Yours Retro, published by Bauer Media UK, is a fun, monthly news stand title that continues to feature numerous genre films and TV shows, the latest issue (Number 42) offering a look at the original Battlestar Galactica and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Along with subscriptions, recent issues are available as back issues from Bauer’s official Great Magazines site, and that includes Number 41, offering a feature on the short-lived The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. starring Stefanie Powers as agent April Dancer, kitted out in the latest British mod fashions.
“In 1966, the spy boom was strong, TV’s Batman spawned a craze for campness, Swinging London’s Carnaby Street blazed into international awareness, and female agents were to the fore. So which TV series combined all the crazes? The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.,” enthuses feature writer JD Savage.
“The short-lived spy spoof only lasted one season before getting demolished by Daktari, ratings-wise. So I look at how a series whose action hero gets threatened with death by giant toaster could possibly go wrong.”
There’s a comic connection, of course – after a fantastic 52-issue run of a full colour “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” strip, some stories drawn by Ron Embleton, weekly comic Lady Penelope replaced it with “The Girl from U.N.C.L.E”, coincidentally in the same issue that saw the arrival of “Daktari”, too, part of a sweeping revamp of the title.
Don’t expect in-depth, detail crammed features in Yours Retro, but it’s a great trip down the nostalgia avenues and byways. Check it out at your local newsagents, or subscribe direct.
• Moonbase Central as an overview of British U.N.C.L.E tie in strips here
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: downthetubes News, Film, Magazines, Other Worlds, Television
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