October 18, 2017

AGENT WEREWOLF

It's Halloween season, Spy Vibers! I was lucky to see a double feature last weekend of the original Universal Frankenstein films at the famous Castro Theater. It was so great to see some of those classic scenes on the giant screen. Karloff photographed so well in that dramatic lighting! Of course, the Universal monsters made a huge comeback in the 1950s and 1960s. They appeared in a long-running series with Abbott and Costello, were celebrated in monster magazines, and most kids in the early 1960s built Aurora model kits of their favorite monsters. Although they had started out as terrifying characters, kids from the Cold War era look back at the monsters with fondness, much in the same way Godzilla was eventually adopted as a kind of hero for children. The love of monsters also spawned shows like The Munsters and The Addams Family (inspired by the great comics by Charles Addams in The New Yorker). During the classic horror boom of the 1960s, Dell publishing set out to cash in on a few major characters, releasing comics such as Frankenstein: The Monster is Back!, The Mummy, Dracula, The Wolf Man, and The Creature in 1963-1964. Dell also used some of the character names to launch short comic series about hybrid superheroes (and a spy!): Frankenstein, Dracula, and Werwolf. The most interesting for Spy Vibers was Werewolf, which lasted three issues between 1966-1967. A radical departure from the usual horror adaptation, the comic centered around a pilot who crashed in the arctic circle and was trained by wolves. Once he and his wolf companion were rescued, he was recruited to work as a top spy with the aid of gadgets and a hypnotic treatment that enabled him to change his face at will. Handy! Dive deeper into the series over at 4th Letter here and Gorilla Daze here In other news, check out my episodes of the Cocktail Nation radio show, where I introduce classic spy films/TV series and play soundtracks and rare cuts: Episode #1 (Danger Man) and Episode #2 (The 10th Victim), Epsiode #3 (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), Episode #4 (Roger Moore/The Saint), and Episode #5 (The Avengers). Episode #6 (The Prisoner), and Episode #7 (The Ipcress File). Enjoy!


Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Mata Hair Exhibit, Johnny Sokko 50thInterview: Trina RobbinsEddie IzzardThe Prisoner Capt Scarlet 50thHugh Hefner R.I.P.Jack Good R.I.P.Interview: Shaken Not StirredCallan 50thSpy Vibe Radio 7The Prisoner 50th EventSpy-Fi EventKaho Aso 007Two MillionBo DiddleyCarnaby PopLe Carre EventsBilly Bragg SkiffleElvis 68Jack Kirby The PrisonerCasino Royale ConcertReview: The Prisoner Vol 2Interview: The Prisoner Essential GuideMaud Russell MottisfontSpy Vibe Radio 4Batman GallantsAdam West R.I.P.Village TriangleRoger Moore R.I.P.Spy Vibe Radio 3Sgt Pepper 50thSatanik Kriminal OST60s OverdriveMake Love in LondonSpy Vibe Radio 2Spy Vibe Radio 1James Bond StripsPropaganda MabuseInterview: Police SurgeonXTC Avengers1966 Pep SpiesBatman Book InterviewExclusive Fleming InterviewAvengers Comic StripsRobert Vaughn RIPUNCLE FashionsThunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview: Spy Film GuideLost Avengers FoundThe Callan FileMission Impossible 50thGreen Hornet 50thStar Trek 50thPortmeirion Photography 1Filming the PrisonerGaiman McGinnins ProjectIan Fleming GraveRevolver at 50Karen Romanko InterviewMod Tales 2Umbrella Man: Patrick MacneeNew Beatles FilmThe Curious CameraEsterel Fashion 1966Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview007 Tribute CoversThe Phantom Avon novels returnIan Fleming FestivalArgoman DesignSylvia Anderson R.I.P.Ken Adam R.I.P.George Martin R.I.P.The New Avengers ComicsThe Phantom at 80007 MangaAvengerworld BookDiana Rigg Auto ShowThe Prisoner Audio Drama Review.