SECRET SQUIRREL POPS

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.

DEAN MARTIN

Dean Martin was born on this day in 1917. The crooner/actor is best remembered by Spy Vibers for his role as Matt Helm in the film series from the 1960s. Based on the popular novels by Donald Hamilton, Martin portrayed the character in four films: The Silencers (1966), Murderer's Row (1966), The Ambushers (1967), and The Wrecking Crew (1969). Noted by Mike Myers as an inspiration for Austin Powers, Martin's Matt Helm played up the camp and swinging 60's conventions that were being established during the spy boom. His gadgets included a revolving bed that tipped him into a giant bath and mini-bars stashed in every location he might frequent (including his car). One of my favorite elements of the films is the use of experimental and mod fashion. The audience is often treated to a fashion shoot with models dressed in imaginative (and revealing) outfits, and female spies sometimes get to wear gun bras ("booby traps," quips Martin) ala Mike Myers' fembots. Simply put, the movies are a hoot! Happy birthday Dean Martin! What a lovely voice and legacy of laughs and classic recordings.

I have a spy novel coming out. Get ready to meet MIKI ZERO, a Japanese fashion model and spy from 1965! Stay tuned and follow Spy Vibe by clicking the Follow link at top right of this page.

Check Spy Vibe for recent posts about 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. new James Bond omnibus, 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, Ralph Byrd Dick Tracy, my review of SKYFALL and more. Spy Vibe is now on Pinterest! Check out our image archives and follow us here.

Ian Fleming on Spy Vibe: recent posts include Fleming birthday tribute, Ian Fleming Music Series links: Noel Coward, Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming Catalog, 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, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address, and our Ian Fleming image archive link here.

Can you help to support Spy Vibe? Please make a small donation with our secure Paypal tip-jar link at the top left of the main page. Nothing is too small to help cover the increasing bills for the domain, web-forwarding and other costs to maintain the site. Thank you! 

SPY SPOOFS TONIGHT

Our fellow C.O.B.R.A.S. site Double O Section has alerted us to a special spy event tonight on Turner Classic Movies. TCM will be airing a fantastic lineup of fun spy flicks, including Our Man Flint, the Matt Helm movies The Silencers and Murderer's Row, Carry On Spying, and the wonderful Vincent Price movies, Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine and Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs. I wish we could all be in the Spy Vibe lair to watch these together. What are your favorite spy spoofs? More details about tonights program at Double O Section here. 

Check Spy Vibe for recent posts about our fiendish villains archive, WWII spy Krystyna Skarbek, recycled James Bond covers, interview with Fu Manchu author William Maynard,  Man From UNCLE manga. new James Bond omnibus, 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, Ralph Byrd Dick Tracy, my review of SKYFALL and more. Spy Vibe is now on Pinterest! Check out our image archives and follow us here.

Ian Fleming on Spy Vibe: recent posts include Ian Fleming Music Series links: Noel Coward, Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming Catalog, 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, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address, and our Ian Fleming image archive link here.

Can you help to support Spy Vibe? Please make a small donation with our secure Paypal tip-jar link at the top left of the main page. Nothing is too small to help cover the increasing bills for the domain, web-forwarding and other costs to maintain the site. Thank you! 

SPY VIBE BRIEF: SILENCERS

SPY VIBE BRIEF: SILENCERS
Out of the many elements that define the 60s spy vibe, the silencer itself is an important addition to spy fashion and an essential extension of the overall sneaky, thrilling action of the stories. The image of Mrs. Peel in the credits of The Avengers and the ritualistic assembling of the U.N.C.L.E. gun in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. are both prime examples of the silencer as stylish symbol. Then of course, there is the sound! That strange, sudden burst of tire-pump squeal, the target slumps, and the assassin slips away undetected. It's pretty morbid actually, but in the fictional world of spy adventure, the silencer remains a cool accessory. Video clips below of those iconic moments, plus a memorable moment in 007 history when Bond shoots Dent in Dr. No. After the villain unloads his gun into a bed fixed up with pillows, Bond fires a number of shots after his famous line, "That's a Smith and Wesson. And you've had your six." (see time 5:30). Did you ever wonder how silencers really work? Here's a brief explanation on the How Stuff Works website.

SPY VIBE SET COUNTDOWN #10

The Silencers (1966) bachelor pad. Art Director/Joseph Wright (Guys and Dolls), Set Decorator/George Nelson (Godfather Part 2). In the first Matt Helm film, Dean Martin is introduced on a large revolving bed, which rolls him out of the room… and then tips him into a massive bubble bath (complete with awaiting companion)! Helm yawns and stretches his way through this luxurious experience. This is just a normal morning for him. Although many of the interiors lack such memorable elements, this initial use of gadgetry for relaxation (and womanizing) is an interesting way to establish his character as a cocktail-loving Photographer/Spy, and echoes the man-of-leisure culture promoted by Playboy. It’s humorous today to think that a romantic tryst could be ignited by the sheer grooviness of one’s apartment, but that’s an essential element to this genre of fantasy adventure- and part of the fun! Revolving beds show up again and again in films such as Casino Royale, Danger Diabolik, A Flea in Her Ear, and spoofed in Austin Powers. Like waterbeds in the 70s-80s, revolving beds stayed frozen in time as a major symbol of the 1960’s bachelor pad- until now! The Lazy Susan bed has become a new trend among min-century modern enthusiasts. A number of Italian designers are selling well in Los Angeles. Read the LA Times article here. Helm's car is a mini-version of his apartment, sans bath, but complete with hide-a-way bed and gadget-like cocktail bar. As Bond would say, "for our man to stop for a quick one en route."

STAY TUNED FOR SET #9 -AND- THE TOP 5 SETS FROM SPY AND MOVIE WRITERS AROUND THE GLOBE!

Check out Spy Vibe's production set series, an event that gathered together many writers to celebrate the best spy sets from cold war-era film & TV. Guest Set Lists: Lee Pfeiffer, Jeremy Duns, Armstrong Sabian, Steve Bissette, Roger Langley, Matthew Bradford, Wesley Britton, David Foster, Matt Kindt. Spy Vibe's Set For Adventure here, Set Countdown #10, #9, #8 ,#7, #6, #5, #4, #3, #2, #1.