Steed and Mrs. Peel #1 (2025 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

The quirky spy series The Avengers originally ran from 1961-1969. Contrary to popular beliefs, The Avengers didn't air on the BBC. Instead it was part of the programming for ITV. Also known as Channel 3, the independent free-to-air public broadcasting network had a budget way smaller than the state-run British Broadcasting Channel. So in 1965, American broadcaster ABC bought the series, making the names John Steed and Mrs. Emma Peel household names. The series made actress Diana Rigg a cultural icon. 

After The Avengers ended in 1969, it seemed that the show was doomed to languish in reruns. Surprisingly, the episodes that started Mrs. Peel's replacement Tara King, were lasting hits in France. As a result, champagne manufacturer Laurent-Perrier created an advertising campaign starring Patrick Macnee as John Steed and Linda Thorson as King. 

The success of the campaign brought about interest in a reboot. Macnee returned as Steed in the retooled New Avengers. As Patrick Macnee was pushing 50, The New Avengers featured younger actor Gareth Hunt taking on the more strenuous stunts as trained martial artist Mike Gambit. Playing the role of the beautiful but deadly Purdy was the blonde actress Joanna Lumley, about 2 decades shy of her role as the boozy Patsy Stone on the sitcom Absolutely Fabulous.

This 1990 3-issue miniseries takes place in between the events of the original series and the 1976-1978 reboot. Written by Grant Morrison with art by Ian Gibson, the Acme Press/Eclipse Comics published series sees Steed reuniting with Mrs. Peel after it has been revealed that a mole has infiltrated the never named branch of British Intelligence that Steed works for. After a military strategist is murdered and Tara King is incapacitated, Steed turns to the only person he can trust: Emma Peel. 

Mrs. Peel has been spending her time away from the intelligence community with her husband in the South American jungle. An anthropologist, Mr. Steed was presumed dead, which led to Emma becoming an unofficial agent for the British crown. When Mr. Peel was found safe and sound, Mrs. Peel left to reunite with her spouse. In this miniseries, Mr. Peel is alive and well, observing native ritual sacrifices. It's a subject that clearly doesn't hold Emma's interest and she's more than willing to help out her old partner for old times sake.

This series, like other subsequent titles based on the British TV series, are titled Steed and Mrs. Peel. Not The Avengers. That's because in the United States, Marvel Comics owns the naming rights to The Avengers as well as The New Avengers. It's made for a little bit of confusion amongst comic collectors looking for the adventures of John Steed and Mrs Peel in print. Muddling things is the fact that because John Steed and his revolving door of partners debuted on the boob tube and later the silver screen in a 1998 American made film starring Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman, the British franchise has naming rights over Marvel when it comes to live action works. Thus, the cinematic adventures of Earth's Mightiest Heroes must be officially titled as Marvel's Avengers. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the first Avengers film goes by the name Marvel Avengers Assemble.

In 2012, Acme/Eclipse's 3 issue miniseries was reprinted as a 6-issue limited series by Boom! Studios before releasing a regular series penned by Mark Waid. Both publications by Boom! were released as Steed and Mrs. Peel.

Completing this review completes Task #21 (Written by an Author From the UK) the 2025 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Batman '66 Meets Steed and Mrs. Peel

60's camp meets 60's mod in this amazing crossover from DC Comics and Boom! Studios. 

The Dynamic Duo joins forces with the Original Avengers in this story that spans two countries. Filled with villains from both franchises, this was one of the best crossovers I've read in a while AND I read a bunch of crossovers and team-ups. It's one of my favorite categories of comics and this one does not disappoint!

Victorian Undead's Ian Edington did a whiz-bang job of capturing the quirks and mannerisms of all of the characters of both properties. Mrs. Peel, played by the alluring Diana Rigg, was always a little cheeky. But the way she plays Mrs. Robinson to Robin's Dustin Hoffman was a little uncomfortable. So, maybe Edington goes a bit too far there. But his idea to have Batman and Robin meet Steed and Peel almost immediately instead of waiting for a couple of issues was a smart move!

I was also digging the artwork. Doctor Who's Matthew Dow Smith took his form to the 60s in a brilliant way. His illustrations of Adam West, Julie Newmar, Patrick Macnee were so very spot on. 

As both TV shows this crossover was based on were set in the 60s, Pop Art was a rising art movement. During this time, Andy Warhol was famous for making silk-screened images of famous people. While I know that's not what Matthew Dow Smith did here, his realistic looking images look silk-screened. Very appropriate for a tale set in the 1960s!

Full of swinging 60s humor, action, and sex appeal- Batman '66 Meets Steed and Mrs. Peel was a great read that I didn't want to end!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.