Secret Agent X-9 was a comic strip begun by writer Dashiell Hammett (The Maltese Falcon) and artist Alex Raymond (Flash Gordon). Syndicated by King Features, it ran from January 22, 1934 until February 10, 1996.

X-9 was a nameless agent who worked for a nameless agency. X-9 acquired the name "Phil Corrigan" in the 1940s and decades later the strip was renamed Secret Agent Corrigan. The nameless agency was also briefly the FBI when the FBI was in vogue, but when the FBI became less popular, references to it were dropped and the agency was nameless again.

The strip was something of a combination of a secret agent and private eye adventure, and went back and forth between the two. Despite the initial combination of talents, the strip was never a success, and perhaps the confusion about what kind of strip it actually was contributed to this. By the next year, Hammett and Raymond had both left the strip.

It was continued by Charles Flanders (1937), Robert Storm (1938-1943?), and drawn by Mel Graff from 1939 to the 1960's. Graff is the one who gave X-9 his name, "Phil Corrigan." Graff thought it didn't make sense for a secret agent to be addressed by his secret moniker, "X-9". The name "Phil Corrigan" was inspired by "Phil Cardigan" who was a character in one of Graff's earlier comic strips, "The Adventures of Patsy." Graff also gave X-9 a more personal life with romantic interests "Linda" and "Wilda". Both these characters inspired popular songs: "Linda" written by Jack Lawrence and "Wilda" written by Graff himself. Wilda became Phil Corrigan's wife.

Graff was followed by a number of other creators. The strip continued under the hands of the pseudonym "Bob Lewis" from 1960 through 1966. From 1967 to 1980, it was written by Archie Goodwin and drawn by Al Williamson, who together also collaborated on the Star Wars comic strip.

The last artist on the strip was veteran George Evans who wrote and drew the strip from 1980 to his retirement in 1996.

In 2000/01, X-9 made a guest appearance in the Flash Gordon Sunday strip. One page was drawn by Evans, and this is so far X-9's last appearance in newspaper comics.

Secret Agent X-9 (1937) is a Universal movie serial based on the comic strip Secret Agent X-9 by Dashiell Hammett and Alex Raymond.

Secret Agent X-9 (1945) is a Universal movie serial based on the comic strip Secret Agent X-9. It was the second serial with this name, the first was released by Universal in 1937.

irst lines] panese radio propagandist [Ch.1]: On this glorious day, the first anniversary of Pearl Harbor, Japan must remember that victory depends on more then winning or losing battles. Science and industry are equally important as the imperial army and navy. Our scientists in their laboratories must develop better weapons. Our industrialists must improve their manufacturing processes...

cky Kamber: I don't care about spies. They won't always be customers, while wanted men - that's another matter. bura: Ah, so. Your precious criminals who can stay paying you head tax, of course, because you have no extradition laws. cky Kamber: This island isn't a nation; it doesn't pretend to be. It's a business and now you're starting to cut into my profits - and that's what I don't like. bura: Everyone must sacrifice in times of war. Japan has use for men like Drag Dorgan.

n American agent is stabbed in the back] nn Moore: He didn't have a chance, Ah Fong. Fong: Who does... with Nabura

il Corrigan: I found out something about this little tub. My only chance now is to win a bet with myself. I'm gambling that you're as good an American as any of the boys who are dying on the battlefield.

ck Roberts [Chs. 1-2]: Hey, what are you guys doing in those Nazi uniforms? rst Nazi: It's time you learned you are working for the Axis. cond Nazi: You are on a German ship; you are going to be put on a Japanese submarine. rst Nazi: Our captain wishes to pay military respect to our ally. Is your luggage ready? il Corrigan: I think its about time for the United States to take over don't you think, Roberts?

kahari: And why, please, is Bach watching Miss Moore? bura: I told her the address to test her loyalty. Nobody can betray us but her. kahari: But she has been to Japan. She broadcasts our propaganda! bura: Never trust a quisling.

lo: If Lucky was smart, he'd get what X-9 and Nabura are after, then threaten each of them that he'll give it to the other. rker: Maybe you're right at that, Solo. lo: That's not unusual, Marker.

s he blindfolds Nabura] Fong: The eyes of a woman are deadlier than her tongue.

pa Pierre Dupray: When the mystery she is explained, she is always like this - simple.

Fong: All the Japs are gone, but not quite the way Nabura expected.

In Chapter One (Modern Pirates), the G-Men learn that "Brenda", notorious jewel thief, is heading for the United States, to steal the Belgravian crown jewels currently on exhibit. The gems are placed on a ship bound for Belgravia, the guard is murdered and the jewels stolen. Secret Agent X-9 trails Blackstone, one of the gang, who hides the gems in a safe deposit vault of a bank. He takes the bank receipt to an art shop, where Marker, an accomplice, conceals it between an oil painting and its frame. X-9 arrests Blackstone and pursues Marker, and leaps into the speedboat Marker is getting away in. The speedboat crashes in to a buoy...see Chapter Two at this theatre next week. Shara Graustark) and Baron Michael Karsten, embassy attaché responsible for the jewels, show up next week and the remaining chapters deal with the recovery of the jewels and the unmasking of the mysterious "Brenda". Charters 9 through 12 find Brenda masquerading as the Baron and this complicates things for X-9 and, of course, the Baron. Written by Les Adams