New release: With the return of the evil organization, SPECTRE, in the new James Bond film (stay tuned for our review), a number of new book collections have been released to help viewers catch up on 007's missions against these notorious baddies. Vintage recently released The SPECTRE Trilogy, an omnibus of Ian Fleming novels featuring Thunderball, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and You Only Live Twice. Thomas and Mercer, an Amazon imprint, published The SPECTRE Trilogy as an eBook on October 6th in the US. Titan has also joined the celebration with a new hardcover edition of classic comic strip adaptations drawn by John McLusky and Yaroslav Horak. From Titan: "The daring James Bond is back, this time in a lavishly put together collection celebrating the iconic SPECTRE storylines. Featuring Thunderball, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, You Only Live Twice, The Spy Who Loved Me. These fully restored and thrilling stories are based on the original Ian Fleming James Bond novels." Titan's cover design is an interesting collage of elements taken from a few different strips: Bond (SWLM panel #696 by Horak), Viv dressing (SWLM inverted panel #808 by Horak), and the car (OHMSS panel #272 by McLusky). Although I prefer McLusky's artwork, I imagine the publisher was going for the slightly modern look of Horak's work for the main image, with McLusky adding a classic vibe to the motorcar. The release date for James Bond: SPECTRE: The Complete Comic Strip Collection is November 6th (UK) and January 19th (US). More info on Amazon and AmazonUK. Learn more about the history of 007 comics with Alan J. Porter's excellent book here. Enjoy!
Selected Spy Vibe Posts: 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: Ian Fleming's debut James Bond novel, Casino Royale, has been given the Folio Society treatment! Press release: "This lavish edition, with artwork by acclaimed illustrator Fay Dalton, and an introduction by Booker-Prize winning author John Banville, pays homage to the enormous success of Ian Fleming’s iconic novels. Few characters have come to define a genre as James Bond has done, and this introduction to his world, with its merciless villains, spectacular dangers, ill-fated romances and exotic settings, is Fleming at his best." The Folio Society is dedicated to celebrating great books by producing limited-edition hardcover editions with slipcases, unique designs, and illustrations. The company published Live and Let Die in 2007. Spy Vibers can learn more about The Folio Society here. Related Spy Vibe posts: Folio Spies, Mystery Sunday, Mystery Book Exhibit. Enjoy!
Selected Spy Vibe Posts: 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: The new James Bond comic book series from Dynamite makes its debut today! Stop by your local comic shop and pick up the first installment. Dynamite has has published the issue with a number of cool variant covers, and some of the major comic shops offer their own limited-edition variants on their websites. Spy Vibers may be most interested in the Midtown Comics edition, which features a retro paperback design. I had an early look at the comic a few weeks back, no spoilers here, but I can say readers are up for a gritty ride with Fleming's blunt instrument. Press release from Ian Fleming Publications: "Vargr, a Norse word meaning ‘wolf’, though with mythological
connotations, is the first six-issue story arc in the James Bond 007 comic
book series. Issue #1 sees James Bond return to London after a mission of
vengeance in Helsinki, to take up the workload of a fallen 00 agent… but
something evil is moving through the back streets of the city, and sinister
plans are being laid for Bond in Berlin. And Issue #1 is out today, marking James Bond’s return
to comics with a story penned by Warren Ellis and art by Jason Masters. Ellis
and Masters each have a long list of exceptional titles to their name, and
this collaboration promises not only a truly unforgettable comic book, but a
completely fresh and utterly thrilling James Bond storyline where readers
follow Ian Fleming’s Bond, operating in a contemporary world. And this adherence to faithfully portraying Fleming’s
original character is one of the Ellis’ most important aims: ‘Ian Fleming’s
James Bond is an icon, and it’s a delight to tell visual narratives with the
original, brutal, damaged Bond of the books’. Thus, the story arc shows us
something of the familiar, imbued with gritty undertones and with an edge that
is unmistakably characteristic of Ellis’ work. Just as Fleming’s novels showed
us the glamour of Bond’s missions alongside episodes of sheer brutality and elements
of the grotesque, Vargr is a sincere and at times unflinching
depiction of Bond at work. The life of the 00 agent is indeed filled with
moments of luxury, but Ellis’ bold writing, coupled with Masters’ sharp, vivid
artwork show us the harsh realism too with a storyline in equal parts worthy of
Fleming’s imagination and believable to the modern reader. Add to this first-rate writing and art the lettering by
Simon Bowland – expertly melding dialogue, setting and action – and the sublime
work of colourist Guy Major, and you have a visual, visceral experience, which
is sure to leave an impression. Vargr sets Bond off in a new direction, in a medium
with so much potential for the style, meticulous detail and sensuous energy of
Fleming’s creation." It's exciting to see James Bond return to the comic pages! Please support the project by picking up the serialized editions, starting with today's release of issue #1. Sample variant covers below. Learn more about the history of 007 comics with Alan J. Porter's excellent book here. Enjoy!
Selected Spy Vibe Posts: 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.
When Spy Vibe reported that Dame Diana Rigg was scheduled to appear in October at an Avengers screening at the BFI, many readers were over the moon with excitement- and a few were cautiously optimistic. Apart from discussing the warm generosity of her co-star, Patrick Macnee, Rigg has famously kept her distance from The Avengers. In her 1970 Desert Island Discs interview, the series was barely a footnote in the discussion, passed over as a karate-kicking confection. Rigg has spoken so passionately about a dedication to Shakespearian roles and their depth of character, that some wondered if the actress would ever really embrace her part in Avengers history and celebrate her legacy with fans. I'm happy to report Dame Diana did indeed show up to the screening in October, and she had a wonderfully expressive interview with BFI curator Dick Fiddy (a video has been kindly posted on the BFI website here). The event marked the 50th anniversary of her entrance into the series and the discussion covered topics such as her early appearance in Sentimental Agent, co-star Patrick Macnee, 1960s fashion, actress Honor Blackman and the genesis of strong women in The Avengers, and Mrs. Emma Peel's role in helping women to establish their place in the world during the 1960s. Dame Diana was warm and animated throughout. Although it should have been obvious to me, I hadn't considered the fact that Rigg hasn't watched the series herself. After the screening of House That Jack Built, she seemed to recognize that they had created something unique and special that has kept us fans buzzing for 50 years, while still expressing the difficulty she experienced making the show. Looking back at the series, Rigg also talked about the talented directors she worked with and about how, in the black and white series especially, they were able to craft such beautiful imagery. I so wish I had been able to be in London for the event, but am grateful the BFI has made the interview available to all of us around the world. It was a long time coming, but what a wonderful pleasure to finally celebrate The Avengers with Diana. Enjoy! Related posts: Shakespeare Spies Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Ian Fleming's Music, Rigg Birthday Tribute, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Richard Sala Interview I, Set Countdown #7.
Selected Spy Vibe Posts: 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.
Deal alert: Spy Vibers who are interested in collecting the limited-edition James Bond Blu-ray steelbooks can now pick them up at a bargain price. Best Buy is currently selling nine 007 titles (From Russia With Love, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Diamonds Are Forever, For Your Eyes Only, Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall) for $12.99ea (and $9.99ea on-line). As seen in steelbook releases in Europe, the cases feature designs from the opening title sequences from each film. And if readers are interested in collecting the recent DVD Bond releases, featuring stills from the movies (white borders), Best Buy has them in-store for $3.99ea. With less than a week to go before our US debut of SPECTRE, now is a great time to re-explore Bond's past missions. Sample box art below. Enjoy!
Selected Spy Vibe Posts: 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.
