AGENT WEREWOLF

It's Halloween season, Spy Vibers! I was lucky to see a double feature last weekend of the original Universal Frankenstein films at the famous Castro Theater. It was so great to see some of those classic scenes on the giant screen. Karloff photographed so well in that dramatic lighting! Of course, the Universal monsters made a huge comeback in the 1950s and 1960s. They appeared in a long-running series with Abbott and Costello, were celebrated in monster magazines, and most kids in the early 1960s built Aurora model kits of their favorite monsters. Although they had started out as terrifying characters, kids from the Cold War era look back at the monsters with fondness, much in the same way Godzilla was eventually adopted as a kind of hero for children. The love of monsters also spawned shows like The Munsters and The Addams Family (inspired by the great comics by Charles Addams in The New Yorker). During the classic horror boom of the 1960s, Dell publishing set out to cash in on a few major characters, releasing comics such as Frankenstein: The Monster is Back!, The Mummy, Dracula, The Wolf Man, and The Creature in 1963-1964. Dell also used some of the character names to launch short comic series about hybrid superheroes (and a spy!): Frankenstein, Dracula, and Werwolf. The most interesting for Spy Vibers was Werewolf, which lasted three issues between 1966-1967. A radical departure from the usual horror adaptation, the comic centered around a pilot who crashed in the arctic circle and was trained by wolves. Once he and his wolf companion were rescued, he was recruited to work as a top spy with the aid of gadgets and a hypnotic treatment that enabled him to change his face at will. Handy! Dive deeper into the series over at 4th Letter here and Gorilla Daze here.  In other news, check out my episodes of the Cocktail Nation radio show, where I introduce classic spy films/TV series and play soundtracks and rare cuts: Episode #1 (Danger Man) and Episode #2 (The 10th Victim), Epsiode #3 (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), Episode #4 (Roger Moore/The Saint), and Episode #5 (The Avengers). Episode #6 (The Prisoner), and Episode #7 (The Ipcress File). Enjoy!

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Mata Hair Exhibit, Johnny Sokko 50th, Interview: Trina Robbins, Eddie Izzard, The Prisoner Capt Scarlet 50th, Hugh Hefner R.I.P., Jack Good R.I.P., Interview: Shaken Not Stirred, Callan 50th, Spy Vibe Radio 7, The Prisoner 50th Event, Spy-Fi Event, Kaho Aso 007, Two Million, Bo Diddley, Carnaby Pop, Le Carre Events, Billy Bragg Skiffle, Elvis 68, Jack Kirby The Prisoner, Casino Royale Concert, Review: The Prisoner Vol 2, Interview: The Prisoner Essential Guide, Maud Russell Mottisfont, Spy Vibe Radio 4, Batman Gallants, Adam West R.I.P., Village Triangle, Roger Moore R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio 3, Sgt Pepper 50th, Satanik Kriminal OST, 60s Overdrive, Make Love in London, Spy Vibe Radio 2, Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview: Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review.

MATA HARI EXHIBIT

Famed spy Mata Hari died 100 years ago today. On October 15th, 1917 she was executed for selling allied secrets to Germany. But as additional artifacts from her trial become available to historians -many are only now being declassified today by the French army 100 years later- her web has become even more tangled. Was she a German spy or a double agent killed as a scapegoat? Followers of her case will undoubtedly pour over new evidence. From any angle, however, she had a tragic life. Born in the Netherlands in 1876, Margaretha Geertruida Zelle suffered family hardships, an abusive marriage, and the loss of her two kids. She found solace in dancing, which she had studied while living in Indonesia. Part of the Orientalist movement, which included Asia-inspired modern dance, Mata made a name for herself as a socialite, exotic dancer, and courtesan. But her career went into decline and she made her last performance on the stage in 1915. She was recruited by France in 1916 to spy on Germany. She also received money from Germany as a spy and was implicated in the outing of a number of Belgian agents. There is more to her story, much of it grisly, and I'm sure new details will be revealed as documents are examined. Some of Mata Hari's artifacts are currently being exhibited at the Fries Museum (ends April 2018). Museum information here. Read more about Mata Hari at BBC. Mata Hari has been immortalized many times in film (starting in 1920) and on television (as recent as 2017). Spy Vibers may be most familiar with the 1931 film starring Greta Garbo, as well as the satirical take on the character in the 1970 children's series, Lancelot Link. What else was happening 100 years ago? Louis Feuillade continued work on his fantastic Judex crime/adventure serial in France, and Charlie Chaplin created some of his best short films for Mutual such as Easy Street, The Cure, and The Immigrant. In other news, check out my episodes of the Cocktail Nation radio show, where I introduce classic spy films/TV series and play soundtracks and rare cuts: Episode #1 (Danger Man) and Episode #2 (The 10th Victim), Epsiode #3 (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), Episode #4 (Roger Moore/The Saint), and Episode #5 (The Avengers). Episode #6 (The Prisoner), and Episode #7 (The Ipcress File). Enjoy! Spy Vibers, don't miss the TV spy gadget event in LA on October 17th, 2017- more info here. 

