SKY MASTERS

Greetings, Spy Vibers! I've been super busy lately teaching my art classes. Students get most of my time (they deserve it!), but I've also been chipping away at the upcoming Spy Vibe book. One little corner of research this week will be looking at Jack Kirby's science fiction work inspired by the Space Race. Spy Vibers will surely know how this theme tied in with the strip he co-created with Stan Lee that launched the Marvel Age in the 60s, The Fantastic Four! In fact, space travel was one of the many themes Kirby was already exploring during the late 50s and early 60s. Readers can look for reprints of Race For the Moon and Challegers of the Unknown. There's even a collected edition of Simon/Kirby Science Fiction. Kirby also worked on a strip called Sky Masters of the Space Force, which has been collected by Hermes Press. The hardcover has sold out, but you can pick up the softcover edition (currently on sale) at HERMES. From the press release: "Sky Masters was created at the beginning of the space race — when who would get into space and to the moon first —was a national obsession. The strip takes place in the not to distant future where the United States sends men into space but hasn’t ventured much further yet. The series in clearly anchored in the late 1950s/early1960s so it serves as a highly stylized period piece that still holds up very nicely. The material used in this archival edition ranges from original art, to press proofs, to tear sheets, and boasts the best reproduction of the strip ever." Someone has set a Sky Masters story to John Williams' original soundtrack to Lost in Space (see below). I also want to recommend a documentary streaming on Amazon Prime called Kirby at War, which chronicles Jack Kirby's harrowing experiences during WWII. Enjoy!

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Ray Cathode, Spy Vibe Radio: Johnny Staccato, Matt Helm Blu, Cold War Auction, Avengers Francavilla Prints, Avengers 60th Event, Irma Vep Blu, Avengers Keel Design, Ronnie Scott's Doc, The Avengers 60th Design, New Year, Art of Pan Books, John Le Carre R.I.P., Sean Connery R.I.P., New 007 Vinyl, Burke's Law Ska, Dieter Rams Complete, 2-Tone Doc, Spy Vibe Radio: Vendetta Part 2, Diana Rigg R.I.P., Moog Micky Dolenz, Beetle Bailey 70th, RSD Spies Vinyl, Ian Fleming Tribute, Fellini Box Set, Spy Vibe Radio: Vendetta, The Saint Podcast Bonus, The Saint Podcast, Barber Lotus, Diana Rigg at 82, Trad Roots, Morricone R.I.P., Fleetway Spy Designs, John Steel Casebooks, Paul at 78, ITC Podcast: The Persuaders, Dazzle Ships, Spy Vibe Radio: Raumpatrouille, Remembering Richard Sala, Crime & Spy Jazz books, Soviet Space Graphics, Numan is FAB, Bruce Lee Blu, John Barry Event, RSD Vinyl Spies, James Bond's DB5, UFO CD Set, Spy Vibe radio: Phantom Agents, Steranko is Revolutionary!, Interview: The Saint I Ain't, Diabolik Interview, New 007 Song, Diabolik Figures, Diabolik Sounds, Diabolik Set Design, Diabolik Park Ride, Danger Diabolik Blu, Count Arthur Strong, Honey West Title Cards, Bowie Day, New Year Cosmonauts, Neil Innes R.I.P., Claudine Auger R.I.P., OHMSS at 50, Italian Job 50th OST, Charles Schulz Modern, Paul Desmond, Python 50th, Randall Hopkirk 50th, Thunderbirds Day, Lazenby Returns to MI6, Dr. John R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio: Lupin III, Lupin Ska, Spy Vibe Prime, Zigomar Translation, The Village: Part 1, Monkey Punch R.I.P., Bubble Girl 63, ITC Soundtracks, Spy Vibe Radio: Public Eye, UFO Prime, Spaceship to Mars, Modesty Blaise Companion, Spy Vibe Radio: Fantomas, George Day, Fantomas Blu, Dark Shadows Doc, Bedazzled Blu-ray, Mary Quant Exhibit, Laika Calypso, Lost in Space Japan, Spy Dust Calypso, Atomic Cafe, John Barry Mono, Interview: John Barry Book, Land of the Giants Score, Skyfall Concert, Dearest Emma, Spy Vibe Radio: Upperseven, Ogilvy at Elstree, Mabuse Propaganda, Bond Beatles Day, Spy Vibe Radio: Liquidator, Diabolik LP, Fab Dresses, Eurospy Music Collection, Beetle Bailey in West Berlin, Why Mort Walker?, Spy Vibe radio: The Beatles Help!, Avengers Critical Guide, The Spotnicks, Benny Spies, James Pond 0017', Satire Stones, Annette Andre Book, Cat Day, Spy Vibe Radio: Get Smart, Caine: My Generation, Interview: Ian Ogilvy, Horror of Party Beach, Sylvie Vartan Renown, Ringo At 78, Dark Shadows Strips, Spy Vibe Radio: Flint, Archie Batman 66, Paul at 76, Beatles Pac-Man, Spy Vibe Radio: Jerry Cotton, The Invaders, 007 Horowitz Book Tour, McGoohan/Prisoner Event at Elstree, The Prisoner Interviews Vol 1, British Underground Press, Interview: Fab4 Mania, Bond Cocktail Book, Bond at Bletchley, Spy Smasher, Spy Vibe Radio: Peter Gunn, Agent Zero M, New Prisoner Comic, Dr. No Villains Edition, Spy Vibe Radio: Danger Diabolik, Dr. No 60th, Oy-Oy-Seven, Spy Vibe Radio (UFO), Cold War Comic Strips, Thunderball Event, Mission to India, Mort Walker Celebration, Peter Wyngarde Celebration, Batman 66 Exhibit, Prisoner Fifty Event, Ian Fleming Publications 2017-2018, Interview: Ed Hulse Pulp, Avengers Audio Drama, Interview: Callan At 50, Interview: Playboys, Spies, Private Eyes, TWA Returns, Spy Vibe Radio 8, Interview: Ryan Heshka, Mid-Century Modern Schulz, Agent Werewolf, Johnny Sokko 50th, Interview: Trina Robbins, Eddie Izzard, The Prisoner Capt Scarlet 50th, Hugh Hefner R.I.P., Jack Good R.I.P., Interview: Shaken Not Stirred, Callan 50th, Spy Vibe Radio 7, The Prisoner 50th Event, Spy-Fi Event, Kaho Aso 007, Two Million, Bo Diddley, Carnaby Pop, Le Carre Events, Billy Bragg Skiffle, Elvis 68, Jack Kirby The Prisoner, Casino Royale Concert, Review: The Prisoner Vol 2, Interview: The Prisoner Essential Guide, Maud Russell Mottisfont, Spy Vibe Radio 4, Batman Gallants, Adam West R.I.P., Village Triangle, Roger Moore R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio 3, Sgt Pepper 50th, Satanik Kriminal OST, 60s Overdrive, Make Love in London, Spy Vibe Radio 2, Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview: Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review.

