of these pieces of perfection, plus the comic reprints, are essential purchases for any fans of the great Steed and Mrs Peel. As well as anyone else in general. We all need a bit of happy silliness now and again. More than ever now, I think...

VERDICT: 5/5 "Mrs Peel, we're needed!" ;D