James Bab is an adventure story arc of the Philippine comic strip series Pugad Baboy, created by Pol Medina Jr. This particular story arc lasts 38 strips long and was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer from June to July 1997. In 1998, the story arc was reprinted in the tenth compilation of the comic strip series, named Pugad Baboy X. The title itself is an obvious play on James Bond, with resident hippie Bab as the main character. Synopsis The arc starts with Bab commenting on the adventure and intrigue of being a secret agent, using Arnold Schwarzenegger's character in the movie True Lies as an example. Along the way, he points out some situations that secret agents face: Lying to one's own family. Tomas brings a drunk Bab home to his mother after a long binge. Bab claims that they went to watch Volcano starring Pierce Brosnan. Assuming disguises. Bab is seen wearing a cowboy costume while inquiring for pornographic titles at a video shop. Creating alibis on the fly. A backpack-carrying Bab is about to ride a provincial bus with a sword-wielding Mao stopping him from boarding. He reasons that he was going to the bank to withdraw money to pay his debt. Soon enough, Polgas comes in and tells him that someone is looking to hire him as a secret agent. He changes to Dobermaxx on the spot. Polgas then explains that the first thing a secret agent wannabe does is to create a name that is so appealing even if the agent himself performs dismally on the job. Bab goes off-panel and comes back wearing a business suit and his hair combed. He then introduces himself as "Bab. James Bab," with the "James Bond Theme" as background music. Bab reveals his secret agent gear, such as a blowgun improvised from a ball-point pen that shoots monggo seeds, and a blowtorch to help him get out of handcuffs. Bab's secret agent training begins with Polgas teaching him the basics of tradecraft and hand-to-hand combat. However, Polgas lands in the hospital for several days after Bab broke wind on his face during a close-quarter combat session. In the meantime, martial arts grandmaster Ernesto Presas will be Bab's trainer. Bab is skeptical of his abilities, but finds things out the hard way when he is confined alongside Polgas after a session with Presas. Three weeks later, Bab has