SPYWATCHER

Full Name:	Spywatcher
Codename:	Ever-Watching Eye, Man of a Thousand Faces
Nationality:	British
Organization:	British Secret Service
Occupation	Agent

Creator:	Unknown
Time Span:	1961 - 1964

ABOUT THE SERIES

       Spywatcher is an agent with the British Secret Service.
       Sir Giles Prendergast is the head of the Secret Service that Spywatcher works for and it is from his lips we get an explanation, of sorts, as to why the codename of "Spywatcher" is mentioned above and not a first and last name. Sir Giles remarks, "Spywatcher has no name. No face either. Or, if you like, a thousand faces. Perhaps I've met him - and did not know it. Perhaps he lives next door to you. He is the most valuable counter-espionage agent in the country today - and I don't even know what he looks like!"
       Communications with Spywatcher happens though a series of post office boxes with Spywatcher phoning from a call box, to avoid tracing the call, periodically to change the location of the post office. That said, on more than one occasion, Spywatcher actually talked via the telephone with Sir Giles so while the boss man's claim of not knowing what he looked like is likely valid, he had definitely heard his voice (and nothing was said about voice disguise).
       Spywatcher often drives a family saloon (station wagon to us Yanks) which "looked just like a hundred thousand other rather dusty, slightly dented" other vehicles but only the man's service mechanic "knew what lay under the bonnet of the rather dull little car. Packed in, was a high-powered racing car engine of the latest design, with gear-box and transmission to match!"
       We learn nothing about his life outside his career. We do not know if he has a family to go home to or what kind of abode that home might be. All we know is that Spywatcher is a dedicated pursuer of spies and leakers and other types of traitors.
       The biggest facet of Spywatcher's repertoire, besides his incredible patience to sit and watch a suspect for hours on end, is his terrific abilities with disguises. The man is really quite adept at changing his appearance to assume a wide range of roles, each one going unchallenged. He uses the odd prosthetic such as nose builders and cheek plugs but he also achieves his anonymity through an impressive acting ability coupled with good use of dialects and mannerisms. He becomes who he want to be and makes the others see that person.
       Spywatcher is human, a factor that makes him more entertaining and believable. He can get tired and frustrated when the hours and days of monitoring go by without a clue. He can make an assumption and be legitimately surprised when proven wrong. And some times his impersonations get him up close and personal with those he is stalking, actions which can and do put his life in peril.

NOVELLAS AND SHORT STORIES

Number of Stories:	12
First Appearance:	1961
Last Appearance:	1964


1			The Man Who Spies On Spies Written by Unknown Copyright: 1961 From D.C.Thomson's The Victor #27, 08/26/1961 Sir Giles gives Spywatcher the mission to go after a group that has been stealing secrets, yet only the one taking them is known. That is until Spywatcher catches the others and solves the whole thing. Click here to read the story.

2			The Disappearing N.A.T.O. Secrets Written by Unknown Copyright: 1961 From D.C.Thomson's The Victor #28, 09/02/1961 The base known as Burnside Camp is a secret N.A.T.O. HQ that has had secrets stolen. Spywatcher is sent to keep his eyes on the place. He poses as a tramp named John Smith to catch those stealing the secrets. Click here to read the story.

3			The Clue Of The Dentist's Drill Written by Unknown Copyright: 1961 From D.C.Thomson's The Victor #29, 09/09/1961 There is vital information getting into the hands of an international spy ring and it is Spywatcher's mission to find out how. Could it have something to do with false teeth and a dentist drill? Click here to read the story.

4			The Case of the Fake Professor Written by Unknown Copyright: 1961 From D.C.Thomson's The Victor #30, 09/16/1961 Posing as John Crowther the Spwatcher goes after his quarry a Professor Brent. But is there another person pretending to be the professor and what about Brent himself? Click here to read the story.

5			The Riddle of the Dead Stranger Written by Unknown Copyright: 1961 From D.C.Thomson's The Victor #31, 09/23/1961 In the South Down an agent named Harry Burdett was found dead. He was a stranger to the people there but not to Sir Giles. Spywatcher is asked to find out the reason for his death. Click here to read the story.

6			The Case of the Million Pound Ransom Written by Unknown Copyright: 1961 From D.C.Thomson's The Victor #32, 09/30/1961 An older man plans on destroying London with a homemade atomic bomb if his terms are not met and Spywatcher takes it upon himself to stop the guy. Click here to read the story.

7			The Case of the False Saboteur Written by Unknown Copyright: 1961 From D.C.Thomson's The Victor #33, 10/07/1961 The Spywatcher posing as Rupert Fledwick goes to Paris to uncover one of the biggest rings of international saboteurs in Europe. Click here to read the story.

8			The Case of the Phantom Photos Written by Unknown Copyright: 1961 From D.C.Thomson's The Victor #34, 10/14/1961 The Sirius Missiles project has been compromised by the taking and selling of photos. It becomes Spywatcher's mission to stop those responsible. Click here to read the story.

9			The Case of the Secret Signals Written by Unknown Copyright: 1961 From D.C.Thomson's The Victor #35, 10/21/1961 The British Missile program is doomed unless Spywatcher can discover the link between a spy and a submarine. Click here to read the story.

10			The Case of the Too Perfect Professor Written by Unknown Copyright: 1961 From D.C.Thomson's The Victor #36, 10/28/1961 A flawless routine by a scientist is the problem for Spywatcher. Can he smash a spy ring that no other agent was able to do? Click here to read the story.

11			He Spies On Spies! Written by Unknown Copyright: 1963 From D.C.Thomson's The Victor Book For Boys '64 The Spywatcher befriended a clock maker name Ambrose Medlar, then receives a mission to watch over the Chief, Sir Giles. Yet there is a bomb meant for one of them! Click here to read the story.

12			The Puzzle of Grimblett's Face Written by Unknown Copyright: 1964 From D.C.Thomson's The Victor Book For Boys '65 While on holiday in Pallingport Spywatcher sees a man that should be dead 10 year befores. Was Grimblett, the Mass Poisoner, dead or alive? Could a waxworks hold the key to this mystery? Click here to read the story.

MY COMMENTS

       These short stories were surprisingly well written and quite entertaining. I guess my use of the word "surprisingly" is unfair because while often the text stories in comic books were less than noteworthy, sometimes they were worth the time spent reading them and Spywatcher is an example of the latter.
       Keep in mind that the magazines these stories were in were devoted to young-ish readers and so the stories were drafted to work with that audience but the writer(s) made it a good point to never write down to the audience. The stories also never slowed any, a major plus for them.
       One thing it showed to me was that much of a counter-espionage field work is comprised of waiting and watching (hence the name) and even a dedicated fellow like Spywatcher succumbs to boredom and frustration. Still, he perseveres and if the reader does as well, Spywatcher eventually gets his man and the reader gets a fun set of stories.

GRADE

My Grade: B+

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