January 22, 2014

DAVID MCCALLUM: SON OF BATMAN

Open Channel D: Actor David McCallum, who portrayed agent Illya Kuryakin in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (1964-1968), will appear in an upcoming animated film called Son of Batman. McCallum will reprise his role as Batman's butler Alfred- his first work in the role was for the 2008 animated Bat-Anime anthology Gotham Knight. Most Spy Vibers remember David McCallum for The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Great Escape, The Outer Limits, Sapphire & Steel, The Invisible Man, JAG, and NCIS. In recent years, he has also lent his voice to a number of projects, including Ben 10, The Replacements, and Batman: The Brave and the Bold (as Merlin). Music was a large part of David McCallum's upbringing and education. Spy Vibe covered some of his record releases from the 1960s here. More below.


Son of Batman: The film is based on Grant Morrison's Batman & Son arc. Batman is shocked to learn that not only does he have a son, but that the boy's mother is Talia, the daughter of the international overlord Ra's Al Ghul. The Dark Knight and his willful boy- as the new Robin- become uneasy allies when Talia enlists a team of ninja man-bats on a criminal enterprise with international consequences." Release date is May 6th. Amazon page here. I usually love these DC animated films, though I do wish Kevin Conroy (Batman Animated Series) was in the lead as the Caped Crusader. Past Alfreds: Efrim Zimbalist Jr. played Batman's butler in most of DC's productions of Batman, Superman  and Justice League projects between 1992-2004. Alan Napier defined the character for the 1966 Batman TV series, and Michael Caine recently played Alfred in the Dark Knight trilogy. I look forward to hearing David McCallum again in the role.


Recent Spy Vibe posts: Jon Gilbert talks FlemingBarbarella TV seriesMeet the Beatles 50thWonderwall comes to Blu-rayBatman StripsDavid Bowie at 67Kevin Dart talks Ringo & Powerpuff GirlsSherlock ExhibitFu Manchu history panelAndy Warhol box set, Six-Million Dollar ManStriped Light NudeBuckminster FullerDylan at NewportJane and SergeThe Goldfinger VariationsMod Tales InterviewPete SeegerKraftwerk returns to US, Beatles BBC on Fresh Air, Steranko S.H.I.E.L.D. Artist Editions, David Tennant's Ian Fleming audio books, Atomic ArtModern Architecture LPJulius ShulmanShane Glines Batman, The Prisoner and Captain ScarletDiego Fortunato and Verner Panton, Saturday Morning CartoonsAssassination Bureau on DVD, new Young Bond series, new Hercule Poirot novel, Early Beatles image archive, Julie NewmarErno GoldfingerHitchcock tribute. 

Recent Ian Fleming posts on Spy Vibe: Ian Fleming LettersErno Goldfinger, Ian Fleming Music Series links: Noel CowardWhispering Jack SmithHawaiian GuitarJoe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming CatalogJon Gilbert interview, Double 007 Designs, Bond audio book reissues, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, rare View to a Kill, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address, Spy Vibe's Ian Fleming image archive.

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