May 24, 2014

DANGER MOUSE

Saturday Morning Cartoons: Danger Mouse (1981-1992). Travel back in time to the early 1980s, when spy fans were enjoying the first marathons of classic Bond on TV, and old faves were finally becoming accessible through the growing technology of home video. In 1981 Roger Moore's For Your Eyes Only hit the big screen, and on British television an animated secret agent show called Danger Mouse made its debut. Spy Vibers will of course recognize the playful reference to Danger Man. In the series, which lasted ten seasons, the dapper spy DM and his assistant Penfold raced the globe thwarting the diabolical plots of Baron Silas Greenback. Viewers enjoyed the smart cocktail of cool gadgets, clever puns, and a talented cast of voice actors. Danger Mouse received his orders from Colonel K, styled after M, and voiced by Edward Kelsey (The Tripods, The Saint, The Avengers). The animation was simple but effective, often overlaying cels with photographic source images of the city (ala Yellow Submarine). Bond fever struck hard in 1983 with the release of both Octopussy (Roger Moore) and the return of Sean Connery in Never Say Never Again. By 1984, Nickelodeon was riding the spy-wave importing Danger Mouse to the United States. A complete box set of 89 episodes was released by A&E in 2007 (available through Amazon here). A number of sets have been released in the UK, including a new complete collection in 2011. If Spy Vibers are inclined to hunt for DM collectibles, seven annuals were published in England between 1982 and 1987. The video clip below features an episode, characteristically titled with humorous self-reference to a Patrick McGoohan classic, Ice Station Camel. Enjoy!



Recent Ian Fleming posts on Spy Vibe: 
new Fleming booksSE Asian 007Cumberbatch as Ian FlemingFleming Jamaica BookBond Japanese EditionsFleming Chinese EditionChitty Chitty Bang Bang 50thIan Fleming: Mt. Demon Hell JapanCollecting FlemingLive and Let Die 60thnew poster announced007 Audio Books UpdateAppropriating Bond Exhibit, Fleming Letters MysteryThe Goldfinger VariationsDouble 007 Book Designs,  Double 007 designs IIrare Ian Fleming editionBook Design DopplegangersTurkish Bond designIan Fleming LettersErno GoldfingerNoel 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.

Recent Spy Vibe posts: Lost Avengers EpisodesBig Fun ToysDanger Diabolik SoundtrackBruno Nicolai CDMother's Day (Avengers)Mod Fashion DollsWild Wild West Blu-rayCold War ArchieNew Avengers ComicIpcress File Blu-rayHonor Blackman TourPlayboy Bunny InterviewThe 10th Victim Japanese and KindleU.N.C.L.E. Japanese BooksThe 10th Victim German EditionUNCLE GunThe Saint books returnSpy exhibit at the Pacific Science Center, Trina Robbins InterviewCatsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty TempletonDC Fontana Prisoner VideoEdward Gorey's 1960sIpcress File cinematography007 SOLO cover designs, Gloria Steinem and Denny O'Neil on MOD Wonder WomanWin Scott Eckert interview, Siegel and Shuster's SPYDavid McCallum: Son of BatmanWonderwall comes to Blu-rayKevin Dart talks Ringo & Powerpuff GirlsFu Manchu history panelMod Tales InterviewAtomic ArtShane Glines Batman.