Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Captain's Library: MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. "Explosive Affair" Part 1

In the days when Sean Connery was James Bond, and every organization (good or bad) had A.C.R.O.N.Y.M.S., spies were everywhere, including television and comics!
So, why not do a comic about the hottest TV spies?
We'll find out what the meeting's about...tomorrow!
Written by either Dick Wood or Paul S Newman, illustrated by Don Heck and Mike Peppe, with some minor likeness correction by Werner Roth.
(Trivia: Heck and Roth would re-team on several issues of the 1960s run of Uncanny X-Men!)
You'll note that while Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn) is dead-on, both Illya (David McCallum) and their boss, Mr Waverly (Leo G Carroll) are a little "off".
Plus, Solo is using a Luger rather than the "UNCLE Special" which became a standard weapon during the first season.
This tale, from #1 in the comic series came out in Jan-Feb of 1965.
Allowing for a 3-4 month "lead time", the tale would've been written and drawn in late Fall 1964.
At that point, the show had just debuted on NBC, and the stories being aired were still based primarily on Solo and that week's guest star, with Illya having little or no participation.
Photographic reference would be primarily of Robert Vaughn with the props/weapons from the pilot and early episodes, which would explain why certain elements are "correct" and some aren't.

featuring Jet Dream & Her StuntGirl CounterSpies, and other retro-kool '60s characters!

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