Happy New Year, Spy Vibers! The new semester has begun at school and I'm super busy back in the classroom with my art students. But I did want to share some amazing images that crossed my radar. The Irwin Allen News Network has a wonderful assortment of rare Lost in Space memorabilia on their site, and given my background in Japan, I was really drawn to the illustrated records that came out in the 1960s. Like the Batman manga and classic monster illustrations from the period, these also included a mixture of duotone, color spreads, collage, and cut-away schematics. Really fun to see! Now that humans are looking deeper and deeper into space again, maybe we'll see a return to this kind of speculative fantasy about what alien life might look like. Of course, this classic era of the Space Race and shows like Lost in Space had a special charm, with its jetpacks, Gemini silver spacesuits, and velour uniforms (with Mod stripes and geometric shapes!). Go check out the Irwin Allen site for even more examples. Enjoy! Related posts: UNCLE and Batman Manga, Green Hornet Manga, Space Camp: Lost in Space, Mod Japan, Japan Ads, Tokyo Beat 1964, Nihon Surf, Johnny Sokko & His Flying Robot, Ian Fleming's Japan, Japanese 007 Editions, Japanese UNCLE Editions, Mods to Moongirls, Peeling Off the Trench Coats, Mad For Mondrian, UFO Blu-ray.
Selected Spy Vibe Posts: 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, Mata Hair Exhibit, 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.
Comics Week: After our look at German, Dutch, and Spanish comics based on Danger Man (Secret Agent), Spy Vibe continues with cool comic treasures from the world of Patrick McGoohan's John Drake. Today we feature a larger collection of covers from the 1965-1966 French comics (where the series was called Destination Danger) printed for the French, Belgian, Swiss, Canadian, and Moroccan markets. Some of the scenarios look like they could have been adapted from older comics and updated with Drake as the hero. The design was less dynamic this time around (though fun!), with a simple red banner, white typeface, and the Tele Serie Bleue logo. Most covers listed stories as "Une adventure de John Drake", but some did not. Tele Serie Bleue/O.Z Odez published similar series under the same graphics scheme, most notably Les Hommes Volants. What they lacked in graphic design was countered by some very cool illustrations of McGoohan-as-Drake in action. My favorite? How can anything beat Drake in skinny suit and tie controlling a retro-futuristic robot on a rampage? Don't make this guy angry! I love the pulp vibe. Images sourced from the internet, but many came from ComicBDFrance and bedetheque. Enjoy!
Selected Spy Vibe posts: John Drake Comics, Der Mann Von UNCLE, Golden Margaret Nolan, Man From UNCLE Rocksteady, Pussy Galore Calypso, Cynthia Lennon R.I.P., Edward Mann Fashion, Leonard Nimoy Tribute, Shatner at 84, Bob Morane series, New Saint Publications, The Saint Complete box set, Gerry Anderson Box Sets, Music For Spies, Thai Bond Design, Brian Clemens RIP, Bond vs Modernism, Imitation Game, New Avengers Books, Ringo Does Goldfinger, Sixties Beat Wear, Popular Skullture, Art of Modesty, Avengers Blu-ray update, Tokyo Beat 1964, Polaroid Spy, Feraud Mod Fashion, Flint Scores!, Bond Danish, New Richard Sala Book, New 007 Comics, Designing Bond Books, Green Hornet Manga, Margaret Nolan Art, No 6 Festival, Barbarella Returns, Designer: Gene Winfield, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Rare Avengers Scripts, Man From Uncle UK Comics, Thunderbirds Comics, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Avengers Book: Bowler Hats & Kinky Boots, George Lois Design & Mad Men, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, The Saint books return, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.
Spy Vibe Comics Week: ROBOTS. Spend the week in our secret lair as we share images and stories from the Spy Vibe collection and research. Today we present a number of classic covers and panels featuring Robots! Details below. Related posts: Johnny Sokko, Gigantor. Spy Vibe's archive of vintage photos of people reading comics here.
We continue our Comics Week with a Saturday Matinee of classic robot covers and panels. Robots were fun! As walking humanoids, they embodied our love and fear of technology. Robots were the ultimate weapon of the mad scientist, and the creepiest operative sent to infiltrate human society. In the control of secret agents and boy heroes, they tipped the balance of power so that good could prevail. They were a mainstay of comics and Pulps throughout the Golden Age, and included such characters as Bozo, Electro, The Human Torch, Marvex, Flexo, Mr. Atom, and Robot Man. During the Silver Age and Cold War era, they loomed especially large in the DC universe, where mechanical versions of heroes like Batman and Robin threatened to destroy the status quo. During the Communist craze, paranoia of shifting ideologies and allegiances was channeled into stories about synthetic duplicates (without heart or faith) stepping in for major characters. And in their dullest moments, they appeared in Superman and Wonder Woman stories about secret identities and romance. From Fritz Lang's Metropolis, Fleischer's Mechanical Monsters (Superman), and Astro Boy, to The Bionic Woman, the Cybernauts (The Avengers), and Battlestar Galatica, Robots have endured as an essential element in genre fiction. In related current publications, readers should check out the 2014 Eisner-Award nominated web-comic by Brian Fies called The Last Mechanical Monster. Selected rogue's gallery of comic robots below. Enjoy!
Recent Spy Vibe posts: Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: TV Avengers & Batman 75th, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Diana Rigg at 76, Gerry Anderson Box Set, Gerry Anderson Doc, Mr. Hulot's Box Set, Rare Avengers Scripts, Man From Uncle UK Comics, Mattel X-15, Thunderbirds Comics, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Batman News, Monty Python Fathom Spies, Monty Python Returns!, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Avengers Book: Bowler Hats & Kinky Boots, George Lois Design & Mad Men, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, The Spotnicks, Model Secret Agents, Remo Williams Blu-ray, Bunny Yeager and Ursula Andress, Danger Mouse, Lost Avengers Episodes, Big Fun Toys, Danger Diabolik Soundtrack, Mother's Day (Avengers), Mod Fashion Dolls, Cold War Archie, New Avengers Comic, Ipcress File Blu-ray, 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, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.
