The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Annual [1968]

[1967] Annual. Original price NA.
96 pages. Full colour contents.
World Distributors (Manchester) Limited.

Based on the US television series starring Robert Vaughn and David McCallum.

Cover by Ronald W. Smethurst ; photo (uncredited).

Contents:

 2.The Man from U.N.C.L.E. title page; illustrated by Edgar A. Hodges.

 3 Contents / Indicia

 4 The Hydrofoil Affair text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by Edgar A. Hodges.

10 The Gilded Face Affair text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by Edgar A. Hodges.

17 Confidential File on UNCLE Agents feature by UNKNOWN (uncredited); photographs by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

20 The Big Timber Affair text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by Edgar A. Hodges.

25 Secret Agents and All That text feature by Kevin McGarry; photographs by Edgar A. Hodges.

26 Travel With U.N.C.L.E. (half page) feature on Corgi models by UNKNOWN (uncredited); photograph (uncredited).

27 The Katmandu Affair text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by Edgar A. Hodges.

32 If You Can't Find it, You Can't Read It text feature by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

33 Jet Dream and her Stunt-Girl Counterspies "The Super-Tiger of Targan!" w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); p: Mike Sekowsky (uncredited), i: Mike Peppe.

r: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Gold Key) #09 (Nov 1966).

37 The Chinese Pagoda Affair text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by Edgar A. Hodges.

43 Spies Through the Ages text feature by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

45 The Roman Scandal Affair text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by Edgar A. Hodges.

50 The Spirit of St. Louis Affair, part one, w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); p: Mike Sekowsky (uncredited); i: Mike Peppe (uncredited).

r: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Gold Key) #09 (Nov 1966).

65 The Mighty Antagonists text feature by UNKNOWN (uncredited); photographs by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

67 Profile of a Spy (two thirds page) text feature by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

68 U.N.C.L.E. May Need You! quiz.

69 The Grey Beard Affair text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by Edgar A. Hodges.

75 Judo for You! text feature by UNKNOWN (uncredited); photographs (uncredited).

r: photographs from Judo for Juniors by Pat Butler. (Faber and Faber; 1966) ISBN-10: 0571068855.

77 The Flea Circus Affair text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by Edgar A. Hodges.

81 The Spirit of St. Louis Affair, part two, w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); p: Mike Sekowsky (uncredited); i: Mike Peppe (uncredited).

r: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Gold Key) #09 (Nov 1966).

93 Underground Heroine text feature by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Gold Key) #09 (Nov 1966).

94 The Gadgetry of U.N.C.L.E. illustrated feature by Edgar A. Hodges.

Stories and features written by Douglas Enefer, Kevin McGarry and M. Broadley.

The wider format immediately looks better than the first outing, and as this edition has credits it is already a much more attractive prospect. That it so much more accomplished a tie-in to the series, with numerous features, is a bonus, approaching its source with a sense of respect for readers rather than pandering to the base elements of spycraft as before. The story titles may not have improved greatly, but the writing is much less insipid.

Files on Solo (agent 138787) and Kuryakin (agent 138337) fill in much of the characters backgrounds, providing an excellent glimpse into their personal lives. Their gadgetry is the subject of a text feature which describes in just enough detail some of the techniques used. It isn't a perfect glimpse into cold war techniques, yet remains an interesting subject for coverage. Of slightly more relevance to the intended audience is the account of first world war code-passing techniques, which is - frustratingly - not followed up on with second world war techniques.

Spies Through the Ages is too piecemeal to truly deliver on its title, with a mere handful of entries spread over two pages. The most curious entry in this annual is Profile of a Spy, which is a very telling piece of writing - regarding the archetypal spy as male, which isn't the greatest leap given the year of publication, it outlines the properties such an individual is meant to possess, though this is squarely towards the more glamourous end of the genre. Harry Palmer would be surprised to see members of his profession described in such a manner.

The least impressive aspect of the annual is its feature on judo. While it represents the most basic aspects of the sport, it doesn't provide enough details, nor have enough style to override the impression that it is cheap filler material.

Overall a much more satisfying read.

[1967]

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Annual

[1969]