{"id":35874,"date":"2026-07-03T18:20:04","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T18:20:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/?p=35874"},"modified":"2026-07-03T18:20:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T18:20:04","slug":"clifton-volume-6-kidnapping-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2026\/07\/03\/clifton-volume-6-kidnapping-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Clifton volume 6: Kidnapping"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nBy Turk<\/strong> & de Groot<\/strong>, translated by Luke Spear<\/strong> (Cinebook)
\nISBN: 978-1-905460-87-8 (Album PB\/Digital edition)<\/p>\n

This book includes Discriminatory Content<\/strong> produced in less enlightened times.<\/em><\/p>\n

An infallible agent of Her Majesty\u2019s assorted security forces, Clifton<\/strong> was originally created by Raymond Macherot (Chaminou<\/em>, Les croquillards<\/em>, Chlorophylle<\/em>, Sibylline<\/em>) for the weekly Le Journal de<\/em><\/strong> Tintin<\/em><\/strong>. Our doughty exemplar of fabled and over-egged Albion debuted in December 1959, just as a filmic 007 was preparing to set the world ablaze and get everyone hooked on spycraft…<\/p>\n

After three albums worth of strip material – all compiled and released between 1959 and 1960 – Macherot left Tintin<\/em><\/strong> for multinational arch-rival Spirou<\/em><\/strong> and his bombastic buffoon was benched. LJdT <\/em><\/strong>later revived him – the fictive spy, not le traiteur<\/em>! – at the height of the Swinging London scene and aforementioned spy-craze, courtesy of Jo-El Azaza & Greg – AKA Michel R\u00e9gnier – (Chick Bill<\/em>, Luc Orient<\/em><\/strong>, Bruno Brazil<\/em><\/strong>, Bernard Prince<\/em><\/strong>, Achille Talon<\/em><\/strong>, Rock Derby<\/em>, Zig et Puce<\/em><\/strong>). Those strips were subsequently collected as Les lutins diaboliques<\/em><\/strong> in French and De duivelse dwergen<\/em><\/strong> for Dutch-speakers in 1969.<\/p>\n

Then it was back into retirement until 1971 when Greg – with artist Joseph Loeckx – took another shot. He toiled on the True Brit until 1973 when Bob De Groot & illustrator Philippe \u201cTurk\u201d Li\u00e9geois fully regenerated the be-whiskered wonder. They produced ten more tales after which, from 1984 on, artist Bernard Dumont (AKA B\u00e9du) limned de Groot\u2019s scripts before eventually assuming the writing chores as well. The series concluded in 1995.<\/p>\n

… But Never Say Never Again…<\/p>\n

In keeping with its rather haphazard Modus Operandi and indomitably undying nature, the Clifton experience resumed yet again in 2003, crafted now by De Groot & Michel Rodrigue for four further adventures. Although the humorous visual vein was still heavily mined in those tales, now the emphasis was subtly shifted and the action\/adventure components strongly emphasised…<\/p>\n

Originally released in 1983, Kidnapping <\/strong>was Turk & De Groot\u2019s last collaboration and wrapped up their mock-heroic shenanigans in fine and foolish style…<\/p>\n

Bob de Groot was born in Brussels in 1941, to French and Dutch parents. As a young man he became art assistant to Maurice Tillieux on F\u00e9lix<\/em>, before creating his own short works for Pilote<\/em><\/strong>. A rising star in the 1960s, he drew 4×8=32 L\u2019Agent Cam\u00e9l\u00e9on<\/em><\/strong>, and met Li\u00e9geois, consequently beginning his slow transition from artist to writer. Together they created Archim\u00e8de<\/em>, Robin Dubois<\/em><\/strong> and others before eventually inheriting Raymond Macherot\u2019s moribund masterspy.<\/p>\n

In 1989 de Groot – with Jacques Landrain – devised Digitaline<\/em>, a strong contender for the first comic created entirely on a computer, and co-created Doggyguard<\/em><\/strong> with Michel Rodrigue, even whilst prolifically working with the legendary Morris on both Lucky<\/strong> Luke<\/strong> and its canine comedy spin-off Rantanplan<\/em><\/strong>. He soldiered on with strips L\u00e9onard<\/em> in Eppo<\/em><\/strong>, P\u00e9re No\u00e9l & Fils<\/em> and Le<\/em> Bar des acariens<\/em> (both published by Gl\u00e9nat) and so much more until his death in November 2023.<\/p>\n