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Johnny Sokko 50th, Interview: Trina Robbins, Eddie Izzard, The Prisoner Capt Scarlet 50th, Hugh Hefner R.I.P., Jack Good R.I.P., Interview: Shaken Not Stirred, Callan 50th, Spy Vibe Radio 7, The Prisoner 50th Event, Spy-Fi Event, Kaho Aso 007, Two Million, Bo Diddley, Carnaby Pop, Le Carre Events, Billy Bragg Skiffle, Elvis 68, Jack Kirby The Prisoner, Casino Royale Concert, Review: The Prisoner Vol 2, Interview: The Prisoner Essential Guide, Maud Russell Mottisfont, Spy Vibe Radio 4, Batman Gallants, Adam West R.I.P., Village Triangle, Roger Moore R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio 3, Sgt Pepper 50th, Satanik Kriminal OST, 60s Overdrive, Make Love in London, Spy Vibe Radio 2, Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview: Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review.

JOHNNY SOKKO 50TH

The classic series Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot celebrated its 50th anniversary this week. After languishing in the grey market for years, fans of Japanese tokusatsu and kaiju were excited to finally see a DVD release by Shout! Factory in 2013. "'Robot, attack! Robot, destroy!' These commands launched a thousand sci-fi fantasies for budding fans of the genre, just as they brought Johnny Sokko’s Giant Robot into imminent battle action! Under the voice control of young Johnny Sokko, the massive, flying metal behemoth would bring his fiery breath, laser eyes, finger-launched missiles and, above all, his physical strength into battle with countless menacing monsters bent on destroying the Earth! This epic fantasy series from Toei Studios aired from 1967 to 1968 and garnered even more fans in after-school reruns throughout the 70s." Like a number of sci-fi monster-related shows from the era, Toei also wove in elements of Cold War themes. More below. 

What is the show about? Join me for a brief tour: The Earth is invaded by a terrorist group called Big Fire (Gargoyle in the US), led by Emperor Guillotine, who commands his minions of henchman and captured scientists (who make monsters- natch!) from his ship beneath the ocean. Enter Johnny Sokko (Daisuke Kusama in Japan), who meets up with a dashing young man, Jerry Mano (Juro Minami in Japan), on a cruise ship. Johnny discovers that Jerry is, in fact, Agent U3 for a top-secret peacekeeping organization called Unicorn! Jerry’s cover is blown when his pen starts ringing. (oops! sounds like Get Smart). Jerry extends an antenna and contacts his boss at HQ- a rather colorful version of U.N.C.L.E. headquarters. The ship is attacked by a giant sea monster, and our two heroes find themselves castaways on a beach and captured by the alien terrorists. The baddies in Johnny Sokko are designed with a wonderful mix of elements to portray their evil intent- black berets, sunglasses, Nazi salutes, and sci-fi makeup. Jerry and Johnny break free and an intense gunfight ensues that would never been seen in a US-produced kid’s show. Jerry even uses a guard as a shield! The poor henchman doesn’t stand a chance and his pals riddle him with bullets. Even Johnny is armed with a pistol and looks super heroic, despite his tiny shorts. I think the necktie adds some authority! 

