ATOMIC CAFE

New Release: the 1982 documentary, The Atomic Cafe, has just been released on Blu-ray by Kino Lorber! From the press release: "Armageddon has never been so darkly funny as in The Atomic Cafe. This 1982 cult classic juxtaposes Cold War history, propaganda, music and culture, seamlessly crafted from government-produced educational and training films, newsreels and advertisements. Taken together, these sources cheerily instruct the public on how to live in the Atomic Age, how to survive a nuclear attack (!) ... and how to fight and win a nuclear war. As a U.S. Army training film advises, "Viewed from a safe distance, the atomic bomb is one of the most beautiful sights ever seen by man." Returning to theaters in a sparkling 4K digital restoration created by IndieCollect, The Atomic Cafe is an absurdist blast from the past that would be downright laughable if it weren’t so eerily relevant to our fake news present." Currently on sale for $17.97! Details at Kino. Related post: Atomic Art. 

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SOLAR AND BIONIC MAN RETURN

Dynamite is known for publishing new comics based on Pulp-era properties like The Shadow, The Green Hornet, Miss Fury, Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon, The Phantom, The Lone Ranger, Zorro, and The Spider. They have also reintroduced former Gold Key titles like Magnus, Robot Fighter. This spring they will be rolling out two additional stars from the 1960s-1970s: Solar: Man of the Atom and The Six Million Dollar Man. Both properties found their roots in Cold War fear and fascination with atomic weapons and energy. 

Gold Key produced the original Doctor Solar: Man of the Atom during the Cuban missile crisis in 1962. In an era when technology symbolized modernity, patriotism- and possible armageddon- the comic fused these elements together into a perfect time-capsule. In the story, an evil mastermind named Muro sent an agent to blow up a nuclear power plant. Unable to "duck and cover" effectively, Doctor Solar absorbed massive radiation, giving him the power to convert into pure atomic energy. Where the main character in the series was liberated by technology to become a hero, his arch-nemisis, Muro, eventually lost all humanity by transferring his mind into a Darth Vader-like robot. Solar also appeared in a series by Valiant Comics and Acclaim Comics in the 1990s and by Dark Horse in 2009. Dark Horse has also printed collections of the original Gold Key editions. 

Dynamite's Solar will continue the basic origin story, and they plan to explore Solar's humanity as he struggles to maintain family within the fallout of his new powers. Will the stories take on Cold War themes? I don't know the answer, but one of the variant covers depicts Solar flying through a sky filled with ballistic missiles. From Dynamite: "'Flooded with experimental radiation that grants him unbelievable powers, the brilliant-and-obsessive Dr. Phil Seleski seeks to unlock the secrets of the universe, begrudgingly becoming a 'hero' along the way. But can a single man be trusted with near-limitless abilities? What will this mean to the ones he loves? And will his choices lead to utter chaos and destruction? Brilliant writer FRANK BARBIERE (Five Ghosts) and JOE BENNETT present the Man Of The Atom as you've NEVER imagined!" Wonderful cover art above from issue #1, shipping this April. 

The original Six Million Dollar Man (1974-1979) featured the adventures of Steve Austin, an astronaut-turned-agent, who was rebuilt with atomic-powered technology after an accident (note the common theme with Solar). In a 40th anniversary comic series dubbed Season Six, the Cold War hero will return in stories by James Kuhoric with art by Juan Antonio Ramirez. Issue #3 covers include a variant photo of actor Lee Majors in a 007-style tux (see above). Speaking with Comic Vine, Kuhoric said, "The new SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN SEASON 6 comic is a direct continuation of the classic television series. We are picking up right after the last weekly episode and starting up a new 'season' of stories that follow the episodic adventures of Steve Austin. To do this we discounted the handful of reunion movies that were made (which is no big loss – those things were like the Galactica 1980 of bionics) and are going back to the time when kids were running in slow motion and pretending to be a cyborg on the playground. As a fan, I really enjoy Dynamite’s Bionic Man series, which is Kevin Smith’s modern day reboot of the franchise. But our SMDMS6 is the original groovy 1970s continuity." The character originally appeared in comics by Charlton between 1976-1978. He was rebuilt for a run by Kevin Smith and Dynamite between 2011-2012. Issue #1 of this new retro-style series arrives in stores this week! Dynamite page here. 

Solar Gold Key panel below from Dial B For Blog. I've always loved the Pop Art style of his costume, with its Flash-like red, eye visor, and radiation symbol. If the members of DEVO ever became super heroes... Enjoy! Learn more: Gold Key collections by Dark Horse and Hermes Press. Doctor Solar spotlight here. Spy Vibe Posts: Cold War Comics, Win Scott Eckert Honey West Interview, Shane Glines Interview, William Maynard Fu Manchu Interview, Richard Sala Interview, Mod Tales Interview, Batman '66 and Andy Warhol, Spies: the World Around Us, Man From UNCLE pages, Six Million Dollar Man records and toys, SHIELD Artist Editions. 

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ATOMIC ART

The impact of The Bomb on popular culture in the post-war era was a strange cocktail of fear and fascination. The 1982 documentary film The Atomic Cafe illustrated a trend in the US to transform this weapon of mass destruction into a cartoony, Sci-Fi mascot. Diners enjoyed Atomic Burgers and shakes, and the space-age fashion designers in the 1960s popularized new styles born from a fear of radiation. The influence of Cardin, Rabanne, and Courreges is even felt today in Retro Futurism. But while we enjoy the creative reactions to the Atomic Age and Cold War, it's important to keep a weary eye on the dark realities behind the artifice. 

