SPARKY: I SPY--------- THE FIRST EPIC SERIAL

[Kremmen]

Thanks for evoking many distant memories, sadly not a bit vague and hazy with time. I remember I Spy appearing from out of nowhere one day in the Sparky, evolving into what you describe. Didn't Mr X have, as well as super-strength pills, wonder-weakness pills, which in one episode he fed to I Spy to debilitate him?

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

thanks for the interest in 'I SPY' , kremmen.......the 'wonder-weakness' pills you so vividly recall appearred in episode 7 of the 8-parter serial I have described, after MR X has our hero manacled aboard the massive robotic ' SUPERSPY'.......this tale remains my favourite comic strip story of all time and I got the original comics once again last year [on E-BAY]-----it's STILL brilliant!

[Peter Gray]

ISPYSHHHGUY you should do a comic blog...you have a great knowledge about comics...and passion

[steelclaw]

In FEB '69, the revamped 'SPARKY' introduced a welcome new type of comic character, who went on to become a major success story. I am extremely happy to see some genuine interest in' I SPY' on these pages, as it is my own personal favourite strip/character of all time...............the first version, drawn by LES BARTON, has especially haunted my head for almost 4 decades, and earlier this year, i fulfiled a longtime ambition in securing the entire '69-70 run, which i regard as a staggeringly inventive and vastly under-rated body of work.-------if there is enough interest, i will be happy to outline all the early serials, but for now, i am going to stick to the very first 8-week epic.-----------after 14 weeks of single-page status, 'I SPY' was deemed successful enough to warrant a two-page spread, and very admirably, immediately launches straight into a fantastically ambitious sweeping epic, namely 'I SPY vs. the INCREDIBLE MR. X',-------in this early masterwork, MR. X. [who visually resembles a Victorian superbaddie, all shiny top-hat, and JACK-THE-RIPPER cloak,] announces his routine intention to rule the world. His 'superstrength pills' enable him to thwart I SPY'S wide range of gadgetry, and episode one ends with MR. X's super-eagle flying off with with an unsurped SPY H.Q.-------------having secured the plans to construct his own robotic- double I SPY, he commands it to commit unwholesome deeds, which our hero is blamed for. Utilizing his ever-surprizing internal weaponry, the bogus I SPY is defeated.........however, MR. X, [never one to attempt world domination half-heartedly], retorts with his army of 10 robotic I SPYS. In the serial's highpoint [episode 5] there is abreathtakingly imaginative showdown, in which our heroic super-agent is apparently blasted to smithereens. [he often avoided danger simply by crawling under a convenient man-hole, and that is what happened here.]-----------tracking down the mechanical I SPY army in a series of slapstick gags, the ever-resourceful MR. X [who likely would have derided HITLER as a novice,]-----delivers his trump-card final weapon: the KONG-sized, all-stainless steel, all-out warlike 'SUPERSPY',-----------and this first epic ends with I SPY emptying jokeshop sneezing-powder and hic-cup pills into the internal engine of the robotic collossus. MR.X. is last depicted as an arm protruding from the twisted wreckage of the mangled 'SUPERSPY' bearing a sign with the legend: 'I WILL RETURN.'--------and I SPY is last seen bouncing off into the distance, a victim of his own back-firing hic-cup pills.------------in summary, 'I SPY vs. the INCREDIBLE MR. X' ------a very untypical D. C. THOMSON entry, in that it [largely] eschewed typical comicbook formulae,--------was truly a towering achievement, packed with incident and very funny comic invention,------no words i can lay down her can adequately describe the sheer visual delight of this ever-surprizing, hyper-dynamic work of genius.

What peter says.

Do you think you could do some synopsis on my Wizard Blog, I haven't the time at the moment,(Not really I just can't write.)
http://wizardcomics1970-1974.blogspot.com/

[Peter Gray]

Steel claw I've put a link to your blog on my comic blog..if you could do the same...your cheekly...

I see you got a nice mention on Bear Alley..hope you get lots of comments...

The only comment I got so far is myself...

[steelclaw]

Yes no problem pete will be glad to.

Blimey that was nice of steve to do that.

Only 2 comments 1 from Lew and the other from me. So far.

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

PETER....thanks for your kind words........however, I actually DRAW my own original comic strips, ---words are OK, --but you can't beat visuals!

----steelclaw----I will be happy to do some writing for your site/blog----what is it you require, subject-matter-wise? --is it 'I SPY' or other subjects? DETAILS, PLEASE!

---I have just re-read my above 'I SPY' description, and it is a bit OTT!----however, I do not hide the fact that this strip/story fired my imagination and impressed me greatly as a kid......I tracked down original artist LES BARTON [now in his 80s] and contacted him last year.....details later.

[Peter Gray]

Wow! great you've got in contact with him....meeting the artist.like when I met Jack Edward Oliver really brings comic collecting and being a fan to another level...Thought a lot about Jack today...I sure miss him...

[steelclaw]

----steelclaw----I will be happy to do some writing for your site/blog----what is it you require, subject-matter-wise? --is it 'I SPY' or other subjects? DETAILS, PLEASE!