The series is fast-paced and fun. Jerry and Johnny race through corridors and down an elevator, where they discover the Giant Robot and a scientist who has been held prisoner to do Guillotine’s bidding. The man gives Johnny the robot’s control-watch. In James Bond fashion, the heroes blow up the secret lair and shoot it out on the beach. When things get desperate  Jerry reminds the kid that he now possesses the watch that controls the robot. The boy flips open the top, makes his first commands, and a franchise is born! Johnny is brought into Unicorn as Agent U7, and joins the secret fight against the alien terrorists. It's interesting to note that as this series was winding down, Gerry Anderson was recruiting another young boy (in puppet form) for a new sic-spy program called Joe 90. 

It was interesting to talk with my friend, translator Fred Schodt (Astro Boy) about the violence that we see in Japanese pop culture. There is an edge to the storytelling, seen even in live-action and animated shows from the early 1960s, which remains compelling for American viewers. Johnny Quest may have been cool and dangerous for its time, but imagine if Johnny Quest, like Sokko, had been allowed to carry a pistol and command a giant robot! In Japan there is generally a greater distinction between fantasy and reality, which is how creators in Japan have generally explained the graphic tone of their content. They didn’t have a Dr. Wertham, for example, leading a Congressional charge that comics were inciting youth to violence. Fred Schodt agreed, and added that Japan’s low crime rate, gun control, and overall group-sensitivity in the culture would help maintain a boundary between fantasy and what can be expected to happen in real life. But as Japan experiences more of the kind of violence that happens in the US, he added, maybe those lines will blur and the graphic tone will become an issue.

Now, back to that giant robot. What kid would root for a powerful mascot armed with super gadgets? While the secret agents in the show are talking into their pen communicators and shooting it out with baddies, Johnny’s robot has quite an arsenal at his disposal: Finger Missiles, Back Missile, Bazooka Cannon (which fires out of the top of the robot's head), Eye Ray/Beams, Flamethrower (from his mouth) and Electrocution Wires. Don't mess with Johnny. If you are a fan of Japanese monsters, heroes, and toys (and love spies!), Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot (Giant Robot) is a fantastic adventure! Learn more about the series here. Related posts: Skyers 5, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Editions, James Bond Japanese Editions, Ian Fleming's Japan, Green Hornet Manga, U.N.C.L.E. and Batman Manga, Spies Robots & Monsters, Spies Robots & Monsters II, Marine Boy, Interview: Kevin Dart's Powerpuff Girls.

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Interview: Trona Robbins, Eddie Izzard, The Prisoner Capt Scarlet 50th, Hugh Hefner R.I.P., Jack Good R.I.P., Interview: Shaken Not Stirred, Callan 50th, Spy Vibe Radio 7, The Prisoner 50th Event, Spy-Fi Event, Kaho Aso 007, Two Million, Bo Diddley, Carnaby Pop, Le Carre Events, Billy Bragg Skiffle, Elvis 68, Jack Kirby The Prisoner, Casino Royale Concert, Review: The Prisoner Vol 2, Interview: The Prisoner Essential Guide, Maud Russell Mottisfont, Spy Vibe Radio 4, Batman Gallants, Adam West R.I.P., Village Triangle, Roger Moore R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio 3, Sgt Pepper 50th, Satanik Kriminal OST, 60s Overdrive, Make Love in London, Spy Vibe Radio 2, Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview: Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review.

INTERVIEW: TRINA ROBBINS

The UN established the International Day of the Girl in 2011 to support the rights and positive role modeling of tomorrow's women. While characters like Emma Peel, Cathy Gale, Agent 99, and Honey West have been great role models for young Spy Vibers, let's celebrate the day by looking back at my interview with one of the most active and interesting champions of female voices, writer and artist Trina Robbins. A few years before the new Wonder Woman film came out, Trina and I sat down to talk about her many stories, including Wonder Woman and Honey West. We also talked about history, fashion, and even the great lady adventurers of The Avengers and classic pulp comics. Welcome back to the conversation!

