Avengerland Regained

Book excerpt: The Avengers was a unique, genre-defying television series which blurred the traditional boundaries between 'light entertainment' and disturbing drama. It was a product of the constantly-evolving 1960s yet retains a timeless charm. The creation of The New Avengers, in 1976, saw John Steed re-emerge, alongside two younger co-leads: sophisticated action girl Purdey and Gambit, a 'hard man' with a soft centre. The cultural context had changed - including the technology, music, fashions, cars, fighting styles and television drama itself - but Avengerland was able to re-establish itself. Nazi invaders, a third wave of cybernauts, Hitchcockian killer birds, a sleeping city, giant rat, a deadly health spa, a skyscraper with a destructive mind...The 1970s series is, paradoxically, both new yet also part of the rich, innovative Avengers history. Avengerland Regained draws on the knowledge of a broad range of experts and fans as it explores the final vintage of The Avengers.