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 Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, Ian Fleming's Japan, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Bob Morane series, Thai Bond Design, James Bond Japanese Editions, Ian Fleming Chinese Edition. 

Selected Spy Vibe Posts:Trina Robbins Interview, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review, David McCallum novel, Andre Courreges R.I.P., Who's Talking on Spy Vibe, UFO Blu-ray, Avengers Pop Art Interview, Fergus Fleming Interview, Avengers: Alan Hayes Interview, Jaz Wiseman Interview, Diana Rigg BFI Interview, Casino Royale Interview: Mike Richardson, Lost Diana Rigg Interview, Honor Blackman at 90, UNCLE School, Ian Fleming Memorial, Portmeirion Photos, Doctor Who Exhibit, Farewell Steed, Pussy Galore Returns, Diana Rigg birthday, Sherlock at 221B, Invisible Agent, Saint Interview: Ian Dickerson, Saint Doppelgänger, Fleming's Typewriter, Rare Fleming, Fleming's Music, Ian Fleming's Japan, Jim Wilson Corgi Interview, Fantomas Design, John Buss interview, Saint Volvo, Mod Tales Interview, Agente Secreto Comics, Danger Man Comics 2, Danger Man Comics, John Drake Comics, Der Mann Von UNCLE, Golden Margaret Nolan, Man From UNCLE Rocksteady, Pussy Galore Calypso, Cynthia Lennon R.I.P., Edward Mann Fashion, Leonard Nimoy Tribute, Shatner at 84, Bob Morane series, Thai Bond Design, Bond vs Modernism, Tokyo Beat 1964, Feraud Mod Fashion, Green Hornet Manga, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan 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: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.