Japanese artist Isao Hashimoto created a conceptual piece in 2003 that presents a running timeline of every nuclear bomb explosion on earth between 1945 and 1998. Hashimoto's "1945-1998" (also called "2053" based on the number of bombs used/tested) takes the form of a digital world map, where each detonation is represented by colors and sounds arranged by country. The piece begins slowly as the timeline ticks forward, but soon the bleeps build to a cohesive pattern of sound reminiscent of early Kraftwerk or Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO). To transform such data into an art experience is interesting- and even entertaining- but Hashimoto also succeeded in sending an ominous message. We might look back on the Atomic Cafe culture as a quaint period in our naive evolution since WWII, but viewers shouldn't be fooled by a false sense of security. Maybe Ian Fleming's warning of a "little man with a heavy suitcase" has thankfully not come true (ref: Moonraker/1955), but the radiation from our own nuclear testing (and power plants) is all too real. Fukushima may seem like a world away to many readers, but the crisis in Japan continues to unfold with dire details. More about Hashimoto at ctbto and Wired. Below: "1945-1998" by Isao Hashimoto. 

The music group DEVO satirized many elements of post-war culture and values in the 1980s. Readers might recall the leak of president Ronald Reagan's 1984 ill-conceived joke on NPR: "We begin bombing in five minutes." Cold War anxiety was alive and well! DEVO's iconic radiation outfit is available on their website with the ad: "Protect yourself from dangerous human elements and stay cool during meltdowns in this official DEVO yellow suit." If you're asking why this parody is still relevant, check out these T-shirts available from the official Atomic Museum (top photo).

Below: A recent Kraftwerk performance of "Radioactivity". The song was originally released on their 1975 album Radio-Activitivity (Radio-Aktivität). They have re-recorded it a number of times over the years and their Japan performances since the 2011 earthquake have included Fukushima in the list of nuclear disasters. Founding member Ralf Hütter has been leading a new line-up of Kraftwerk on a number of world tours to present 3D concerts at major museums like MOMA and the Tate. 

Learn more at the National Museum of Nuclear Science History here, and these Spy Vibe links: Cold War Comics, Bear Family's Atomic Platters box set, Fear and Fashion. Be safe this weekend, Spy Vibers, and look for ways you can make a healthy difference for the planet. Below: Atomic Fire Ball candy. This spicy jawbreaker was introduced to children in 1954.

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ATOMIC LAUGHS: BORIS & NATASHA

Heroes from the Cold War had to contend with a gruesome rogue's gallery of villains, from Blofeld and Spectre to the agents of Thrush and Chaos. If your tastes run toward quick-witted humor and puns, two of the most hilarious baddies from the 1960s are the dastardly dark duo from Pottsylvania, Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale. Voiced by Paul Fries and June Foray, Boris and Natasha concocted their diabolical schemes on Rocky & His Friends (Bullwinkle 1959-1964). These enemy agents took their orders from Fearless Leader, and set about their schemes of sabotage and espionage with the aid of secret disguises and deadly gadgets. 

Spy Vibers may want to take advantage of a current discount on Amazon. The Best of Boris and Natasha Vol. 1 DVD is currently $4.99. From Amazon. "Wittily written and voiced, these timeless classics are a fond salute to old-time melodrama and remain some of the funniest cartoons ever made." Contents: 6 episode Pottsylvania Creeper, Bullwinkle's Corner, The Queen of Hearts Blink, Master of Disguise  Mr. Know It All "How to Do Stunts in the Movies", 4 episode Moosylvania, Rocky & Bullwinkle Fan Club, Boris's Fan Club, 4 episode Moosylvania Saved, Bullwinkle's Corner, How to be Happy. Run time: 60 minutes" 

The 4-disc Complete Second Season is currently discounted on Amazon for $6.97. A truly funny cartoon, Bullwinkle remains a valuable window into Cold War culture. Among the send-ups to classic cliffhanger conventions, Spy Vibers can also get a glimpse of serious themes looming large for kids in the early 1960s. In this clip below Boris and Natasha plot to obtain an A Bomb!

Spy Vibe is having a giant Summer Sale with new items listed every few days! Items include First Editions of Fleming, Gardner, Deighton, Rare Large-Print 007 editions, Raymond Benson, Gulyashki, Man From UNCLE, Beatles, Corgi, music items and CDs, and More! Save with combined shipping. Head over to eBay for details here. Happy collecting, fellow Spy Vibers!

Get ready to meet MIKI ZERO, a Japanese fashion model and spy from 1965! That's right, I've written a novel inspired by Spy Vibe. More info at my website here.

Check Spy Vibe for recent posts about Batman '66 and Warhol, our fiendish villains archive, Cold War Comics, Sam Mendes back for Bond, Spy Vibe heroes and Wild Things, book design dopplegangers, Christopher Lee, Bettie Page, Dashiell Hammett, Miles Davis, WWII spy Krystyna Skarbek, recycled James Bond covers, interview with Fu Manchu author William Maynard,  Man From UNCLE manga, Orson Welles the Shadow, rare Piero Umiliani Kriminal soundtrack, new Beatles Yellow Submarine game, James Bond audio book re-issues, Mid-Century Modern in Peanuts, my review of SKYFALL and more. Spy Vibe is now on Pinterest! Check out our image archives and follow us here. For Your Shelf Only collecting series links: Jon Gilbert, Raymond Benson, Jeremy Duns, Peter Lorenz, David Foster, Rob Mallows, Roger Langley, Craig Arthur, Fleming Short, Matt Sherman. 

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