February 24, 2023

DASTARDLY DUCKS

Greetings, Spy Vibers! Well, it's been another long stretch of busy teaching. My students are all working on large projects. Photographers have all gone into their own chosen areas to create portfolios and the filmmakers are making various shorts. I still have some sections to write for the Spy Vibe book, but I shared most of the manuscript recently with the publisher to get feedback as we shape the project. It's much larger than I anticipated (hopefully not as large as my recent Mort Walker book, which clocked in at over 700 pages!). The balance is trying to keep it moving and fun as a celebration, while also going into deep analysis about classic shows and movies. After so many years of looking at the material, I think it's the analysis I find most interesting. Anyway, still much to do! I'm finding lots of fun these days also making my first deep-dive into the worlds of Carl Barks and Don Rosa (I'm talking Donald Duck and Scrooge McDuck here). I'd heard for years about how great their duck stories were, but I just never jumped in until recently. Wow, have I been missing out! There is a lot of funny, adventurous, and brilliant material there. Barks and Rosa might be known among American readers for the classic Dell and Gold Key comics or from the comics Gladstone/Gemstone started publishing in the late 80s, but the duck universe is a massive and popular force among European publishers and fans. One particular area that may appeal to Spy Vibers involves Donald Duck stories published in Italy and France inspired by classic gentleman thieves and villains (and with names inspired by Fantomas and Diabolik). I'll definitely go deeper into these characters later, but I thought readers might be interested to see the cover of this new issue from Topolino in Italy -released yesterday as a special Paperinik issue. You might be able to order it herePaperinik first appeared in a story called "Paperinik the diabolic avenger" in Topolino #706 (June 8, 1969), with was reprinted by IDW in English in Donald Duck #s 5-6. More to come! My segments on Cocktail Nation radio resume this month, so please stay tuned for links to the next episode. I'll be talking about an interesting soundtrack that connected international spies with the world of Exotica records. 