RAY CATHODE

New release: A limited-edition vinyl release from Dublab brings back two rare tracks by George Martin. Before producer George Martin started working with The Beatles, he was exploring the studio and new techniques in order to find new sounds. Even developing Parlophone's catalog of experimental comedy recordings was unconventional. Martin was a guy who thought outside the box -a quality that would later prove useful when making Beatles records. But in early 1962, shortly before the Fabs appeared at EMI studios on Abbey Road, Martin was pursuing an interesting little project with Maddalena Fagandini from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop to create some electronic tracks. They each took turns providing melody to the other's electronic rhythms and built up two tracks. The results were "Time Beat" and "Waltz in Orbit," released in April (Parlophone 45-R 4901). For their label credit, the artists chose the whimsical moniker, Ray Cathode. It was the first commercial release, I believe, associated with the Radiophonic Workshop. By June that year, Martin's calendar started to fill up with Beatles projects. Fagandini continued to compose and also worked as a producer, director, and writer on programs like The Guest, Music Now, and Look and Read. Interestingly, Paul McCartney would later visit Delia Derbyshire and Brian Hodgson at Peter Zinovieff's studio and had toyed with the idea of a Radiophonic version of his tune, "Michelle." Derbyshire's group Unit Delta Plus were featured at the Roundhouse events in early 1967, where McCartney presented his experimental piece, "Carnival of Light" (never released commercially). Dublab will be pressing a limited run of 100 copies of the "Ray Cathode" single. Release date is May 1st. More info Here. This release is already sold out, but Spy Vibers can hear the music on Youtube. Check out "Waltz in Orbit" below. It's my fave of the two recordings. The track has an interesting time signature that reminds me of Dave Brubeck. See what you think. Enjoy! Spy Vibers might also enjoy my episode of the Cocktail Nation Radio show from Australia featuring Radiophonic artist John Baker's music from Vendetta (Link Here).

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