These are the stories so far.
All from the Wizard comic, do you know any of them?

B
Billy Cinders(No.23)
Billy Blunder(No.26)
Bradley's Bowmen(No.34)

C
Cool Kragg The Team Maker(No.1)
The Clutching Hand (No.13)
The Crimson Claw(No.26)

D
Doc Croc(No.34)

F
Follow that man (No.7)
The Frozen Footballers(No.33)One off complete story

I
Inspector Bonehead (No.3)

J
Johnny Modesty(No. 15)

K
Keepr Of The Sword(No.24)

L
The Lost Boy Of Redman's Rock(No.34)

M
The Man From USH (No.15)

O
Out of the ice he came(No.1)

P
The Place of Fights(No.31)
Poor young joe(No.34)

S
Soldiers of the Jet age(No.1)
Scrappy a boy all alone(No.1)
Slave of the ring(No.1)
Sweeper Swan(No.17)
Striker Bell(No.31)

T
Trooper Bo-Peep(No.1)
Trainer Macreddy and his wee black bag (No.14)

V
The Voice that ran the Rangers(No.1)

http://wizardcomics1970-1974.blogspot.c ... to-40.html

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

I have had a look at your site, steelclaw, and 'WIZARD' looks pretty good.....though, for some reason, I only have a vague memory of it [possibly due to the sheer diversity and choice of comics back in those glorious, pre-decimal days......

---I'm afraid I am not qualified to do some writing 'off the top of me head' on 'WIZARD'.......however, in this hi-tech world of today, there is no excuse..........if you will e-mail sequential pages of one of the best stories, I will certainly whip up a synopsis for your site......my e-mail address is on the members list on this site. COOL SITE, by the way!

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

'I SPY'.......THE EARLY CASE-FILES----from the beginning........


----------okay, time to rewind, and start at the VERY beginning of the 'I SPY' phenomenon, in which I aim to outline all 60-odd strips by original [and in my opinion best] artist, LES BARTON. This ambitious undertaking will take some time, so I will be adding data---and images--------[I am half-way thru' sussing-out how me SCANNER works] over a fairly extended period of time.


INTRODUCTION: WHO was 'I SPY'?

-------silly question, really.......NOBODY really knows who I SPY was......he was the ultimate secret agent..............the 1960s witnessed a vibrant SPY boom in the field of entertainment, typified by such memorable phenomena as JAMES BOND, the 'AVENGERS,' the 'MAN from U.N.C.L.E.' 'GET SMART!' and many more.

'I SPY' appeared ,---- in comics form no less,------- at the tail-end of the 60s SPY boom, but nevertheless took the 'gadgets-n-gizmos' concept to new heights of fantasy.........for the uninitiated, 'I SPY' was an impossibly-human, walking, oversized black overcoat [collar-turned up] and hat [ DREDD-like, you NEVER saw his face]-------who internally housed a bewidering, and seemingly limitless, array of hi-tech gadgetry and weaponry: guns, cannon, tank-tracks, circular-saws, drills, rotor-blades, boxing-gloves......you name it!


------yes, he was a bit like 'INSPECTOR GADGET' ---or even 'R2-D2,' ---but I SPY preceded these creations by several years, and was more stylishly concieved and executed.............there, you get the idea!

HIS ADVERSARIES ....... were invariably of the colourful, FU MANCHU- type variety, out to conquer the world with whatever diabolical means are neccessary----we will be meeting these vital [and usually VANQUISHED ] villians over the coming weeks.

----crucially, 'I SPY' was infused with knockabout, slapstick humour, that paradoxically introduced darker undercurrents of danger and melodrama when the opportunity arose.............the whole [EARLY] saga will be kicking off from this page, very shortly.

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

'I SPY' first appeared [initially, in single-page format 'for the first 14 weeks of existance] in 'SPARKY' comic issue 211: dated FEB I, 1969.

------'SPARKY' [up until this point aimed at a market inbetween ' BEANO' and ' BIMBO' readers] from hereon changed direction somewhat: a zanier, more imaginitive approach was applied, seeking a slightly older audience, and the title ran for another 8 years ['til 1977].

---------this 'new-direction' issue despatched a free 'FLIP the FROG' novelty gift inside, and 'new fun pals' included: 'ESKY MO', 'CAP'N HOOD and his MERRY MEN', 'WE are the SPARKY PEOPLE!' and 'KLANKY and his DOG'.

-----'meet I SPY-----The ''SSSSHH!'' guy!''


------------SYNOPSIS: I SPY is despatched to 'TOP SECRET LTD ' to steal some plans, where he thwarts an army of guards.


--------this debut 'I SPY' outing is a restrained, modest affair; understandable, as the brand-new strip is obviously finding itself. BOSS looks very unlike himself in the opening frame..........the main gag here has the titular hero masquerading as a coat and hat on a coatstand, in order to gain access to the enemy premises.

LES BARTON'S richly detailed backgrounds of buildings were always a joy, all twisted ariels, peeping telescopes and eyes lurking from darkened flaps......'TOP SECRET LTD' is paradoxically labelled such.

