Spy Vibe is extending Comics Week! During the excitement of Comic-Con over the weekend, I was on a mission to hunt for pop-culture artifacts at my local comic shops. One of the most surprising finds was an original Smash Comics issue with Bozo the Robot from the 1940s (see our post about Robot comics here). I also uncovered a 1967 Archie story inspired by the Spy Boom of the mid-1960s. Made during the single season of The Girl From U.N.C.L.E., Life With Archie #57 featured a story called Flight of the Fiend starring B.E.T.T.Y. as "The Girl From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E.". The plot revolved around The Birdman, enemy agent for C.R.U.S.H., who took control of Betty via a transistorized thought-control device (hidden inside a tiny bird!). The comic included many fun spy conventions, like a charm bracelet that shot sleeping gas and white Go Go boots that could open electronic locks. Despite the dynamic cover showing Archie as a secret agent wielding a gadget-pen, he was only an ancillary character. What was the story about? Under hypnotic control of The Birdman, Betty is sent to infiltrate "Lodge Enterprises" to steal secret plans for the Model-3X jet plane. Adventure ensues as she betrays all of her friends one by one to get the plans. Oh, that Betty! But things are not what they seem and The Birdman faces dire consequences when he delivers the specs for a jet-powered malted milk machine to C.R.U.S.H.. His chief brandishes a gun on the last page, saying, "You big beaked bird-brain, you've had it!" What, no piranha tank? C.R.U.S.H. isn't too inventive when it comes to dealing with failure in their organization. Below are some of my photos of favorite panels from the issue, including a popular ad for a signed David McCallum pin-up. In related news, the current Life With Archie series has just culminated in Archie's death (by handgun!) and his funeral. You can find issues at your local comic store. There is also a popular Afterlife With Archie comic with zombie versions of the characters. And though The Birdman was unique to issue #57, readers may also enjoy our post about Hanna Barbera's Birdman cartoon here. Enjoy!
Recent Spy Vibe posts: Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: TV Avengers & Batman 75th, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Diana Rigg at 76, Gerry Anderson Box Set, Gerry Anderson Doc, Mr. Hulot's Box Set, Rare Avengers Scripts, Man From Uncle UK Comics, Mattel X-15, Thunderbirds Comics, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Batman News, Monty Python Fathom Spies, Monty Python Returns!, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Avengers Book: Bowler Hats & Kinky Boots, George Lois Design & Mad Men, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, The Spotnicks, Model Secret Agents, Remo Williams Blu-ray, Bunny Yeager and Ursula Andress, Danger Mouse, Lost Avengers Episodes, Big Fun Toys, Danger Diabolik Soundtrack, Mother's Day (Avengers), Mod Fashion Dolls, Cold War Archie, New Avengers Comic, Ipcress File Blu-ray, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, The 10th Victim German Edition, UNCLE Gun, The Saint books return, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.
