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]

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Annual [1967]

[1966] Annual. Original price 10/6.
96 pages. Full colour contents.
World Distributors (Manchester) Limited.

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

Cover by UNKNOWN (uncredited); photo (uncredited).

Contents:

 2.UNTITLED endpaper illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 4 Indicia

 5 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. title page; illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 6 Contents illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 7 The Last Flight Affair text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

17 The Fortune Cookie Affair text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

37 Rip Van Solo Affair w: Dick Wood (uncredited); p: Werner Roth (uncredited); i: Mike Peppe.

r: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Gold Key) #04 (Jan 1966).

69 The Invisible Man Affair text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

79 The Explosive Affair text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

94 UNTITLED endpaper illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

Judged entirely by the cover, this would appear to be as stylish as the originating television series, though the contents betray the annual's rather humble nature. The endpaper illustrations, while capturing the likeness of Vaughn and McCallum to a surprising degree, are coloured with a blasé attitude to realism, making it appear as if the spies are wearing lipstick. It is very fetching lipstick, but inappropriate for a publication which would likely prefer to have its main characters treated with respect.

Mirroring episode titles, the use of The _____ Affair for each of the stories is a nice touch, though I had expected more originality to be used in the nature of the titles. The first story is a perfect example of complacency in the naming of stories, offering a solid yet uninspiring title - it doesn't hold much hope for the story itself, a concern which is borne out by the initial paragraphs:

The Man from UNCLE was strolling north on the Avenue of the Americas savouring the genial warmth of a particularly fine spring morning when a small sound came from inside his jacket pocket.

Solo is THE man from U.N.C.L.E. now? What the rest of the agency's men think about this development is not related, but I'm sure sneering would be a likely response to this news. Feeling as if the author is writing down to the annual's audience, the plot is wielded like a blunt object, hammering events into place with the finesse of a gorilla wielding a broadsword.

The Fortune Cookie Affair is a more polished tale, yet far from the heights of the series. Taking in mistaken identities, fortune cookies, amnesia, and a journey to China, there is much activity to make up for a paucity of puzzles - with so little to work out, the characters bounce around from scene to scene without considering their actions. That it ends on such a predicable note is to be expected, and somewhat ruins the effect of the previous page or so.

Within the secret projection chamber at UNCLE headquarters, startling films are shown by Chief Alexander Waverly! And as Napoleon Solo observes, he can hardly know that he himself will fall tragic victim to the awesome weapon that will soon tempt THRUSH and trigger... The Rip Van Solo Affair

Footage of an anti-aircraft laser weapon is projected on the screen, which Waverly describes as being able to cut through steel at short range, and which THRUSH is planning on stealing. During a sojourn to inspect the weapon's security, Solo is captured by THRUSH and brainwashed into acting as their agent.

An interesting strip which, if not entirely original, at least attempts to break the characters out of the usual plots. It isn't entirely successful, with too few pages to develop the central ideas fully, but it manages to deliver a few outstanding moments regardless.

An actual invisibility potion is, unsurprisingly, at the root of The Invisible Man Affair. Anything I might say as to its plot or characterisation might be misconstrued as being mean for the sake of it, so I'm going to refrain from recounting the impressive laundry list of issues I have with the story. Rounding out the annual is Another Prose Affair (apologies), which is impressively titled The Explosive Affair, which marginally redeems the annual.

Not the best start, despite an attractive cover and rather superior rear cover illustration.

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

[1968]

World Adventure Library

World Distributors

Comic Strip Titles:

Bonanza World Adventure Library (1967)
Flash Gordon World Adventure Library (1967)
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. World Adventure Library (19??)
Mandrake The Magician World Adventure Library (1967)
The Phantom World Adventure Library (1967)

Illustrated Story Titles:

Batman World Adventure Library (1966 - 1967)
Superman World Adventure Library (1967)

Giant Games Book

World Distributors (Manchester) Limited

Batman Giant Games Book (1966)
Huckleberry Hound and Friends Giant Games Book (1966)
Lady Penelope Giant Games Book (1967)
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Giant Games Book (1967)
Phantom Giant Games Book (1966)
Popeye Giant Games Book (1967)
Superman Giant Games Book (1967)
Thunderbirds Giant Games Book (1967)