As women and families across the country march today in support of equality and fundamental rights, I'd like to share this interview I did with Trina Robbins a while back. And as I gear up for another annual writers festival, I find the whole story timely! It's been a super busy time here in the Spy Vibe lair. I'm co-running another writers festival and the past couple of weeks have been filled with planning, meetings, and preparing materials and presentations. The goal of the festival is to bring in writers from across disciplines into the classrooms so that every English class is exposed to writers and their craft. Kids get to hear about careers, process, and hopefully experience sparks that will inspire their own journeys of expression. The big event for me was running an all-school assembly that focussed on comics and writer/artists who bring elements of activism to their work. Cartoonist Nomi Kane talked about her work at the Charles Schulz Studio and making her own political cartoons. And Trina Robbins gave us an overview of how Wonder Woman has reflected society and gender roles over the decades and she talked about some of the stories she's written- most notably The Once and Future Story about domestic violence. In celebration of the event, here is a lengthy interview I once did with Trina. She touches on many of our favorite characters, so I hope you will enjoy! Trina Robbins is a writer, historian, editor, activist, and artist. Making her start in the underground comix scene, she has written for notable characters like Honey West, T.H.E. Cat, The Phantom, Captain Midnight, and Wonder Woman. She has also published extensively about the history of women cartoonists and recently compiled two volumes of the classic adventure strip Miss Fury for IDW. Her graphic novels for young readers include Lily Renee: Escape Artist, Bessie Coleman: Daring Stunt Pilot, Hedy Lamar and a Secret Communication System, and the Chicagoland Detective Agency series. Her most recent works are Pretty Ink: North American Women Cartoonists 1896-2013, Babes in Arms, and The Complete Wimmen's Comix. She was inducted into the Will Eisner Hall of Fame in 2013. Trina and I contributed to a recent documentary film called Wonder Women: The Untold Story of American Superheroines and graciously made time to chat with me about some of the great lady spies and detectives, about reading Pulps as a kid, and about how changing gender roles have been reflected in pop culture.

Welcome Trina! I recently interviewed Win Scott Eckert about Honey West, so I'd like to start with that character. Honey West debuted in September 1965. What are some of your early impressions of the show? Had you read any of the Fickling novels?

I had not read the novels until just before I started writing the comics, but I loved the TV show. It was a bit campy, just like the Batman show was campy, with all sorts of gadgets, but that was the current style of adventure shows at the time. What impressed me was that for a change, it was a woman fighting the bad guys, and of course Anne Francis was superb. To me, she is Honey West.

It seemed that most of the female roles in detective stories were reserved for femme fatales, two-timers, and ancillary characters like secretaries. In what ways was Honey West different?

She was the crime fighter, the mystery solver. Despite having a very annoying partner who kept trying to tell her not to do all that stuff, Honey was in control. She didn’t need to be rescued by some guy.

When it came time for you to write Honey West for Moonstone, what were some of the character elements or story conventions you wanted to make sure to include?

I liked the idea that the TV show came from the mid-1960s, and I decided to keep it retro, so for my Honey, it’s any time between 1964 and 1966.  I also loved Bruce the ocelot, who in my opinion was the co-star of the show, along with Honey.  I dumped the aunt and the boring partner, but kept the cop, Lt Mark Storm, so there could be some unrelieved sexual tension.  He’s really in love with her, but he’s old fashioned and believes a woman should not be a detective.  She might love him too, if only he would enter the 20^th century.  Later, when I paired Honey with T.H.E. Cat, he joined the cop as potential love interest.

The Emma Peel episodes of The Avengers came to the US in March 1966 and the earlier episodes, starring Honor Blackman as Cathy Gale, aired later in the US. Did you follow the show?

Of course! I adored them!

Cathy Gale and Emma Peel really set the tone in the early 1960s for strong female action stars (in leather) who were also renowned scholars and scientists. Together with Honey West (and Barbara Bain on Mission Impossible), what did these role models offer girls in the 1960s?

First of all, the fashionista in me loved the cat suits. Other than that, they sure opened up the field for girls. Instead of having to choose between secretary, nurse, teacher, and stewardess, I could be a sexy private eye!

Speaking of fashion and strong independent women, I put together a 'fashion show' yesterday to spotlight catsuits. In the introduction to this promo collage I wrote, "Before this style became hyper-sexualized with exaggerated physicality and shiny latex, it was the original design for cool athletic lady detectives, jewel thieves, and spies. From a time when women in pop culture could be erotic by being strong, characters didn't have to play the card of sexual availability- too often, as Gloria Steinem has pointed out, the only game in town for women to claim power. Figures like Irma Vepp (Les Vampires/1915), Miss Fury (1940s), Cathy Gale (The Avengers/1964), Mrs Peel (The Avengers/1965), Honey West (1965), Marianne Faithful (Girl On a Motorcycle/1968)), and Catwoman (1966) below show us a far more nuanced possibility. Lady Spy Vibers never settle for less!" 