Okay. Dossier stuff all done? <\/em><\/p>\n

Pompous, irascible Colonel Sir Harold Wilberforce Clifton<\/em> is ex-RAF, a former officer with the Metropolitan Police Constabulary and only recently retired from MI5. He has a great deal of difficulty dealing with being put out to pasture in rural Puddington<\/em> and thus takes every opportunity to get back in the saddle, \u201cassisting\u201d the Government or needy individuals as an amateur sleuth whenever the opportunity arises. He occupies his copious idle hours with as many good deeds as befit a man of his standing and service. He is particularly dedicated to sharing the benefits of organised Scouting with the young generation…
\n\"\"
\nThis rollicking comedy crime caper begins with the old soldier and his fiery, ferociously competent, multi-talented housekeeper Mrs. Partridge<\/em> (think Alfred Pennyworth<\/em> with scones and a sharp tongue) preparing for a big camping trip for a motley crew of fresh-faced boy scouts. Even after his own haphazard preparations are finally completed, Scoutmaster Clifton\u2019s departure is further delayed by the stylishly late arrival of the troublesome son of wealthy and obnoxiously prestigious Sir Abylas Chickenpiece<\/em>…<\/p>\n

Finally, however, the troop is under way and before too long they are setting up camp in an isolated patch of woodland. After organising jobs for the lads, Clifton begins his own chores, setting tests for his charges, trying out to win merit badges and catching a crafty snooze when he thinks nobody is looking…<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a very bad move. When the spoiled and appropriately codenamed Distinguished Peacock<\/em> sets off to gather firewood, he\u2019s pounced on by thugs working under the careful instructions of an obsessive porcelain collector who is well aware of the worth of the Chickenpiece Fortune. A furtive observer to the crime, poor but honest Thrifty Duckling<\/em> sees his companion abducted and cunningly hides himself inside the getaway car. Thus, obviously, when Clifton is made aware of the crisis he feels painfully responsible for the loss of two boys in his care…
\n\"\"
\nIrritated, embarrassed and insulted, the irascible Colonel eschews contacting the police and determines to give his remaining charges a lesson in the value of his scouting techniques by tracking the kidnappers to their lair and personally apprehending them. The only real complication he envisages is apprising the victims\u2019 fathers of the perilous current status of their precious sons and heirs…<\/p>\n

A classic chase, memorable confrontation and Boys Own<\/strong> level conclusion is the happy result of Clifton and his tyro team working together, and when the action ends the reunions and subsequent outdoor celebrations are all any stout-hearted lad could hope for…
\n\"\"
\nFunny, fast and furiously thrill-packed, Kidnapping<\/strong> shows our Old Soldier in his most engaging and flattering light in this cunningly concocted breezy romp in the grandly enticing manner of Charles Crichton\u2019s Hue and Cry<\/strong> or Launder & Gilliat\u2019s The Belles of St Trinian\u2019s<\/strong> (or possibly something a little more modern like Shaun the Sheep<\/strong>?); sufficient to astound and delight devotees of simpler times whilst supplying a solid line in goofy gags for laughter-addicts and rural revivalists of every age and vintage to enjoy…
\nOriginal edition \u00a9 Les Editions du Lombard (Dargaud-Lombard SA) 1984 by Turk & De Groot. English translation \u00a9 2009 Cinebook Ltd.<\/p>\n

Today in 1925 humourist and veteran Mad<\/strong> magazine contributor Jerry DeFuccio<\/strong> was born, sharing the celebration with historian\/publisher Russ Cochran<\/strong> (EC Reprint Library<\/strong>) in 1937; illustrator Arne Starr (Star Trek<\/strong>) in 1954; scripter Supreme Dan Slott<\/strong> (Spider-Man<\/strong>, Fantastic Four<\/strong>, She-Hulk<\/strong>, Looney Tunes<\/strong>) in 1967 and Korean-American artist Andy Park<\/strong> (Tomb Raider<\/strong>, Uncanny X-Men<\/strong>) in 1975.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Turk & de Groot, translated by Luke Spear (Cinebook) ISBN: 978-1-905460-87-8 (Album PB\/Digital edition) This book includes Discriminatory Content produced in less enlightened times. An infallible agent of Her Majesty\u2019s assorted security forces, Clifton was originally created by Raymond Macherot (Chaminou, Les croquillards, Chlorophylle, Sibylline) for the weekly Le Journal de Tintin. Our doughty … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Clifton volume 6: Kidnapping”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[191,75,63,125,169,254],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35874","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adventure","category-crime-comics","category-european-classics","category-humour","category-spy-stories","category-young-adult"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4AFj-9kC","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35874","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35874"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35874\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35879,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35874\/revisions\/35879"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35874"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35874"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35874"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}