The "Avengers" Companion Book

From urbane chaps in bowler hats to glamorous gals in very tight pants, The Avengers had everything that a TV show needs. For six seasons in the 1960s and two in the 1970s (as The New Avengers with the lusciously mop-topped Joanna Lumley) John Steed and his cohorts used wit, karate, and a healthy dose of good old British spunk to protect the Free World from legions of ingenious villains bent on world domination. The Avengers Companion was originally published in a French edition with the delightful title Chapeau Melon et Bottes de Cuir, and it combines a complete episode guide with exclusive interviews with, and essays by, the cast and creators of the show. One of its most valuable features is the enormous number of photographs--both stills from the show and publicity shots--which capture the visual style of the show. This style, and the uniquely tongue-in-cheek scripts, ensured that the popularity of The Avengers would rapidly reach bona fide cult status. This thorough and well-designed companion belongs on the bookshelf of every fan. --Simon Leake