Many female characters during the 1960s were still stuck in post-war suburban stories about housewives and winning (and keeping) husbands. Even Wonder Woman lost her powers to manage a clothing store and get missions from a man. Why do you think characters like Emma Peel were so rare? In terms of liberation, was the 60s expectation of “free love” really just about men maintaining power?

Characters like Emma Peel were indeed rare (and English!), but they were the early manifestations of a trend that would come into its own with the women’s liberation movement of the late 60s and 70s. Interesting you should bring up the 60s expectation of “free love.” That had a lot to do with the Pill. It meant women could finally be sexually active without fear of pregnancy, and that was a good thing, but unfortunately for a lot of hippy men, it meant they didn’t have to take any responsibility in a relationship. You see it in so many of the songs that were popular then: “I love you, but babe, I gotta ramble.” I believe “free love” was a major cause of the women’s liberation movement: I can sleep with you and have your babies and cook the brown rice, but I can’t ask for any commitment from you, because you “gotta ramble.” 

It seems like birth control in the 1920s, entering the workforce in the 1940s, and the pill in the 1960s -leading to feminism in the 1970s- are benchmarks for powerful female characters in pop culture. Each period seems to be followed by backlash and reinforcement of male dominance. Where do you think our society is in the spectrum right now?

There are always forces that would like to send women back to the kitchen, and keep them barefoot and pregnant. That will never change. But as long as smart people are willing to fight back, we will never go back. And very slowly, things do change. I remember back-alley abortions, nylon stockings, looking for work in the “Women” section of the want ads (and of course men doing the same job made more money). But the ERA has still not been passed! 

Amazing the Equal Rights Amendment failed to receive ratification in 1982. Lindsay Wagner said she didn’t want to portray the Bionic Woman as a “man in a skirt.” What do you think she meant? Is pop culture filled with female characters based on a male template of behavior? 

Yes! All too often in mainstream superhero comics the female characters are ultra violent and bloodthirsty, not to mention being oversexed. These are male fantasies.

What was your impression of the Barbarella movie? I’ve only seen a bit of the original comic, which looks interesting. 

I loved it! Jane Fonda was at her most Bardot-esque. But I fear if I watched it today it might seem dated.

During the spy boom in the mid-1960s, there were a few films that tried to spotlight strong female characters: Fathom, Modesty Blaise, and Deadlier Than the Male. Did these movies stand out for you?

I’m afraid the only one I remember is Modesty Blaise, which as you’ve probably guessed, was great. Obviously, before I ever heard the term “women’s liberation,” I was attracted to Honey, Emma, Modesty, the women who were beautiful and powerful and in control of their own lives.

Looking back into your research into comic history, tell us something about the Miss Fury comic strip. I’ve just ordered the two volumes from IDW and they really look amazing- that cat suit is cool! What is the essence of her character? Is she an Emma Peel or Honey West of the 1940s?

Yes, speaking of cat suits! Unlike Emma or Honey, who chose their lives and roles, Marla Drake (Miss Fury) kinda found her role as a crime fighter accidentally, when she decided to wear her explorer uncle’s panther skin to a costume party. This set off a chain of events that lasted almost 10 years, during which Marla discovered just how strong she was. She grew from a rich and pretty society girl into a woman who was a crack shot, who could hold her own in a catfight, who could shinny up buildings and ropes when she needed to, and who could fly a plane!

Was Miss Fury ever adapted into a radio show or serial?

No. Too bad!

We both have a love for fashion, and you once put together a cool book about paper dolls from the comics. Did you discover these when you were little?

I always loved paper dolls, used to draw my own, and read Katy Keene comics.  It wasn’t until much later that I realized there had been paper dolls in the newspaper strips.  Tell me about your love for fashion!

I'm especially into Space-Age fashion by Cardin, Courreges, and Rabanne. You know, those playful mini dresses, space visors, boots, and PVC coats. So Fun! And the trim lines and geometric patterns in Mod fashion is great! I'm also into Flappers and Fred Astaire movies. I'll include some of my fashion post links down below. Was there a Miss Fury paper doll with cat suit? I could only find other outfits on-line.