I SPY'S gadgets/weaponry: probably the lowest-ever count: a standard hand-held can-opener. However, this first story instigates a much-repeated gag: I SPY escapes his army of captors by escaping under a manhole-cover, leaving his empty coat and hat standing.......... I SPY is last seen, --depicted as a naked foot and ankle,----exiting frame left in the final pic.



-----------this very first strip had the rare distinction of being repeated [a rare feat indeed] in ' CLASSICS from the COMICS' issue 123 , in 2006.

------'NEXT WEEK------a real low-down type----Is Hoots McBagpipe!'

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

'SPARKY' issue 212: FEB 8, 1969.........


--------this number contains a 'follow-up' free gift, [the 'ZOOMER BOOMERANG, which was illustrated with a full back-page illustration the previous week].


----'A haggis on the wing-is a dangerous thing!'

SYNOPSIS: I SPY is under attack from a hidden adversary, who remains unseen, but insists on lobbing a raw haggis at our hero........after some very silly slapstick cavortings, the fiendish foe is revealed as 'HOOTS Mc HAGGIS,' ----clearly a CALEDONIAN KILTED PICT, who wields one mean 'haggis-basher' [club].


-------this second entry is an all-out slapstick outing, with the very first offensive 'weapon' ever released from under I SPY'S coat being one grrrrowling bulldog[!]-------this releasing of live animals was an early plot device that was quickly dropped: fine for a strip like IPC'S 'PETE'S POCKETS' , but a bit incongrous here.

Mc HAGGIS---a sort of precursor to AYE McSPY, [who appeared in a 6-parter later in the year]---is reduced to skulking behind a bush for most of the story, and he somewhat resembles a Michael Bentine 'POTTY TIME'-type character, sharing with I SPY the fact that his face is obscured by an outsized hat.

I SPY'S DEVICES: a water-pump [for putting out the stick of dynamite his dog has returned], an internal oven [complete with stovepipe-chimney, for cooking the raw haggis[!]------and a set of bagpipes [the awful skirling makes HOOTS flee in terror].-------ends with the extremely rare sight of I SPY EATING-------it's not altogether clear where his mouth is!


'NEXT WEEK-CRASH! WALLOP! BANG!-What happened to that gang!'

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

--------'SPARKY' numero 213;.....FEB 15, 1969:


---------'He's a smart guy- that's no lie!'

----SYNOPSIS: I SPY, --returning to base, encounters a motley crew of would-be assassins.......

--------entry number 3 is a highly-detailed, almost BAXENDALE- like extravaganza that fully exploits the comic undercurrents inherent within this situation......


---------over time, the concept of the overall strip would depict HITLER- like megalomaniacs out to conquer our 'FREE' world using plot-driven, conveluted means........ at this stage, however, I SPY'S enemies seem content to simply wipe him out using crude 'anarchist ' round black bombs, ---and other such lo-tech weaponry.


-------this early entry includes an embryonic MR. X ----- minus his trademark all-black JACK-the- RIPPER outfit, and this episode is notable in that it features I SPY'S first real specialized, all-purpose gadgetry; the extending 'anti-tank gun shield' typifying many later entries.

-------'SPY HQ' is nicely-realized here,and the final vista-format frame is almost ' MAD'-magazine-like in it's depiction of our hero, who is oblivious to the multiple dangers that is erupting around him......someone has even painted a target on his back!


[contains a one-off, hat-shaped logo]


GADGETRY: radio-ariel, 'portable smoke-screen' and heavy-duty 'ANTI-TANK GUN SHIELD'.


'NEXT WEEK- I.Spy's got the itch-----To track down Slinky Snitchovitch!'

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

--------'SPARKY' issue 214: FEB 22, 1969.


'Poor Slinky's surprized-I Spy's MOTORIZED!'



SYNOPSIS: I SPY is in hot pursuit of SLINKY SNITCHOVITCH, who has stolen the 'top-secret xmas pud recipe'.SLINKY responds by unleashing 'TINY-ovitch' a large brute who I SPY has to deal with.



BOSS SPY at last looks recognizable, and he still has an air of authority, unlike later.....here, he sports a fetching 'skull' motif on his back. This outing has the ludicrous notion of I SPY unleashing a large bloodhound---------I SPY'S arsenal of gadgetry worked best in the form of extendable/retractable hardware, but this notion that he walked around with a menagerie of live animals was just a bit too much! Thankfully, it was short-lived.

This is a low-key entry overall, but early'I SPY ' was fortunate that [in the rare instances when inspiration was missing] the sumptuous look of the stylish artwork was reward enough............good use here of the 'circular-saw-used-in-unicycle-mode, which thwarts SLINKY and TIM.



SLINKY returned in a cameo appearance in,-of all places- SCOTLAND,-----however his greatest outing was definately in the 1971 'SPARKY' annual, in the 'CASE of the DISAPPEARING ROCKET', which will be covered later.


I SPY'S gadgetry: bloodhound [!]motorized unicycle with exhaust [and horn] vaccum-cleaner,unicycle-like circular saw, and portable net.


'NEXT WEEK-Poor I Spy. It's-A shame when he's shot to bits!'