New release: While I continue to work on a Spy Vibe book (stay tuned), a number of folks have contributed to an upcoming collection of essays, Hero-A-Go-Go, that will be of interest to Spy Vibers. From the press release: "Welcome to the CAMP AGE, when spies liked their wars cold and their women warm, good guys beat bad guys with a pun and a punch, and Batman shook a mean cape. HERO-A-GO-GO celebrates the camp craze of the Swinging Sixties, when just about everyone―the teens of Riverdale, an ant and a squirrel, even the President of the United States―was a super-hero or a secret agent. Back Issue magazine and former DC Comics editor MICHAEL EURY takes you through that coolest cultural phenomenon with this all-new collection of nostalgic essays, histories, and theme song lyrics of classic 1960s characters like Captain Action, Herbie the Fat Fury, Captain Nice, Atom Ant, Scooter, ACG’s Nemesis, Dell’s super-Frankenstein and Dracula, the “split!” Captain Marvel, and others! Featuring interviews with Bill Mumy (Lost in Space), Bob Holiday (It’s a Bird … It’s a Plane … It’s Superman), Ralph Bakshi (The Mighty Heroes, Spider-Man), Dean Torrence (Jan and Dean Meet Batman), Ramona Fradon (Metamorpho), Dick DeBartolo (Captain Klutz), Tony Tallarico (The Great Society Comic Book), Vince Gargiulo (Palisades Park historian), Joe Sinnott (The Beatles comic book), Jose Delbo (The Monkees comic book), and many more!" Sounds like fun! Watch out for the book launch in May! More details at Amazon and TwoMorrows. Thanks to Jhalal Drut for putting this on my radar. 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 Cartoons: Secret Squirrel. Secret agents were lurking around every corner at the height of the spy boom in the mid-1960s. It didn't take long for the international intrigue to show up on Saturday mornings and Hanna-Barbera's Secret Squirrel was perhaps the most notable front-liner. Spy Vibe has looked at the series, and some spin-off toys, in the past, but today I'm curious to share an interesting find this week at a local record shop. Young fans in 1966 could look forward to a 12" LP produced by Hanna-Barbera Records called Secret Squirrel: Super Spy (HLP 2046). The record featured the Hanna-Barbera Singers crooning tracks such as Secret Squirrel, Super Spy Part 1, Morocco Mole, and Agent O Double O (not to be mistaken for Agent O Double-O-Soul by Edwin Starr). That last track is even more curious because Secret's designation was Agent 000. I'm amazed the record has not been uploaded to Youtube yet. Do any Spy Vibers have it? Here's the cover below. Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole most recently made a comeback as POP figures from Funko. Like most shows aimed at kids, the original series stuck to main conventions. We looked at the trench coat trend here and here. Happy Saturday! Enjoy!
Selected Spy Vibe Posts: UFO Blu-ray, Avengers Pop Art Interview, Fritz Lang Spies, Fergus Fleming Interview, Avengers: Alan Hayes Interview, Jaz Wiseman Interview, 007 SPECTRE Comics, Casino Royale Folio, New James Bond Comic, Diana Rigg BFI Interview, Callan Documentary and Set, Casino Royale Interview: Mike Richardson, Early Saint Box Set, Lost Diana Rigg Interview, Diana Rigg Event, Ian Fleming Letters, New Gillette 007 Covers, Pirate Radio, Spectre Advanced Poster, Honor Blackman at 90, UNCLE School, Ian Fleming Memorial, Radiophonic Exhibit, Portmeirion Photos, Doctor Who Exhibit, Farewell Steed, Pussy Galore Returns, Diana Rigg birthday, Sherlock at 221B, Invisible Agent, Saint Interview: Ian Dickerson, Saint Doppelgänger, Fleming's Typewriter, Rare Fleming, Fleming's Music, Ian Fleming's Japan, Jim Wilson Corgi Interview, Fantomas Design, Jeremy Duns on Bond, John Buss interview, Avengers Season 5 Titles, Saint Volvo, Mod Tales Interview, Agente Secreto Comics, Danger Man Comics 2, Danger Man Comics, 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, Thai Bond Design, Bond vs Modernism, Art of Modesty, Tokyo Beat 1964, Feraud Mod Fashion, Green Hornet Manga, No 6 Festival, 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, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.
New release: Secret Squirrel: Agent 000. Funko's "Pop" line of iconic figures has grown rapidly over the past few years to include characters from just about every nostalgic franchise ever made. Like Kid Robot and other toy manufacturers before them, Funko's success lies in producing slight variations on a singular design. With some similarities to the Japanese Chibi style, Pops feature large, cute faces on small bodies (look for really cute Batman editions in various colors!). Mining the classic Hanna Barbera cartoons in a second series of toys, the company has just released a Secret Squirrel figure that might appeal to Spy Vibers. As you may remember from the animated show, "Secret" (as his sidekick, Morocco Mole, called him) is cloaked in a purple mask-hat, white trench coat, and poses casually with pistol and silencer. The series also includes Morocco Mole, Muttley, Dick Dastardly, and others. Pop figures can be found at comic stores, Barnes and Noble, and other specialty shops. More info at Amazon. Secret Squirrel originally ran from 1965-1968. The main character was voiced by the great Mel Blanc. Related Spy Vibe posts: Spy Kids: Back in Trench Coats, Secret Squirrel Action Figure, Enjoy!
Selected Spy Vibe posts: Pussy Galore Returns, Diana Rigg birthday, Sherlock at 221B, Invisible Agent, Saint Interview: Ian Dickerson, Saint Doppelgänger, Fleming's Typewriter, Rare Fleming, Fleming's Music, Ian Fleming's Japan, Jim Wilson Corgi Interview, Fantomas Design, Jeremy Duns on Bond, John Buss interview, Diana Rigg eBook, Avengers Season 5 Titles, Saint Volvo, Mod Tales Interview, Agente Secreto Comics, Danger Man Comics 2, Danger Man Comics, 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, Bond vs Modernism, Popular Skullture, Art of Modesty, Avengers Blu-ray update, Tokyo Beat 1964, Polaroid Spy, Feraud Mod Fashion, Green Hornet Manga, No 6 Festival, 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, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.
Secret Squirrel was a Hanna Barbera cartoon spy, who made his debut during the spy boom in 1965. Voiced by veteran actor Mel Blanc, the character was packaged with Atom Ant and other shorts until 1968. Known as Agent 000, he got his missions from Double-Q (voiced by Paul Frees) of the International Sneaky Service. Secret's assistant was Morocco Mole, voiced in Peter Lorre-style by Frees. Secret Squirrel made a brief comeback with new adventures in 1993's Super Secret Squirrel. The design of Secret Squirrel took on the classic conventions of the private eye and wartime spy characters of the past. Like Lancelot Link, another animal/spy for children's programming, he rejected the jet-setting, suave fashions of James Bond and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. for easily understood spy symbols: the trench-coat and fedora. Warner Brothers and Jazwares teamed up a while back to create a series of posable toys based on classic Hanna-Barbera characters, including The Flintstones and The Jetsons. The series included this nifty Secret Squirrel figure, complete with camera and pistol! Toys R Us currently has a number of these figures on their shelves at close-out prices. Happy Hunting!