No cat suits, though, but great high fashion wartime outfits. There were also Baroness Erica Von Kampf paperdolls.  

I’ve read Miss Fury’s costume somehow took a psychic toll on her when she used its power. How was that established in the strip? Isn’t it unusual for a heroic character to experience this instant-karma as payment/sacrifice to their good deeds? The only equivalent that comes to mind is the Wiccan idea that every spell comes back to you threefold.

No no, you have it wrong! The panther skin was a gift from her uncle, a famous explorer, and it had belonged to a witch doctor and came with a curse on it for whoever wore it.

Interesting! Miss Fury has been brought back in new comics by Dynamite: Miss Fury, Masks, and Noir. My first impression, which is typical when faced with modern versions of ladies in catsuits, is why do they have to make her hyper-sexualized and physically exaggerated in a shiny tight suit? As Gloria Steinem wrote in an open letter to Miley Cyrus, it perpetuates sexual availability-as-power as the only game in town. That aside, do you think Miss Fury is holding up in the new books?

I completely agree with you! It breaks my heart to see what these gorillas have done to the wonderful Miss Fury. No, she is not “holding up” in these badly written and badly drawn new books, and my Miss Fury and the REAL Miss Fury will always be the original Tarpe Mills’ Miss Fury. Trina, what do you think male writers usually get wrong when they try to write strong heroines?

It isn’t so much the writer as the artist. How can a woman be strong and in control when her back is broken or in real life the weight of her breasts would make her fall forward onto her face? And let’s not talk about running in high heels!

To illustrate our points, here is a collage I put together of some of the new Miss Fury comic covers. With apologies to some readers, these are quite grotesque. Dynamite produces many variant covers, not all as offensive as this, but the overall design and vibe is consistent. This is the image of an independent action heroine? It makes me sad for any boy or girl who sees these images of this heroine and has to struggle to reconcile the message being communicated. I guess I prefer my heroes and heroines to be role models. 

Another classic strip I look forward to reading is Phantom Lady. Her 'ray' seems like a cool gadget. What is the vibe of that comic? How does it compare to Miss Fury?

I like Phantom Lady, and Matt Baker could draw beautiful girls better than anybody!  The stories were simpler because they were only 6 to 8 pages long in comic book format, whereas Tarpe Mills had almost 10 years to develop her characters and her storyline.

Are there other detective or spy comics you would recommend with female leads?

Well, I’m particularly fond of the 1940s and 1950s Brenda Starr strips. She’s not a detective or a spy, but girl reporters can wind up in some harrowing situations! Brenda is forever having adventures, and she gets herself out of trouble most of the time.

Lois Lane has been described as more heroic than Superman because she dives into danger in pursuit of the truth, knowing she is mortal.

Lois has become a stronger character today, but in the early days of Superman, she was an annoying pain in the neck who always had to be rescued by Superman.

Trina contributed an appreciation to the Brenda Starr collection below by Hermes Press. Hermes has also published collections of The Phantom, Roy Rogers, Buck Rogers, Terry and Pirates, Johnny Hazard, and many Gold Key comic reprint editions.

I’ve heard that you were a big Sci-Fi fan as a kid. Were there ways to connect with other fans then? And did you ever “Cosplay” your favorite characters?

I had 2 best friends David, who was 14, and Marty who was 15. Just like with superhero comics, there weren’t yet many girls reading Sci-Fi. We used to hang out in David’s finished basement, making up stories and talking about books we had read. There was no cosplay yet!

Did you listen to radio shows as a kid? I love listening to them now, truly the “theater of the mind.” It seems that shows made the experiences more interactive by keeping up the suspense from episode to episode, and by marketing things like decoder rings. 

I definitely listened to radio shows: Captain Midnight, Superman, and Tom Mix.  Loved them!

Agatha Christie is the best-selling author of all-time. Were you mostly a Sci-Fi reader, or did you also get into mysteries?

I loved Agatha Christie and Ngaio March, got all their books out of the library when I was in high school.

Did you collect pulps or comics growing up? What were some of your favorite titles?

