Agent 9 #02: Mind Control (UK)

October 2023 Graphic Novel of the Month

The second adventure for the intrepid Agent 9 and sidekick Fin, is as action packed and witty as the first: Agent 9: Flood-a-Geddon! But you can rest assured that there is no need to have read the first book, each volume stands alone.

The story opens with some very dramatic scenes at the headquarters of the sinister organization DiViSiON, where the even more sinister Wolf has been hired to hunt down the final two pieces of a mind-control device. This plan has been discovered by the Super-Secret Spy Service and the boss is giving Agent 9 the job, but the mission is so vital that a partner is required and so we meet Traps- a very endearing mouse in a beanie hat who apparently specializes in covert operations and not just knitting.

Despite things going hilariously wrong from the start, they manage to overcome all the crazy obstacles in their path, only to have success literally snatched from them by the wily Wolf, who is always one step ahead. But because Nine is learning the advantages of team work and is asking for help at the right moment, eventually they triumph and share Nine’s much coveted Spy of the Month award.

There is so much to appreciate in this series. The full colour artwork makes brilliant use of varying panels and interspersed action words and sound effects. The animal characters all have very human traits expressively captured and there is genuine character development for Nine and life lessons for the reader to absorb, amidst the slapstick humour and puns.

With a tantalizing cliffhanger ending that points to more peril to come, fans will be chomping at the bit to get their hands on more! A really great addition to your younger graphic novel collections.