Selected Spy Vibe Posts: McCartney 1964Spy Vibe Radio: HunterSpy Vibe Radio: Gao Dalli CID 999Bond Beatles 60thWilliam Klein R.I.P.Spy Vibe Radio: M SquadSpy Vibe Radio: Mr. BroadwayAgent KingPaul at 80Spy Vibe Radio: John KlingClassical Cold WarSpy Vibe Radio: Unknown Man of ShandigorDanger Man PodcastSpy Vibe Radio: Dr. MabuseBowie DayInterview: Girls Guns GadgetsShandigor BluShag Palm SpringsNew Bond NovelHi-Fi BookJudex Serial BluUFO ComicsInterview: John BussITC Magazine, Interview: Kaiser MarionettesBelmondo R.I.P.007 Corgi EventSpace 1999: The VaultShag Eames LoungeFirecracker ExoticaSpy Vibe Radio: Lola AlbrightTikyaki 5-0Godzilla ScoresMid-Century VillageSpy Vibe radio: Nicola ConteMen's Adventure QuarterlyBilly May FrenesiGary NumanSpy Vader SpyChris Barber LegacyPhantom RetrospectiveAstro-ManSpy Vibe Radio: BatmanJames Bond LexiconRay CathodeSpy Vibe Radio: Johnny StaccatoMatt Helm BluCold War AuctionAvengers Francavilla PrintsAvengers 60th EventIrma Vep BluAvengers Keel DesignRonnie Scott's DocThe Avengers 60th DesignArt of Pan BooksJohn Le Carre R.I.P.Sean Connery R.I.P.New 007 VinylBurke's Law SkaDieter Rams Complete2-Tone DocSpy Vibe Radio: Vendetta Part 2Diana Rigg R.I.P.Moog Micky DolenzBeetle Bailey 70thRSD Spies VinylIan Fleming TributeFellini Box SetSpy Vibe Radio: VendettaThe Saint Podcast BonusThe Saint PodcastBarber Lotus, Trad RootsMorricone R.I.P.Fleetway Spy DesignsJohn Steel CasebooksITC Podcast: The PersuadersDazzle ShipsSpy Vibe Radio: RaumpatrouilleRemembering Richard SalaCrime & Spy Jazz booksNuman is FABBruce Lee Blu, RSD Vinyl SpiesJames Bond's DB5UFO CD SetSpy Vibe radio: Phantom AgentsSteranko is Revolutionary!Interview: The Saint I Ain'tDiabolik InterviewNew 007 SongDiabolik FiguresDiabolik SoundsDiabolik Set DesignDiabolik Park RideDanger Diabolik BluCount Arthur StrongHoney West Title CardsBowie DayNeil Innes R.I.P.Claudine Auger R.I.P.OHMSS at 50Italian Job 50th OSTCharles Schulz ModernPaul DesmondPython 50thRandall Hopkirk 50thThunderbirds DayLazenby Returns to MI6Dr. John R.I.P.Spy Vibe Radio: Lupin IIILupin SkaSpy Vibe PrimeZigomar TranslationThe Village: Part 1Monkey Punch R.I.P.Bubble Girl 63ITC SoundtracksSpy Vibe Radio: Public EyeUFO PrimeSpaceship to MarsModesty Blaise CompanionSpy Vibe Radio: FantomasGeorge DayFantomas BluDark Shadows DocBedazzled Blu-rayMary Quant ExhibitLaika CalypsoLost in Space JapanSpy Dust CalypsoAtomic CafeJohn Barry MonoInterview: John Barry BookLand of the Giants Score, Spy Vibe Radio: UppersevenMabuse PropagandaBond Beatles DaySpy Vibe Radio: LiquidatorDiabolik LPFab DressesEurospy Music CollectionBeetle Bailey in West BerlinWhy Mort Walker?Spy Vibe radio: The Beatles Help!Avengers Critical GuideThe SpotnicksBenny SpiesJames Pond 0017'Satire StonesAnnette Andre Book, Spy Vibe Radio: Get SmartCaine: My GenerationInterview: Ian OgilvyHorror of Party BeachSylvie Vartan RenownRingo At 78Dark Shadows StripsSpy Vibe Radio: FlintArchie Batman 66Beatles Pac-ManSpy Vibe Radio: Jerry CottonThe Invaders007 Horowitz Book TourThe Prisoner Interviews Vol 1British Underground PressInterview: Fab4 ManiaBond Cocktail Book, Spy SmasherSpy Vibe Radio: Peter GunnAgent Zero MNew Prisoner ComicDr. No Villains EditionSpy Vibe Radio: Danger DiabolikDr. No 60thOy-Oy-SevenSpy Vibe Radio (UFO)Cold War Comic Strips, Mission to IndiaMort Walker CelebrationPeter Wyngarde Celebration, Ian Fleming Publications 2017-2018Interview: Ed Hulse PulpAvengers Audio DramaInterview: Callan At 50Interview: Playboys, Spies, Private EyesTWA ReturnsSpy Vibe Radio 8Interview: Ryan HeshkaMid-Century Modern SchulzAgent WerewolfJohnny 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 7Bo DiddleyCarnaby PopBilly Bragg SkiffleElvis 68Jack Kirby The Prisoner, Review: 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 OverdriveSpy Vibe Radio 2Spy Vibe Radio 1James Bond Strips, Interview: 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 Prisoner, Ian Fleming GraveRevolver at 50Karen Romanko InterviewMod Tales 2Umbrella Man: Patrick MacneeNew Beatles FilmThe Curious CameraEsterel Fashion 1966Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview007 Tribute Covers, Argoman DesignSylvia Anderson R.I.P.Ken Adam R.I.P.George Martin R.I.P.The New Avengers Comics, 007 MangaAvengerworld BookDiana Rigg Auto ShowThe Prisoner Audio Drama Review.