OMG, yes! Before I went to high school, I read almost all comics books with girl or women heroines, like Wonder Woman, Mary Marvel, or Sheena, Queen of the Jungle. When I hit high school, my schoolteacher mother told me that now I was a teenager and comics were kid stuff, and she talked me into giving my collection away to the neighborhood kids. But then I discovered science fiction, and soon was reading all the sci-fi pulp mags like Thrilling Wonder Stories, Startling Stories, etc. They featured letter columns, so I sent a letter to one of them, which they printed, saying I was a 14 year old girl who would like to meet other kids who read Sci-Fi, and that’s how I met David and Marty.

Here are some images you might enjoy from the Pulps and early comics. Talk about strong independent heroines! 

Tell me about your series Chicagoland Detective Agency. Are you bringing in elements from the Pulps to new readers?

The themes in my series for young readers are all supernatural: I have mad scientists, mummies, aliens, werewolves, ghosts, and witches. It’s not necessarily pulpy; just fun.

Speaking of Pulps, you have written The Phantom for one of Moonstone’s anthologies. Did you follow Lee Falk’s strips as a kid?

It was fun writing my Phantom story in the style of a Depression era pulp mag.  But no, I didn’t follow The Phantom. I don’t even know what newspaper ran it.

Are there other Pulp characters you would enjoy writing?

I’ve already written Captain Midnight, and I also wrote a Honey West short story that hasn’t come out yet. I dunno.  I’m open.

Comic books have a natural rhythm of suspense because they are serialized like those penny dreadfuls and cliffhangers of the past. Is writing different for you when working in a complete graphic novel form?

I enjoy writing both. I like graphic novels where I have the space to tell an entire story, but I have been enjoying writing my 2-part Honey Wests in which part 1 ends with a cliffhanger.

You have compiled some amazing artwork for projects like Miss Fury. Do you collect vintage comic books, strips, or original artwork? Does collecting play a part in the process of writing your books?

Of course I collect vintage comic books and original art! I have the largest collection in the world of comic art by early 20th Century women cartoonists. Currently, parts of my collection are being exhibited at Toonseum in Pittsburgh, the main branch of the SF public library in San Francisco, and soon to go up on exhibit at the San Francisco Cartoon Art Museum (April 27th) [note: ended].

It was such a pleasure to contribute to the new Wonder Woman documentary with you. I hope everyone sees it! I think it could be a step for some people toward seeing the dominant male paradigm and what it means for female role models. What was important for you to address or cover when you wrote your various Wonder Woman comics?

I really just wanted to tell a good story with the Wonder Woman I loved, who was much closer to the original Golden Age Wonder Woman than what DC had been printing at the time.

Maybe I get my sense of Wonder Woman from Lynda Carter’s TV portrayal, but her essence seems to about honor, justice, and compassion. 

Just like Anne Francis WAS Honey West, Lynda Carter WAS Wonder Woman!  All us feminists watched her show. I remember speaking about the new show with my dentist who was a woman (still a rarity then) and we were laughing and agreeing that we both loved it. She said, “Then why are we laughing?” I thought maybe it was a combination of us being so happy about the show, but also a little embarrassed that we grown women were so excited about a comic character.

Below are some press images from Wonder Women: The Untold Story of American Superheroines. Trina is featured in the film, along with Gloria Steinem and Lynda Carter (pictured here).

Looking at a character really marketed to girls, were you able to bring new depth to Matell’s BARBIE when you wrote a comic for Marvel in the 90s?

Those Barbie comics were pretty amazing. Drawn by 4 women whom I used to call “the Barbie Four” (Mary Wilshire, Anna Maria Cool, Amanda Conner, and Barb Rausch), written by 3 women, of which I was one, and also inker, and with a woman editor, Hildy Mesnick. And the stories were never of the “Oh, let’s go shopping!” or “Math is hard” variety. Of course the stories were simple, it was for little girls, but we tackled subjects like deafness, anorexia, other serious stuff, all the while making our stories fun to read. Mattel was a pain in the neck, because they had to approve all the scripts, and they were clueless suits. So once I proposed a story in which Skipper dreamed she was a pirate queen, and they rejected it, saying “little girls don’t care about pirates”!!! Oh, yeah? Another time I proposed a story where Barbie and her friends have a fashion show to benefit endangered species. And they said “No politics”!!! Endangered species is politics?!? So I had to change it to a fashion show to benefit the zoo.

