When the UK classic Danger Mouse cartoon from the early 1980s got a relaunch in 2015 I couldn't wait to catch up with one of my favorite spy characters from my youth. The original show was filled with humor, puns, and some marvelous nods to 1960s spies. The title, of course, is a comical twist on Danger Man starring Patrick McGoohan (titled Secret Agent in the US). Although I haven't been quite as taken with the roboot, the episodes I saw on Netflix clearly showed efforts to recapture the charm of the original. Fifty episodes were produced so far and it was announced last May that a second season had been commissioned. Much of the first season has been relapsed on region 2 DVDs. Both the 1981 and 2015 series are streaming in Netflix. One thing I did not expect from the new cartoon was merchandising. and I'm happy to report that a recent trip to the local Toys R Us left me pleasantly surprised. Just as I was leaving the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles aisle, there was Danger Mouse- sporting his white jumpsuit and ready for adventure. In addition to various puzzles and card games, fans (and kids!) can enjoy talking and plush figures, a role-play costume kit, shrinkatizer ray gun, as well as a number of DM figures with accessaries. Spy Vibers can also find these items at Amazon and on-line toy outlets. Here are a few images that caught my eye. Learn more at Danger Mouse and Spy Vibe. Enjoy!
Selected Spy Vibe Posts: 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, 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.
Saturday Morning Cartoons: Danger Mouse (1981-1992). Travel back in time to the early 1980s, when spy fans were enjoying the first marathons of classic Bond on TV, and old faves were finally becoming accessible through the growing technology of home video. In 1981 Roger Moore's For Your Eyes Only hit the big screen, and on British television an animated secret agent show called Danger Mouse made its debut. Spy Vibers will of course recognize the playful reference to Danger Man. In the series, which lasted ten seasons, the dapper spy DM and his assistant Penfold raced the globe thwarting the diabolical plots of Baron Silas Greenback. Viewers enjoyed the smart cocktail of cool gadgets, clever puns, and a talented cast of voice actors. Danger Mouse received his orders from Colonel K, styled after M, and voiced by Edward Kelsey (The Tripods, The Saint, The Avengers). The animation was simple but effective, often overlaying cels with photographic source images of the city (ala Yellow Submarine). Bond fever struck hard in 1983 with the release of both Octopussy (Roger Moore) and the return of Sean Connery in Never Say Never Again. By 1984, Nickelodeon was riding the spy-wave importing Danger Mouse to the United States. A complete box set of 89 episodes was released by A&E in 2007 (available through Amazon here). A number of sets have been released in the UK, including a new complete collection in 2011. If Spy Vibers are inclined to hunt for DM collectibles, seven annuals were published in England between 1982 and 1987. The video clip below features an episode, characteristically titled with humorous self-reference to a Patrick McGoohan classic, Ice Station Camel. Enjoy!
Recent Ian Fleming posts on Spy Vibe: new Fleming books, SE Asian 007, Cumberbatch as Ian Fleming, Fleming Jamaica Book, Bond Japanese Editions, Fleming Chinese Edition, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50th, Ian Fleming: Mt. Demon Hell Japan, Collecting Fleming, Live and Let Die 60th, new poster announced, 007 Audio Books Update, Appropriating Bond Exhibit, Fleming Letters Mystery, The Goldfinger Variations, Double 007 Book Designs, Double 007 designs II, rare Ian Fleming edition, Book Design Dopplegangers, Turkish Bond design, Ian Fleming Letters, Erno Goldfinger, Noel Coward, Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming Catalog, Jon Gilbert interview, Double 007 Designs, Bond audio book reissues, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, rare View to a Kill, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address, Spy Vibe's Ian Fleming image archive.
Recent Spy Vibe posts: Lost Avengers Episodes, Big Fun Toys, Danger Diabolik Soundtrack, Bruno Nicolai CD, Mother's Day (Avengers), Mod Fashion Dolls, Wild Wild West Blu-ray, Cold War Archie, New Avengers Comic, Ipcress File Blu-ray, Honor Blackman Tour, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, The 10th Victim German Edition, UNCLE Gun, The Saint books return, Spy exhibit at the Pacific Science Center, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton, DC Fontana Prisoner Video, Edward Gorey's 1960s, Ipcress File cinematography, 007 SOLO cover designs, Gloria Steinem and Denny O'Neil on MOD Wonder Woman, Win Scott Eckert interview, Siegel and Shuster's SPY, David McCallum: Son of Batman, Wonderwall comes to Blu-ray, Kevin Dart talks Ringo & Powerpuff Girls, Fu Manchu history panel, Mod Tales Interview, Atomic Art, Shane Glines Batman.
