March 7, 2016

NEW AVENGERS COMICS

Having lived in Japan for a number of years, I have a special fondness for rare book editions printed in Asia. I've shared pieces of my collection on Spy Vibe in the past, including Japanese printings of the Ian Fleming and Man From U.N.C.L.E. novels. Most recently I acquired two sets of comics printed in China and today I finally have a chance to share one of them. According to the Avengers Anew site, it took quite a while for classic spy shows to break through the Iron Curtain in China. The original Avengers series wasn't aired until the late 1980s and The New Avengers saw transmission in 1990. The characters must have been popular because an eight-volume series of New Avengers comics was published that same year. The art style was quite flat and crude, with few exceptions, but story adaptations appeared to be based faithfully on actual episodes. Skimming through my set, it's been quite fun to notice imagery lifted from 1976 classics such as Last of the Cybernauts and Target. And it's always fun to see Patrick Macnee's John Steed, Purdey, and Gambit in comic form. Our friend in Avengers fandom, Denis Kirsanov, helped to spread knowledge of this comic set back in 2014 and I was able to gather a complete collection last fall. Below are the painted covers for each of the eight volumes, plus a sample of some of my favorite pages. Lastly, I'm including a piece of rare original New Avengers art that was used to produce a Chapeau Melon et Bottes de Cuir comic in France (something I spotted at auction- very tempting). Enjoy! Related posts:  The 10th Victim Japanese and KindleU.N.C.L.E. Japanese BooksIan Fleming's JapanJane Bond Hong Kong RecordsBob Morane seriesThai Bond Design, James Bond Japanese Editions, Ian Fleming Chinese Edition























Selected Spy Vibe Posts:Trina Robbins InterviewThe Phantom at 80007 MangaAvengerworld BookDiana Rigg Auto ShowThe Prisoner Audio Drama ReviewDavid McCallum novelAndre Courreges R.I.P.Who's Talking on Spy VibeUFO Blu-rayAvengers Pop Art Interview, Fergus Fleming Interview, Avengers: Alan Hayes InterviewJaz Wiseman Interview, Diana Rigg BFI InterviewCasino Royale Interview: Mike RichardsonLost Diana Rigg InterviewHonor Blackman at 90UNCLE SchoolIan Fleming Memorial, Portmeirion PhotosDoctor Who ExhibitFarewell SteedPussy Galore ReturnsDiana Rigg birthdaySherlock at 221BInvisible AgentSaint Interview: Ian DickersonSaint DoppelgängerFleming's TypewriterRare FlemingFleming's MusicIan Fleming's JapanJim Wilson Corgi InterviewFantomas DesignJohn Buss interview, Saint VolvoMod Tales InterviewAgente Secreto ComicsDanger Man Comics 2Danger Man ComicsJohn Drake ComicsDer Mann Von UNCLEGolden Margaret NolanMan From UNCLE RocksteadyPussy Galore CalypsoCynthia Lennon R.I.P.Edward Mann FashionLeonard Nimoy TributeShatner at 84Bob Morane seriesThai Bond DesignBond vs ModernismTokyo Beat 1964Feraud Mod FashionGreen Hornet MangaAvengers Interview: Michael RichardsonIan Fleming: Wicked GrinJane Bond Hong Kong RecordsRyan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMANComics Week: Jimmy OlsenShakespeare Spies: Diana RiggShakespeare Spies IRodney Marshall Avengers InterviewRichard Sala: Super-EnigmatixCold War ArchiePlayboy Bunny InterviewThe 10th Victim Japanese and KindleU.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.