Speaking of little girls, I ran into Denis Kitchen and his daughter Alexa many years back at a NCS dinner when I was writing my Mort Walker book. Alexa was making these cute buttons with her comics, and has since published Drawing Comics is Easy! (Except When it’s Hard). Did you get to see this cute book?

I haven’t seen it. It’s now on my list of books to check out.

It's really cute- and helpful! My cartooning students like it. Congrats on your new book, Pretty in Ink. My readers are interested in mysteries, detectives, and espionage, though I’d hope they are curious to read many genres. What are some highlights in the book that may appeal? You have uncovered some real life stories, too, that sound interesting.

Well, of course one of the most interesting (out of many!) is the story of Lily Renee, who drew gorgeous adventure strips, most starring beautiful heroines, for Fiction House comics during WWII. Her life was right out of a comic book. She was a Jewish teenager in Vienna in 1938 when the Nazis marched in, and she escaped to England the following year, had many adventures, finally winding up in NY, drawing for Fiction House. My favorite of her strips is Senorita Rio, about a Brazilian actress and nightclub entertainer who was really a spy for the secret service. So I wrote a graphic novel about her, called Lily Renee, Escape artist. Check it out, it’s aimed at kids but grownups like it too.

In your praise for Lily Renee, you’ve mentioned Fiction House was turning out great material in the 1940s that included “jungle girls, girl reporters and aviatrixes and girl detectives and girl spies.” Were these reoccurring characters? Who were those cool ladies?

Yes, these were recurring characters, and during the war, most of them were drawn by women. Fran Hopper drew Glory Forbes, a girl detective; Mysta of the Moon, a goddess-like woman who lived on the moon, Jane Martin, a Nazi-fighting aviatrix/nurse, and Camilla, a jungle queen. Marcia Snyder also drew Camilla, and probably others but I don’t know which they were. Lily Renee drew Senorita Rio, along with Jane Martin, and other comics like Werewolf Hunter (see below) and Lost World.

Lilly did “Werewolf Hunter” under the pseudonym Armand Broussard. From what I’ve seen on-line, it looks like the scope of the stories included supernatural and anti-Nazi themes? 

All the comics were credited to house pseudonyms, but the artists also signed their work, so although Werewolf Hunter says it’s by Armand Broussard, it’s signed “L. Renee.” Yes, these were stories of the supernatural, and often the evil forces are thinly disguised Nazis. 

We’ve talked about many of the great female action figures, from Emma Peel to Honey West and Miss Fury. If you could invite one of these characters to lunch, who would it be?

What I’d really like to do is go to lunch with Tarpe Mills (pictured below)!

Lastly, if you were an international spy or diabolical mastermind, what would your secret lair be?

A nice little house close to the water in Hawaii.

Thank you, Trina. It’s a great pleasure chatting with you! My website here and Mort Walker [Beetle Bailey] book here. Readers might be interested in my new novel about a female Japanese spy and Raymond Benson's Black Stiletto series. In other news, check out my episodes of the Cocktail Nation radio show, where I introduce classic spy films/TV series and play soundtracks and rare cuts: Episode #1 (Danger Man) and Episode #2 (The 10th Victim), Epsiode #3 (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), Episode #4 (Roger Moore/The Saint), and Episode #5 (The Avengers). Episode #6 (The Prisoner), and Episode #7 (The Ipcress File). Enjoy! Spy Vibers, don't miss the TV spy gadget event in LA on October 17th, 2017- more info here. 

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Eddie Izzard, The Prisoner Capt Scarlet 50th, Hugh Hefner R.I.P., Jack Good R.I.P., Interview: Shaken Not Stirred, Callan 50th, Spy Vibe Radio 7, The Prisoner 50th Event, Spy-Fi Event, Kaho Aso 007, Two Million, Bo Diddley, Carnaby Pop, Le Carre Events, Billy Bragg Skiffle, Elvis 68, Jack Kirby The Prisoner, Casino Royale Concert, Review: The Prisoner Vol 2, Interview: The Prisoner Essential Guide, Maud Russell Mottisfont, Spy Vibe Radio 4, Batman Gallants, Adam West R.I.P., Village Triangle, Roger Moore R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio 3, Sgt Pepper 50th, Satanik Kriminal OST, 60s Overdrive, Make Love in London, Spy Vibe Radio 2, Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview:Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, Trina Robbins Interview, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review.