The two stories, "The Wicked Gnomes" and "The Iron God" are both fairly straight action stories, with the common theme of Willie and Modesty going to great lengths to rescue a friend. The fact that the friend in the second story has about a five-minute acquaintanceship with them is of no consequence. Maude Tiller is the rescuee in the first story, and she also brings a welcome bit of comic relief to the strip - not that that quality is particularly lacking. Maude's just a hoot. I love how her and Willie's planned romances are always thwarted. ( )